Dry Eyes & Contact Lens Wear
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Dry eye is a very common disorder of the tear film that is due to a
deficiency of tear volume or excessive tear evaporation. This condition
causes damage to the surface of the eye leading to discomfort and
irritation. Dry eyes can be associated with systemic diseases, chemicals,
drugs, inflammation, allergic reactions, and contact lens wear.
The symptoms of dry eye typically include burning, stinging, redness,
foreign body sensation, excess tearing, and intermittent blurred vision.
The estimated number of people affected ranges from 10 to 14 million in
the United States.
Contact lens intolerance is often a consequence of dry eye.
Studies show that up to 50% of soft contact lens wearers complain
of dryness. A person with mild dry eye may not experience symptoms
until they attempt to wear contacts. Contacts can disrupt the delicate
balance of tear film production and can bring about dry eye symptoms.
Some dry eye patients can only wear lenses comfortably for short periods
of time and others are unable to tolerate contacts at all. Dryness is
the primary reason why people permanently discontinue contact lens wear.
Some clinical studies have indicated that preservatives used in
multipurpose solutions can contribute to discomfort and dryness in
contact lens wearers. One study specifically evaluated dry eye contact
lens wearers who compared AOSept, which has no added
preservatives, to OptiFree, Renu, Solocare, and Complete. It was
found that the majority of the subjects experienced increased comfort and
reduced symptoms of dryness with the AOSept as compared to the
multipurpose solutions.
There are ways for contact lens wearers to
combat dry eyes and feel comfortable in their lenses for
longer periods of wearing time. Possible remedies of contact lens
related dryness include:
- Contact lens rewetting drops: This is usually a temporary solution but does offer some relief.
Some examples are Refresh Contacts, Clerz Plus, or Clear Eyes Contact Lens Relief. For those with sensitive eyes, it is best to use a preservative-free
drop.
- Re-soak lenses during the day: People who have dryness symptoms after a few hours of wearing
time often experience much relief by removing and soaking their lenses for a few minutes. Upon reinsertion, most are able to wear their lenses comfortably
for many more hours.
- Take good care of lenses: Inserting fresh new lenses as often as prescribed, as well as cleaning
lenses properly, greatly contributes to contact lens comfort. Protein deposits and other types of buildup on the lens surface contribute to increased lens
dryness. Sometimes switching to a more disposable lens or switching to a different or stronger lens cleaning system also helps.
- More complete and frequent blinking: Blinking completely and often is necessary to rewet the
lenses and maintain comfort. It is often the case that when a person is concentrating, they do not blink as often as they should. This is why computer
users often complain of lens dryness. It is important to consciously be aware of blinking frequently and completely under these circumstances.
- Switching to a different lens material: There are lens brands designed specifically to provide
more comfort for those who have problems with dryness. Some examples are Proclear Compatibles
and Acuvue Oasys. The newer, more oxygen permeable silicone hydrogel materials such as Focus Night & Day, Ciba O2 Optix,
and Acuvue Advance have proven to be more comfortable for patients with moderate dry eye
issues.
- Prescription eye drops: Restasis is an anti-inflammatory eye drop prescribed for moderate to
severe dry eyes and has proven to be very effective in cases where inflammation is the underlying cause of the dryness symptoms. Contact lenses should be
removed before using these drops.
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