It is the most common complaint from contact lens wearers. You put your lenses in during the morning and they feel great. But by the afternoon, your eyes feel scratchy, tired, and dry. You might find yourself blinking hard or rubbing your eyes just to get comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Dryness is a major issue, especially in Canada.<\/sup> But you do not have to just live with it. Here is why it happens and some simple ways to fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. The Canadian Climate<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our environment plays a big role. In the winter, the air outside is cold and holds very little moisture. Indoors, we blast the heating, which dries the air out even more. This dry air acts like a sponge, pulling moisture right off the surface of your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Digital Eye Strain<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Think about your daily routine. Do you spend hours looking at a computer or phone? When we stare at screens, our blink rate drops significantly. We stop blinking fully, which means we stop refreshing the layer of moisture on our eyes. This causes the lens to dry out quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Your Lens Material<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all contact lenses are the same. Older lens materials (hydrogels) rely on high water content to pass oxygen to the eye. Paradoxically, these high-water lenses can sometimes draw moisture out<\/em> of your eye to stay hydrated in dry environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Deposit Buildup<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you wear bi-weekly or monthly lenses, proteins and lipids from your tears can build up on the surface over time. This creates a rough surface that disrupts your tear film, leading to that gritty, dry sensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can often solve the problem with a few small changes to your routine or your lens choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.<\/strong> Use Rewetting Drops<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep a bottle of rewetting drops (artificial tears) handy. Make sure the label says “for contact lenses.” Use them a few times a day to rehydrate the lens. Note: Do not use tap water or standard redness-relief drops, as these can damage your lenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2.<\/strong> Follow the 20-20-20 Rule<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you work on a computer, give your eyes a break. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This reminds you to blink and reset your focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3.<\/strong> Switch to Silicone Hydrogel<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask your optometrist about silicone hydrogel lenses. These modern lenses are breathable and do not rely as heavily on water content to let oxygen through. They often stay moist longer in dry conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4.<\/strong> Try Daily Disposables<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way to avoid deposit buildup is to wear a fresh lens every day. Daily disposables (like DAILIES TOTAL1 or ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day) are often the top recommendation for people with dry eyes because you start every morning with a clean, sterile, moisture-rich lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If changing your routine does not help, the issue might be your lens. Technology has improved a lot in recent years. Manufacturers now make lenses specifically designed to hold moisture for 16 hours or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are the top lenses that we recommend for fighting dryness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Main Causes of Contact Lens Dryness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Simple Ways to Fix Dry Eyes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n