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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How do I prevent dry eyes when wearing contacts?

    Related Topic
    Myopia & Hyperopia (shortsightedness & farsightedness)
    My eyes always get dry in the evening… even if I haven't worn them all day. I know eye drops can temporarily provide moisture but does anyone have any other suggestions?
    • 2 answers
    • onedirectionrules4eva
    • Dr Nicholas Young
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  • 1

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    onedirectionrules4eva

    HealthShare Member

    Try wetting with contact lens solution!

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    Thanks

    Dr Nicholas Young

    Optometrist

    Optometrist, DirectorDry Eye Centre, Heathmont, VictoriaA Melbourne based clinic specialising in Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease. View Profile

    This depends a lot on what is causing the dryness, and unfortunately this can be complex.  The most likely possibilities are

    1. contact lens compatible lubricating eye drops.  These should be unpreserved, due to the problems associated with long term use of preservatives on the eyes.  Example would be Systane UD or Theratears.  If this fixes the problem, great!  However, as a rule of thumb you should not need more than 4 drops per day of any artificial tear.  If you do, then you should be asking why?

    2.  You could look at restricting contact lens wearing time: hours per day, or days per week.  Try increasing spectacles use, to give your eyes a break.

    3. If you use computers a lot with contact lenses, it's likely that your blink rate is reduced.  This also drys out your eyes.  Here at the Dry Eye Centre, we teach our patients the importance of blinking.  It's not rocket science, but it can be very important

    4.  You could have a contact lens incompatibility!  This could be either a problem with the physical fit, or the type of material the lens is made from.  This would require refitting you with other lens options.  Also there is one new lens on the market which particularly has dry eye in mind.  It's a water gradient lens that improves end of day comfort. Happy to discuss this with you, if you wish.

    5.  Finally, you could have an underlying dry eye problem.  Evidence shows us that people who wear contact lenses are more likely to experience dry eye, and especially dry eye related to the delicate oil glands in our eyelids which stop our tears from evaporating too quickly.

    Tear science is complicated, and these are a few of the most likely answers to your question.  Getting to the answer for you might prove easy; you might be lucky.  However, if you need further advice, do give us a call at the Dry Eye Centre.  Only too happy to help.

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