Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

If you experience itching, or a burning sensation or even stinging in your eyes, you might be experiencing what is commonly referred to as "dry eye" syndrome. Indeed, perhaps you only experience a sensation of having "something in" your eye, or some general discomfort. However, if you regularly have one or more of these symptoms, it might well be due to dry eyes.

Having dry eyes implies that your eyes are not producing a sufficient quantity of tears. In fact as we get older we all produce fewer tears, and in some cases this can lead to dry eye symptoms. It might also result because the composition of the tears has changed, making them unstable and evaporating quicker.

Exposure to certain environmental conditions and medications such as antihistamines, oral contraceptives or anti-depressants, can also contribute to symptoms of dry eyes. However dry eyes may also be a symptom of general health problems or other diseases.

Contact lenses and dry eyes do not make an easy combination, since dry eyes can make wearing contact lenses more difficult due to there being insufficient tears to keep the lenses wet and lubricated. Thus dry eyes can lead to irritation and a greater chance of eye infection.

Special Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

However, recently great improvements have been made in contact lens materials. In the past, many dry eye sufferers could not tolerate contact lenses at all. Now there are numerous types of contact lenses, particularlyy ones that contain the newest polymers, possessing molecules which attach to water, allowing the lenses to resist deposits and function better.

There have also been great advances in the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of various types of dry eye. For example, patients with oil gland dysfunction can tolerate contact lenses for extended periods of time through a regime of warm compresses, lid scrubs and artificial teardrops.

Chronic dry eye patients can now wear their contact lenses more comfortably thanks to high quality eye drops such as Restasis, a special eye drop for treating chronic dry eye. Most dry eye patients can now tolerate contact lenses for at least eight hours per day, and patients formerly dependent on glasses can now try the latest technology in contact lenses, including multifocal lenses.

Some contact lens manufacturers specifically address the problem of contact lenses and dry eyes. For example Biomedics offer Frequency 55 contact lenses for dry eyes. The higher water content in these lenses can be of great benefit for those suffering from irritated and dry eyes.

If you need contact lenses for dry eyes, take time to review and compare before selecting the best contact lenses for your circumstances. Many companies offer contact lenses for dry eyes and you should try to determine the best ones in conjunction with your optician.

Solutions for Contact Lenses and Dry Eyes

There are also solutions that are designed to work alongside contact lenses and dry eyes to minimize risks and provide greater comfort. These include tear inducing solutions and artificial tears.

For these reasons, if you do appear to be suffering from dry eyes and wear contact lenses or intend to wear contact lenses, it is important to discuss your symptoms with your optician, who will then undertake a thorough examination of your eyes and try to determine any underlying cause. It is important to closely follow your eye specialist's proposed treatment plan.

During the examination, your eye specialist will ask about your general health, use of medications, and work and home environments to determine factors which may be contributing to dry eye symptoms. It might then be necessary to perform dry eye tests.

In testing for dry eyes, your optician might use diagnostic instruments that give a highly magnified view of your eyes, or sometimes small strips of paper or thread which together with special dyes, enable the assessment of the the quantity and quality of your tears.

It is not possible to cure dry eyes completely, but the sensitivity of your eyes can be reduced and measures taken so your eyes stay healthy.

The most frequent method of treatment for dry eyes is the use of artificial tears or tear substitutes. If you have a very severe case of dry eyes, ointment can be used, frequently at bedtime. Sometimes tiny plugs may be inserted into the corner of the eyelids to reduce the speed of tear drainages.

It is important that when undergoing treatment for dry eyes and you have increased dryness or redness that is not relieved by the prescribed treatment, you should inform your optician as quickly as possible.