(I-MED Pharma)
When you wear contact lenses and suffer from dry eyes, a comprehensive eye care routine is crucial, but finding the right eye drops and eye care solutions can be tricky.
Despite the benefits of contact lenses, they are not without risk: contacts can cause or exacerbate dry eye disease[1], along with other potential complications like conjunctivitis and corneal abrasions[2]. For contact lens wearers, especially those that suffer from dry eye disease, it is consequently important to stay informed on best practices in order to avoid health complications or worsening what may already be discomforting symptoms that affect quality of life.
Understanding Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye disease is an ocular surface disease that occurs when natural tears are unable to provide adequate lubrication for the eyes. Tears act as a coating that helps protect the surface of the eye from damage that can result in complications, including visual impairment.
Along with the risks it poses to vision, dry eye disease can also cause a range of discomforting symptoms, such as stinging, burning, or scratching sensations in the eyes, light sensitivity, and redness, as well as making it more difficult to wear contact lenses.
When you have dry eyes, contact lenses can therefore be a double-edged sword: dry eye can potentially affect your vision, leading to the need for corrective lenses to see, but at the same time, contact lenses themselves can contribute to eye dryness[3]. This being said, when using contact lenses, it’s critical to use appropriate dry eye management and treatment solutions that are compatible with contact lenses to minimize the risks and discomfort of dry eye.
Eye Drops for Contact Lens Wearers
So, can you use eye drops with contact lenses? The short answer: it depends on the drop. There are many different types of eye drops, so to ensure you’re using the best eye drops for dry eyes with contact lenses, there are certain factors to take into account.
Some drops are made to rewet contact lenses. It will be indicated on the bottle of these drops that they are intended for use with contacts. These drops soften the contact lenses and flush out any debris.
However, when you suffer from dry eyes, contact lens-compatible artificial tears can be used to a similar effect, while also keeping the eyes optimally lubricated. Unlike rewetting eye drops, artificial tears are used specifically for dry eyes.
It is important to choose preservative-free artificial tears, which help to supplement and enhance the natural tear film. They are safer for your eyes, since preservatives can cause irritation and adverse effects, including adhering to contact lenses[4].
Among the other kinds of eye drops available, some require a prescription and are used to treat specific conditions, such as bacterial infections. Some contain antihistamines and are used to address allergies, and some are designed to reduce eye redness. These drops will indicate whether they are safe to use with contact lenses. As a general rule, it is safer to avoid using widely available redness relief drops for prolonged periods, contacts or not.
Which Contact Lenses Work Best for Dry Eyes?
If you suffer from dry eyes, it’s also important to ensure you’re choosing the right kind of contact lenses.
Soft lenses are designed to hold water and to allow oxygen to pass through them[5], making them a good choice for those with dry eyes. Silicone hydrogel lenses are a type of soft contact lens made of hydrophilic materials – materials that mix well with water – that offer flexibility and comfort. While they are often more expensive than other soft contact lenses, research has suggested that they lead to less dryness and discomfort, which has been attributed to a greater capacity for oxygen flow[6]. For this reason, they may be a good choice for dry eyes even compared to other soft lenses.
When it comes to hard, or Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP), lenses, scleral lenses may be one of the best options for those with dry eye, since they minimize contact with the cornea and create a layer of fluid that keeps the surface of the eye hydrated[7].
One other consideration is that daily disposable contacts may ultimately be a better option for those with dry eyes than those worn for extended periods. In any case, the decision on the right kind of contact lens should always be made in consultation with an eye care professional.
Best Eye Care Practices for Contact Lenses
Regular contact lens exams are important in maintaining the health of your eyes. Your eye doctor will check your prescription, your tear film health, and the fit of your lenses[8]. Ensuring the right fit helps mitigate the risk of complications that can affect your ocular health and vision acuity. Going for regular eye exams and following your eye care professional’s directions on lens care, hygiene practices, and frequency of use are the best ways to maintain your eye health and comfort[9].
Regular use of artificial tears can provide relief from discomforting symptoms. Unless otherwise indicated, preservative-free artificial tears can be used as frequently as needed to alleviate discomfort. This can vary from person to person, but when in doubt, it is worth checking with an eye care professional for personalized recommendations for your situation.
