What is Dry Eyes
Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when your tears aren’t able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. It can happen with many underlying conditions like aging, certain medical conditions or medications. But the dry eye can also happen with improper usage of contact lens.
Symptoms of dry eyes when you are wearing contact lens which can be excessive production of tears; itchy, burning or stinging sensation to the eye; eye redness. These symptoms are usually temporary and go away when you remove the lenses.
5 Tips to Fix Dry Eye while using Contact Lenses
1. Visit The Doctor
If you experience a painful dry eye then it is advisable to visit your eye doctor to get your eyes checked for any infections. Your doctor will get into the root cause of painful dry eyes and will give you appropriate medication to tackle it.
2. Use The Right Type Of Contact Lense
There are various type of contact lenses available in the market as per the requirement of customers. Contact lenses are of different types distinguished on the basis of lens material – soft and hard( Rigid Gas Permeable); Daily wear or extendable wear; or you get hybrid contact lens. So you need to choose the right one suited for your condition.
Soft Contact Lens have high water content than a hard contact lens. They are usually made from special type of plastic mixed with water. Oxygen can transfer to cornea through the water content present in the lens thus making it more breathable.
Usually, soft contact lens causes less eye dryness than hard ones. When you purchase the contact lens, check for the water content and gas permeability of the lens.
3. Eye Drops for Lubrication
Eye Drops are recommended for dry eye since it lubricate and soothes the eyes and help maintain moisture on outer surface of the eye.
There are two types of eye drops available in market. One with preservatives which can be used upto four time a day. Non preservative eye drops are single use vial which has to be disposed off every time after usage.
If the symptom does not subside even after using the eye drops, it is advisable to visit the doctor.
4. Change the Contact Solution
Contact lens solutions is made up of Disinfectant and preservatives to kill the bacteria and pathogens present on the surface of the lens.
The most common ingredients in contact lenses with disinfecting effects include hydrogen peroxide, boric acid, and ascorbic acid.
Your contact solution may contain some ingredients which cause irritant to your eyes. The best recommendation is to change the contact solution and check if the dryness persist.
5. Get Daily Disposable Contact Lenses
Daily Disposable contact lenses are to use only once in lifetime and discard it to prevent infection. They are made up of thinner material than other type of contact lens and is not designed to be resistant to germs, bacteria and other buildup that collects on the lens throughout the day.
It is good option for a beginner or the younger generation since they tend to lose or tear the lenses.