Contact Lenses for Dry Eye Sufferers

Too many contact lens wearers today are avoiding conversations about dry eye symptoms with their eye doctors for fear that they will be told they cannot wear contacts anymore. You should be aware that there are many solutions out there for the dry eye contact lens wearer, and that having these conversations will be crucial to your comfort. Sometimes all it takes to drastically improve you situation is to switch the type of lens you wear, your lens cleaning routine, or even just to supplement with some general dry eye solutions. 

Are You Wearing the Right Lenses?

The first question you need to address is whether or not you are wearing the right lenses. For the most part, there aren’t currently any lenses specifically engineered for the dry eye patient. However, some options are certainly better than others. 

Be attuned to the varying water content contained in different types of soft lenses. Most lenses are between 38 and 79 percent water. Dry eye patients often assume that they should select contacts high in water content, however lower-water-content lenses are actually a much better choice for dry eye sufferers. The problem with higher-water-content lenses is that they are susceptible to losing much of their water content in the presence of different environmental factors. In addition, high-water-content lenses may even draw moisture from your eyes in order to stay hydrated, which clearly will only further increase your dryness.

Silicone hydrogel lenses are often a good choice for the dry eye patient because they are generally low in water content. In addition, they boast high levels of oxygen permeability, which makes them good for your cornea. Also ask your doctor about Proclear lenses by CooperVision Inc. These lenses have been FDA approved to advertise that they "may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to dryness during lens wear." Extreme H2O lenses, too, are now claiming to be useful in relieving dry eye discomfort.

Could Your Cleaning Routine Be an Issue?

 
Many contact wearers do not realize the impact that certain contact cleaning and disinfectant products can have on their lenses. The truth is that not all cleaning products are compatible with all lenses. Silicone hydrogel lenses especially, which as mentioned above are a great option for the dry eye patient, become much less comfortable when used in conjunction with many of the common cleaning solutions out there. 

 

Also be wary of multipurpose solutions. While such solutions make life easier by minimizing the number of solution bottles you need to keep track of, they often contain preservatives. While this isn’t an issue for everyone, certain users can develop intolerance to specific preservatives and the eye’s reaction is often increased dryness. 

Get Talking

Don’t be afraid to discuss your symptoms with your ECP. If you don’t speak up, your doctor will not be able to prescribe the best lenses for you. Once you find the right lenses and the best complimentary cleaning routine for them, your dry eye issues should lessen. If you’re suffering, your ECP can certainly recommend other changes to your daily routine that might help too. Check out our "Beat Your Dry Eye This Summer" blog for ideas on how you can relieve your symptoms now.

 

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