More than 3.5 million people wear contact lenses in the UK, and the number has been growing in the past decade. The reason for the growing popularity of contact lenses is that they are convenient and allow people to have their visions corrected without making any change to how they look. It is impossible to know if someone is wearing contact lenses. However, if you have dry eye syndrome, wearing contact lenses on a daily basis may be a struggle. It means that your eyes are not making fluid to keep the eyes comfortable, cause redness to your eyes and make your eyes itchy. If you have to work daily and go out every day, dry eyes can be a problem.
Symptoms of Dry Eyes
Some of the top symptoms of dry eye are
- Your eyes are irritated and red, especially if there is wind or you are near smoke.
- You find it difficult to wear contact lenses.
- Your eyes feel like they are burning.
- There is mucus around the eyes.
- You constantly feel like there is something in your eyes.
- You have blurred vision
Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome
As people grow old, they make fewer tears because of hormonal changes leading to dry eyes. It is more common in women than men, especially those who have recently gone through menopause. Some of the other common causes of dry eye syndrome include –
- Diseases such as thyroid disease, arthritis, lupus and Sjogren’s disease
- Entropion or ectropion – eyelids are turned in or out respectively
- Blepharitis – eyelids remain swollen
- Living in a dry climate or being in smoke all the time
- Working on the computer for an extended period of time
- Reading or indulging in activities that reduce the number of times you blink
LASIK surgery
Certain medicines also cause dry eyes such as sleeping pills, heartburn medicines, antidepressants, beta-blockers, water pills, allergy medications and others. Even though many opticians consider people with dry eyes as not good candidates for contact lenses, advancement in technology is changing it. It is possible today to find contact lenses that are made especially for people with dry eyes. It is important to talk to your opticians Essex about your condition so that they can prescribe lenses that are best for you.
Contact Lenses Options for Dry Eyes
Your optician should be able to find the cause of the dry eyes and offer medications to help improve the condition. They will also offer some lifestyle changes that will help you deal with your condition. There are different contact lenses available in the market that you can consider depending on what is causing dry eyes. Some of the best contact lenses options for dry eyes are –
Water Content – You will find contact lenses with different moisture levels. Those with high water content will worsen your condition as they will draw water from your eyes to maintain their wetness. Thus, it is best to pick lenses with low water content if you have dry eyes.
Soft Lenses – These are special type of contact lenses that hold a lot of water and allow oxygen to pass through them. It helps the eyes breathe and help with many of the symptoms of dry eyes. If you have been wearing hard lenses, it might be a good idea to switch to soft lenses to ease the dry eyes condition.
Silicone Hydrogels – Use contact lenses that are made of silicone hydrogels as they hold less moisture and also allow oxygen to pass through them. Even though they might be a little expensive compared to other types of contact lenses, they are perfect for people with dry eyes.
Replacement Frequency – It has been seen that replacing contact lenses often can help with dry eye symptoms. Thus, you can try contact lenses that need to be replaced daily to ensure maximum comfort.
Lens Care Solutions – The solution used for disinfecting contact lenses is a hydrogen-peroxide solution. If the solution remains on the contacts even after disinfection, it can worsen the dry eye symptoms. Thus, it is essential to pick special solutions made for dry eyes and use them correctly.
You do not have to stop wearing contact lenses if you have dry eyes. It is important to do some research and pick lenses that are best for dry eyes.
