3 Signs Contact Lenses are Making Your Eyes Too Dry
November 29th, 2021
Contact lenses are a simple and popular way to correct your eyesight. They give the benefits of glasses without being visible or resting on your face.
They make it easy to control the way you look and be active. But, they do have downsides.
For some people, contacts can be difficult or intimidating to put in. They are easy to lose, are pretty fragile, and must be constantly maintained and replaced to be safe to use.
One of the worst parts of contact lenses is their connection to dry eyes. Keep reading to learn about three signs that contact lenses are making your eyes dry.
Your Eyes Feel Gritty, Sticky, and Itchy
If you wear contacts, you may begin to experience the typical dry eye symptoms. These include:
- Burning and stinging eyes
- Itchy eyes
- A gritty or sand grain-like sensation in your eyes
- Redness
- Light sensitivity
- Watery eyes
While experiencing these symptoms, you may notice that it is harder to put and keep your contacts in. These are common contact lens side effects, but that does not mean they are pleasant to deal with. They can be a considerable drawback to wearing contacts.
You Keep Your Contacts In For Too Long
You should take your contacts out and clean or replace them every day. This daily routine keeps them safe and effective for your eyes.
Routinely taking them out also lets your eyes breathe. Eyes, much like the rest of your body, need a supply of oxygen to stay healthy.
Modern contacts are more permeable than they used to be, meaning they let more oxygen through. However, towards the end of the day, the lack of oxygen they cause can still result in dry eye symptoms.
Contacts also absorb moisture from your eyes. This absorption process directly leads to dry eyes by physically drying them out.
Soaking your contacts in contact solution solves this problem. The solution helps them stay flexible and maintain their strength and shape. Soaking them will help prevent contact lenses from pulling moisture out of your eyes.
You Have Preexisting Dry Eye and Contacts are Making It Worse
Contacts should not make contact with your eye when you’re wearing them. Instead, they should float on fluid on the surface of your eye.
If you don’t produce enough tears, contacts will touch your eye and cause pain and irritation. This irritation will be worse if they are cheaply made or don’t fit correctly.
Contact-Lens Induced Dry Eye Relief Tips
If you experience dry eyes from contacts, the following tips could help.
- Use eye drops to manage symptoms and provide safe and reliable lubrication
- Try different contact types and styles to see which are best for your eyes
- Eat a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C
- Determine the underlying cause of your dry eye.
Contacts are not always the direct cause of dry eye. Other underlying causes could be contributing to your symptoms. The only way to be sure about what is causing your dry eyes is to meet with your eye doctor.
Schedule an appointment at Laser Eye Center in Huntsville, AL, to find a solution to your dry eye.
