The Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes
Dry eyes are a frequent complaint among people who wear contact lenses. According to Contact Lens Spectrum's 2020 survey of eyecare practitioners, 48% of contact lens wearers have dry eye. The survey noted that 18% of wearers stop wearing contact lenses every year due to dry eye discomfort. Luckily, contact lens manufacturers offer several types of lenses developed to prevent or reduce dryness.
How Dry Eyes Cause Problems for Contact Lens Wearers
Moisture, the key to contact lens comfort, helps you avoid the uncomfortable, gritty sensation of dry eyes. Moisture content determines how quickly a lens will feel dry and affects average wear time.
A layer of tears, called the tear film, sits on top of the cornea, the clear, rounded layer of tissue over the iris. The tear film lubricates the eye and helps keep vision clear. According to the Review of Optometry, tears may evaporate more quickly and become thinner when wearing contact lenses. Contact lenses can also interfere with the way the lipid layer of the tear film spreads across the eyes. The oily lipid layer helps distribute tears evenly over the eyes and slows tear evaporation.
In addition to moisture issues, dryness can be caused or worsened if:
- Poorly Fitting Contact Lenses Irritate Your Eyes
- Your Contact Lenses Significantly Reduce the Amount of Oxygen That Reaches the Eyes
- Protein Builds Up on Your Lenses
Choosing Contact Lenses for Dry Eye
Contact lenses that include these features may be a better choice if you have dry eyes:
- Moisture-Locking Technology
- Water-Gradient Design That Increases Water Content on the Surface of the Eye
- High-Oxygen Permeability to Allow the Maximum Amount of Oxygen to Pass Through the Lenses
Contact lenses for dry eye are available in both daily and monthly wear varieties. If neither of these options improves your comfort, your optometrist may recommend scleral contact lenses. These custom-fit lenses cover the cornea and the sclera, the white part of the eye, while traditional contact lenses only cover the cornea. The larger size reduces tear evaporation and blocks dust and dirt from slipping under the lenses.
Contact Lenses For Dry Eyes
If you're struggling with dry eye, one of these contact lens options may be the ideal choice for you:
- ACUVUE OASYS 1-DAY. The lenses use HydraClear Plus technology to keep the contacts moist and offer high oxygen transmission.
- DAILIES TOTAL1. Water gradient technology improves the stability of the lipid layer. DAILIES TOTAL1 keep water at the surface level of the lens at nearly 100%.
- Proclear 1 Day. Proclear 1 Day contact lenses are made just for people with dry eyes. The lenses resist protein buildup and use Cooper Vision's PC Technology to bind water to the lenses.
- Proclear sphere. These monthly lenses retain moisture while reducing uncomfortable buildup.
- BAUSCH+LOMB ULTRA and BAUSCH+LOMB INFUSE. MoistureSeal technology retains 95% moisture for as long as 16 hours, according to Bausch+Lomb. BAUSCH+LOMB ULTRA is a monthly lens, while BAUSCH+LOMB INFUSE is a daily wear contact lens.
- Biofinity. Biofinity monthly contact lenses offer 100% oxygen transmission, Aquaform Technology to lock in moisture, and smooth, rounded edges that reduce contact between the eyes and the lenses.
- PRECISION1 Daily Contact Lenses. SMARTSURFACE Technology keeps these lenses comfortable for hours by retaining 80% water on the lens surface.
Ready to give up on contact lenses due to dry eye? Your optometrist can help you find lenses that keep your eyes moist and comfortable. Contact our office to schedule your appointment.
Sources:
Contact Lens Spectrum: 2020 Report on Dry Eye Diseases, 7/1/2020
https://clspectrum.com/issues/2020/july/2020-report-on-dry-eye-diseases/
Review of Optometry: How Contact Lenses Contribute to Dry Eye, 5/15/2023
https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/how-contact-lenses-contribute-to-dry-eye
All About Vision: 3 Best Contacts for Dry Eyes in 2024
https://www.allaboutvision.com/eyewear/contact-lenses/buying/best-contacts-dry-eyes/
MyAlcon: Dailies Total1
https://www.myalcon.com/professional/contact-lenses/daily/dailies-total1/
Cooper Vision: Proclear 1 Day
https://coopervision.com/contact-lenses/proclear-1-day-contacts
Bausch+Lomb. BAUSCH+LOMB INFUSE One-Day Lenses
https://www.bauschcontactlenses.com/contacts/infuse-one-day/
Cooper Vision: Biofinity
https://coopervision.com/contact-lenses/biofinity-contacts
MyAlcon: PRECISION1 Daily Contact Lenses