While worse in the winter, dry eyes can make contact lens wear uncomfortable all year long. The symptoms of dry eyes are usually worse towards the end of the day. Many also notice fluctuating vision and redness around the iris (colored portion of the eye). Their contacts may even curl around the edges when they remove them.
The problem is due to a decrease in tear production over time and a more rapid evaporation of the tear film in dry environments. The result is a drying out of many types of soft contact lenses. But if you have been experiencing any of theses problems, we may have a solution for you.
Recent technology has produced a new type of soft contact lens to prevent dry eye symptoms with contacts. These silicone soft contact lenses are designed to be healthier for the cornea (the front surface of the eye) and lessen the dryness problem.
Some of the contact lens options are: Acuvue Advance, Oasys, O2Optics, Focus Night and Day, and Purevision lenses. There are even options for those of you with astigmatism or who are wearing bifocal contacts.
Other contact lens option, other treatments for dry eye include the placement of tiny punctual plugs which decrease the drainage of tears from the eyes, the use of tear supplements and prescription products such as Restasis that increase the quality of your tears. If you have dry eyes you may have to admit that contact lenses are not for you. The contacts make your eyes more dry by absorbing your tears, leaving less moisture to coat the eye. Many patients consider LASIK vision correction when this occurs.