Eye Drops for Dry Eyes
By way of eye drops for dry eyes that are contact-lens compatible, I-MED Pharma offers I-DROP® PUR, a preservative-free artificial tear ideal for dry eye relief. In comparison to rewetting drops, I-DROP® PUR provides a longer residence time on the eye surface due to its viscoadaptive nature, resulting in longer-lasting relief and comfort without blurring, which is a common concern for contact lens wearers with other types of drops.
A satisfied I-DROP® PUR user writes that, since she started using the drops, “I feel comfortable keeping my contacts on for a longer period of time than my comfort level allowed in the past. The soothing effect of the drops is evident immediately.”
It can be a struggle to apply eye drops without reflexively blinking, and a little patience can go a long way. When using I-MED Pharma’s I-DROP® artificial tears, it is recommended to hold the bottle upside down for a few seconds to allow the product to travel through the anti-bacterial system and one-way valve that ensure the sterile delivery of each drop. Then make a fist, holding the bottle between your thumb and forefinger, and squeeze until you see a drop fall, guided by the blue tip of the bottle.
Ocular Hygiene for Contact Lens Wearers
Ocular hygiene is another important aspect of eye care, especially dry eye care, and even more so when you wear contact lenses. Just like when applying contacts, good hygiene practices when applying artificial tears are necessary to minimize the risk of infection or other complications. Always wash your hands before applying eye drops and never touch the bottle directly to your eye.
Regular use of ocular hygiene products on the eyelids and lashes helps to remove debris and irritants, which can also potentially accumulate on contact lenses and impact their performance. I-LID ’N LASH® ocular hygiene cleansers, specifically formulated for dry eyes, clean the eyelids and lashes by removing ocular debris, helping to break the dry eye cycle and to improve the effectiveness of artificial tears.
In Conclusion
It’s always a good idea to address any questions or concerns about dry eyes or contact lenses to your eye care professional, whom you should be seeing for regular exams. Experiencing dry eyes after wearing contacts is a problem that demands care and attention, especially if your eyes are already dry. However, choosing the right kind of contacts and finding the best eye drops for contact lenses can help mitigate the risks and discomfort.
For relief from the discomforting symptoms of dry eye, you can turn to I-MED Pharma’s contact lens-compatible artificial tear I-DROP® PUR, and to maintain your ocular hygiene, our I-LID ’N LASH® line of cleansers is here to help!
To discover I-MED Pharma’s line of OSD solutions, shop now!
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[1] Fu, Runzhong, et al. “Tear Proteases and Protease Inhibitors: Potential Biomarkers and Disease Drivers in Ocular Surface Disease.” Eye & Contact Lens, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2020, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6992486/.
[2] Gurnani, Bharat, and Kirandeep Kaur. “Contact Lens–Related Complications.” StatPearls, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 11 June 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587443/.
[3] “Dry Eye.” National Eye Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/dry-eye. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
[4] Bradley, Chelsea S, et al. “Common Ophthalmic Preservatives in Soft Contact Lens Care Products: Benefits, Complications, and a Comparison to Non-Preserved Solutions.” Clinical Optometry, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 7 Sept. 2021, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8434857/.
[5] “About Contact Lens Types.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/about/about-contact-lens-types.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcontactlenses%2Fcontact-lens-types.html. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
[6] Brennan, Noel A., and M.-L. Chantal Coles. “Extended wear.” Contact Lens Practice, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-7020-6660-3.00024-1.
[7] Virani, Nadia. “Use of Scleral Lenses for Dry Eye Disease.” Modern Optometry, Bryn Mawr Communications, Apr. 2020, www.modernod.com/articles/2020-apr/use-of-scleral-lenses-for-dry-eye-disease.
[8] Lazarus, Russel. “The Contact Lens Exam.” Optometrists Network, 5 Apr. 2022, www.optometrists.org/general-practice-optometry/optical/guide-to-contact-lenses/what-are-contact-lenses/the-contact-lens-exam/.
[9] Attar, Roya. “Contact Lens Complications: Recognition, Prevention and Management.” Review of Optometry, 15 Aug. 2024, www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/contact-lens-complications-recognition-prevention-and-management.