Wearing contact lenses can be uncomfortable and irritating to anybody who suffers from dry eye syndrome. However, you may still wear lenses if you have dry eyes, but there are a few things to consider when selecting the best option for you. If you have dry eyes, here’s what to look for in contact lenses.
What To Look For In Lenses When You Have Dry Eyes
If you have dry eyes, your optician can help you select a brand of lenses that are more comfortable for you. Aside from lubricating eye drops, there are several materials to consider as well.
Materials
The most common lens materials are soft contact lenses, which are created from a flexible type of plastic that allows oxygen to flow through quickly. They’re available in two versions: rigid gas-permeable lenses, which are firmer but allow plenty of oxygen to pass through, and soft contact lenses, which allow greater comfort as they fit around your eye.
The lenses used in soft contact lenses are silicone hydrogel, which has a higher amount of water and can assist with keeping the eyes moist. Whatever pairs you choose, be sure to keep cleanliness in mind by changing your lenses every day if you use daily contact lenses, or thoroughly cleaning them with a clean solution if you use monthly lenses.
Silicone hydrogel lenses are an excellent choice for dry eyes since they prevent water from evaporating as easily, which means that the symptoms of dry eyes are more effectively reduced. Because of this, many opticians recommend them.
Water content
The amount of water in the lens determines whether it is classified as low-water volume or high-water content. Low-water volume lenses, which seem to be a better option, are actually more likely to cause dry eyes because they send more moisture to the eyes at first but then evaporate faster. If you have sensitive eyes, it’s possible that your water level is perfect for one eye but too heavy for the other. It may be worth experimenting with a variety of different water levels to see which one works best for your eyes.
Size of the lens
The typical size of most contact lenses is around 9mm, which just covers the iris in the eye. Scleral lenses, on the other hand, are much larger, ranging from 15 to 22mm across and covering a substantial amount of white of the eye as well as the iris.
Gas permeable lenses are a type of gas-permeable lens that allows plenty of oxygen to pass through them, which is beneficial for dry eyes.
Solutions
It’s possible that the problem isn’t with your specs, but rather with the cleaning and storage method you’ve been using. Certain preservatives may be present in some solutions, which can cause dryness and discomfort.
If you believe the remedy is the source of your dry eyes, see an optician who may help you find a different brand to try.
Disposables vs monthly lenses
Disposable lenses may also assist with dryness and make the experience more pleasant. Because the lenses are only used once, there’s far less risk of dirt and debris accumulating on the lens’s surface, causing discomfort.
Because monthly lenses must be cleaned after each usage and stored in fresh saline solution for longer than 30 days, they should not be reused or kept for longer than 30 days.
