Dry eyes can be uncomfortable and even damaging to your vision if left untreated. Contact lenses are meant to improve your vision and comfort, but if not worn properly, they can cause your eyes to dry out. It's important to be aware of the signs that your contact lenses could be drying out your eyes so that you can take proper steps to make sure your vision stays healthy. 

What Are the Symptoms of Contact Lens-Induced Dry Eye? 

The most common symptom of contact-lens-induced dry eye is an uncomfortable feeling in your eyes. You may feel like your eyes are dry, burning, or itchy. You may also feel like something is in your eye, even though there’s nothing there. Other symptoms include blurry vision, trouble focusing, excessive tearing, and a feeling of grittiness or sand in your eyes. 

How Do You Treat Contact Lens-Induced Dry Eye?

The first step in treating contact lens-induced dry eye is to determine whether the dry eye is caused by the contact lenses themselves or by an underlying issue. Your eye doctor will examine your eyes and ask about your contact lens use and other possible causes of dry eye. If the cause is determined to be contact lens-induced dry eye, your doctor may recommend a few different treatments. 

One of the most common treatments for contact lens-induced dry eye is to switch to a different type of contact lens. This may include changing from a hard lens to a softer lens or from a gas-permeable lens to a daily disposable lens. Your doctor may also advise you to reduce the amount of time you wear your contact lenses or to switch to wearing glasses instead.

In addition to changing your contact lenses, your doctor may suggest using artificial tears or other lubricating eye drops to relieve discomfort and reduce dryness. Your doctor may also recommend using eye ointments or gels at night to keep your eyes lubricated while you sleep. If your contact lens-induced dry eye is severe, your doctor may prescribe special contact lenses designed to minimize irritation or recommend other treatments to limit tear drainage.

Finally, if you are experiencing contact lens-induced dry eye, it is important to maintain good contact lens hygiene. This includes washing your hands before handling lenses, using fresh contact lens solution every time, and replacing lenses on a regular basis.

How to Prevent Dry Eyes from Wearing Contact Lenses

First, it’s important to use the right type of contact lenses for your eyes. Not all contact lenses are created equal, and some may be more likely to cause dry eyes than others. Talk to your eye doctor about the best type of contact lenses for your eyes.

Second, make sure to use contact lenses as directed. Follow the instructions from your eye doctor regarding how long you should wear your contact lenses, how often you should replace them, and how to properly care for them.

Third, use lubricating eye drops. If you do experience dry eyes when wearing contact lenses, you can use lubricating eye drops to help relieve the symptoms. However, make sure to use eye drops that are specifically designed for use with contact lenses, as some other types of eye drops can interfere with the lenses.

Finally, take frequent breaks from contact lenses. Try to give your eyes a break from contact lenses as much as possible. For example, wear glasses when you’re not actively doing activities that require near-vision accuracy, such as reading or watching TV.

Final Thoughts 

Contact lenses can be a great solution for vision correction, but if they are not properly cared for, they can cause irritation, dryness, and discomfort. It is important to ensure that contact lenses are cleaned and stored properly and that the eyes and lenses are kept hydrated. If you experience dryness, redness, pain, excessive tearing, or other symptoms of irritation, contact your eye care professional to make sure your contact lenses are not the cause. If your contact lenses are causing your eyes to dry, there are solutions available to better manage contact lens wear and reduce eye irritation. 

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