If
you have dry eyes, you may think you can't wear any kind of contact lenses.
The good news: there are several types of contact lenses you can wear that
won't irritate your eyes, and some that may even alleviate certain dry eye
problems.
In a nutshell, soft contact lenses tend to cause dry eye problems, and semipermeable
hard contact lenses tend to improve them. This sounds counter to logic,
but there's a good reason. Soft contact lenses are made of a water-based
plastic. Remember, you soak your contact lenses when you aren't wearing
them so they won't dry out. In your eyes, they "soak" as well, but only
in your tears. If your eyes are already prone to dry eye problems, soft
contact lenses will dry them further.
Semipermeable hard lenses like Acuvue Oasys lenses, on the other hand, are
hydrophobic - that is, they tend to repel water. In a very real way, they
seal your tears in against your eyes, preventing dry eye problems. You can
also get contact lenses like Avaira, made of a next-generation silicon that
binds water inside the lens, which protect your eyes from the drying effects
of traditional soft lenses. In addition, those who suffer from dry eyes
should not wear extended-wear contact lenses for long periods of time; even
Acuvue contact lenses, specifically designed to be worn for eight hours
or more on sensitive eyes, can cause irritation.
Which Contact Lenses Should You Choose To Treat Dry Eyes?
The great news is that many different types of contact lenses are made of
semipermeable hard materials, making them perfect for dry eye use. Unfortunately,
the most fun contact lenses, like theatrical contact lenses or gothic contact
lenses that give your eyes different wild effects, are generally soft lenses
that are not designed for dry eyes. Expressions contact lenses, which help
change or brighten your eye color, are also not the way to go if you have
dry eyes. These lenses are usually soft water-based lenses, and no matter
how brilliant the resultant color, it won't be flattering with the redness
caused by dry eyes. If you use novelty contact lenses, Expressions lenses,
or other colored soft lenses like Freshlook contact lenses, avoid other
eye drying issues like smoke and keep a bottle of liquid tears handy.
It's also wise to avoid many discount contact lenses like Aqualens; these
are quality contacts, but are made with older technology that does not protect
dryness-prone eyes. Durasoft and Soflens may work better for some people,
but they are soft lenses and will often irritate eyes with advanced dry
eye syndrome. Lenses that are easier on your dry eyes, and also are ideal
for giving you clear, uninhibited vision include Biomedics, Purevision,
and Focus Dailies.
There are several ideal traits to contact lenses easy on dry eyes you can
look for. First, cutting-edge materials like the silicon construction of
Avaira are designed to help keep moisture in dry eyes, potentially improving
your dry eye condition. Second, disposable contact lenses can keep your
eyes allergy-free, eliminating one of the main exacerbaters of dry eyes.
Finally, avoiding specialty contacts like gothic or colored lenses except
for special events, as well as using artificial tears when you do use these
contacts, will keep your eyes healthy and happy.