Can You Wear Contact Lenses With Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome is an uncomfortable condition that makes it difficult to wear contact lenses. It can be severe to the extent that many people opt to switch out their contacts for eyeglasses. However, this should not be the case.

Dry eyes can make it challenging to wear contact lenses, but it is not impossible. You may need to follow a few rules and make some lifestyle changes. All in all, do not be too swift in deciding to dispose of your contact lenses.

So, here are ways you can improve your experience with contact lenses.

Wash Your Hands

Ensure you wash your hands with mild soap and rinse them very well whenever you need to touch your lenses. Otherwise, dirt or sweat may irritate your eyes and make you uncomfortable. You may also cause your eyes to get an infection. Infections may make your dry eyes worse. Even with the little energy you have left at the end of the day, clean your hands before removing your contacts.

Use Rewetting Drops

Avoid waiting until your eyes feel dry to use rewetting drops. Instead, consider these as your first line of defense. Rewetting or artificial drops hydrate your eyes and prevent dryness. Hence, avoid waiting and use it like sunscreen. You would not wait until you have a sunburn to use sunscreen, would you? Then do the same with the rewetting drops.

Let Your Eyes Breathe

It is crucial to stay without contact lenses for a few hours a day. Try not to wear them for more than 14 hours straight. Find a way to give your eyes a break. It allows time for oxygen to flood your eyes and replenish your natural tear film.

Get Daily Disposable Contact Lenses

Daily disposable contact lenses will allow you to have fresh lenses every day. With dailies, you need to use a new pair when you take out the one you have. This way, you prevent dust and dirt from getting into your eyes and irritating them. It helps give you relief from dry eye syndrome.

Get Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses

The lens material allows oxygen to reach your eye surface, letting your eyes breathe. You will not experience irritation, stiffness, and dryness with these lenses. You can also enjoy sharper vision because of the nature of the material.

Get Scleral Lenses

These lenses have the same material as rigid gas permeable lenses. However, they are larger than the rigid gas permeable lenses in diameter and extend to the white part of the eye. They are ideal for people with dry eyes and corneal abnormalities. They trap the tear film and allow it to hydrate the eyes, helping alleviate dry eyes. 

Change the Lens Solution

You may get the above lenses, but if you do not change the lens solution daily, it can irritate you. Reusing your lens solution is not wise since it loses effectiveness every time you use it. As the contacts soak, the solution also removes dirt and dust. Reusing it may return this dirt and dust to your eyes, causing dry eyes, inflammation, and infection.

For more on wearing contact lenses with dry eye syndrome, visit Refined Eyecare Optometry at our Torrance, California office. Call (310) 214-0409 to schedule an appointment today.