Here is how you can avoid a dry eye condition caused by contact lenses

If you use contact lenses, dry eyes could be a problem that you may have experienced. However, that does not mean that contact lenses always cause dry eyes. Nevertheless, wearing them for long hours is a risk factor for this condition. Contact lens users typically search for the best contacts for dry eyes. These lenses are designed for people with dry eyes and they allow oxygen to pass through the lens’ material, giving the cornea access to essential oxygen supply that keeps the eyes moist.

What is the dry eye condition?

• If you have dry eyes, it means that either the tear production system in your eyes is not working properly or the tear film is not covering the eye properly, leading to inadequate lubrication.
• Tears have a crucial role to play in keeping the eyes healthy and protecting them from environmental pollutants and allergens.
• Dry eyes indicate an insufficiency or obstruction in the mechanism of keeping the eyes moist. There could be a relation between wearing contact lenses and suffering from a dry eye condition.
• If you are suffering from dry eyes, you may also experience a stinging sensation.
• Some patients also develop a sensitivity to light.
• People with dry eyes usually experience blurry vision and difficulty in wearing contacts.

Can contact lenses cause dry eyes?

• It is not uncommon for people wearing contact lenses to experience blurry and cloudy vision at times. They may also have a swelling in the eyes.
• Wearing contact lenses is a risk factor for dry eyes, and this relation has been studied in detail by doctors over the years.
• The problem is caused by a lack of lubrication of the eyes due to the contact lens covering the cornea. Since the cornea does not have any blood vessels of its own, it depends on the lubricating system of your eyes for its oxygen supply. The tear film acquires oxygen from the atmosphere when the eyes are open, and the cornea gets oxygen from the tear film.
• Since the cornea is covered by the contacts lens, the tear film over the cornea gets depleted. Even if there is a thin layer of tears, your eyes cannot harvest oxygen from the atmosphere because of the barrier created by the contacts. Thus, the cornea is deprived of essential oxygen supply, leading to dry eyes.

How did contact lenses evolve to prevent dry eyes?

• Originally, contact lenses were made of glass and were quite heavy. They were not gas permeable since they were not porous.
• Even after plastic contact lenses came into being, they did not allow the exchange of gases. Owing to this, wearers could not use contacts for long periods of time. The contact lenses were uncomfortable to wear, and people usually took them out at night. Sometimes, users also needed to inject lubricants below the contacts to keep their eyes moist.
• Porous contact lenses that permitted the tear film to come in contact with atmospheric oxygen were invented later. They, too, were made of a special kind of plastic. Still, the problem of dry eyes was not completely solved, as most contact lenses continued to displace the tear film from over the cornea.
• Dry eye problems mostly occur in people who don’t remove their contacts at night. The cornea does not get enough oxygen, leading to a feeling of dry eyes.

How can modern contact lenses help you?

• Modern contact lenses are not only gas permeable, but also hydrophilic. This means that they don’t deplete or displace the tear film over the cornea.
• When the tear film is present naturally, and there is no barrier to harvesting oxygen from the atmosphere, the problem of dry eyes doesn’t usually arise.
• Modern contact lenses are known as soft contacts. These are the best type of contacts for people who suffer from dry eyes.

How can one protect their eyes from drying out while wearing contact lenses?

• To protect your eyes, you need to use lenses specifically designed for dry eyes. These are a special type of contact lenses called soft contacts that help to keep the eyes lubricated.
• Soft contacts are made of a special type of plastic and water.
• Owing to the water content of the contacts, the tear film over the cornea can harvest oxygen from the atmosphere.
• So, the cornea can stay oxygenated and save you from the uncomfortable feeling of dry eyes.