Dry Eyes and Contact Lens Wear

Two things that never used to go together are contact lenses and dry eyes. It used to be that having dry eyes meant, in simple words, inability to wear contact lenses. Today things are different, contact lenses and dry eyes can and do go very well together.

A dry eye can be caused by numerous factors, and therefore, the perfect dry eye contact lens does not exist. The good news is contact lenses are designed for all different types of dry eyes. So chances are there is a contact lens for your dry eyes.

Soft contact lens manufacturers such as CooperVision and Vistakon have developed materials that are designed specifically to stay hydrated while on a dry eye. Lenses such as the Proclear Compatibles, Acuvue Oasys, Extreme H2O, and Purevision work wonders in a dry eye environment. Each lens is made from a unique proprietary plastic that retains water content, hydration, and/or shape throughout the day.

Rigid gas permeable lenses also work very well on dry eyes. An RGP lens is made of a rigid plastic that does not absorb as much solution as a soft lens. Therefore, RGP lenses do not dehydrate on an eye, which is what causes dry eye discomfort. RGP’s can made of a number of plastics, including some that are extremely oxygen permeable and some that have a very low wetting angle. A low wetting angle means the lens will feel moist while being worn.

It’s not only specific types of contact lenses that can help with dry eyes. There are solutions that are aimed at working alongside contact lenses and dry eyes to minimize the risks; theses include tear inducing solutions and artificial tears.

Those who suffer from problems with contact lenses and dry eyes need to pay particular attention to the various contact lens products on the market. By comparing brands and manufacturers, the perfect contact lens will be found.

If irritation of the eyes continues, the contact lenses should be removed immediately and a health care professional consulted. With modern developments, there is no need for any contact lens wearer to suffer from dry eyes, so get help and remove the irritation.