Contact Lens Dryness

Contact lens dryness is one of the most common complaints we hear from patients who wear contact lenses.  Symptoms of contact lens dryness include:

• feeling your contact lenses throughout the day (dry or gummy),
• the lenses move around on your eye causing blurred vision,
• feeling the need to blink excessively,
• eyes feel tired.

As you wear your contact lenses, lipid and protein deposits form on the front surface preventing tears from effectively coating the lens. The unlubricated lens then rubs against the inside of your eyelid as you blink, causing irritation that feels like something is in your eye. Throughout the day more deposits collect on your lenses, making them more and more uncomfortable.

Your current cleaning solution may not be removing deposits that build up on your lenses. By switching to a brand name contact lens solution that more effectively removes lipid and protein deposits, you will start with a cleaner lens each day. Some people can also be more sensitive (or become more sensitive over time) to certain preservatives used in contact lens cleaning solutions. Use only one brand of solution until you have determined if it is effective for you. Using a combination of solutions makes it difficult to determine which solution may be causing an adverse result.

Unfortunately, no overnight cleaning solution can remove all deposits from your lenses. Because deposits build up over time, patients who wear two-week or monthly disposable lenses tend to have more problems with contact lens discomfort. Switching to daily disposable contact lenses eliminates the issue of buildup over time. Each day you have a clean, deposit-free lens. Single-use contacts also decrease your risk of infection and reduce allergies.

If you are currently not able to comfortably wear your contacts throughout your waking hours, don’t give up on contacts altogether. With the right lenses and cleaning solution, most patients can comfortably wear contact lenses all day, every day.