We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGeek

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

How do I Avoid Getting Dry Eyes from Contacts?

Autumn Rivers
By
Updated Jan 31, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGeek is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGeek, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Many people unexpectedly experience dry eyes from contacts, but there are some ways to prevent this bothersome issue. For example, certain habits should be added to the daily routine, such as limiting contact use, blinking often, and drinking lots of water. Using artificial tears during the day, and a soothing gel at night, can also decrease the chances of experiencing dry eyes while wearing contacts. Taking care of the contacts in general can also help, such as throwing them out when advised and rewetting them during the day.

You may find that your eyes become dry after wearing your contacts for several hours a day for many days in a row, which is why you should get into the habit of limiting your use when possible. For example, consider taking them out when you use the computer, as people tend to stare at the screen for a long time without blinking, leading to dry eyes from contacts. If you cannot limit your use, try to increase the amount that you blink. Drinking lots of water and avoiding diuretics, such as alcohol and caffeine, can also help you avoid dry eye since this will keep your whole body hydrated.

It is also helpful to start using artificial tears to keep your eyes moist throughout the day. The best kinds do not contain any preservatives, which tend to irritate sensitive eyes. Be sure to avoid drops that claim to eliminate redness from the eyes, since these will not relieve dry eye, and may in fact irritate the eyes more since they constrict the blood vessels. You can also get gel that is meant to reduce dry eye, though this kind of product tends to blur the eyes for several minutes, making it best to apply at bedtime.

Taking care of your contacts is just as important as caring for your eyes, as keeping them in good shape can help reduce the chances of getting dry eyes from contacts. Most disposable contact lenses specify how long you can use them before throwing them out in favor of a fresh pair, and following these rules is a simple way to avoid dry eyes. You should also clean the lenses everyday with solution, and consider taking them out midday to soak them again so that they can absorb moisture before you put them back in the eyes. If you still experience dry eyes from contacts after following these procedures, consider using a brand of contacts meant for dry eyes, such as the kind that allows more oxygen through to the eye and pulls less moisture from it.

WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Autumn Rivers
By Autumn Rivers
Autumn Rivers, a talented writer for WiseGeek, holds a B.A. in Journalism from Arizona State University. Her background in journalism helps her create well-researched and engaging content, providing readers with valuable insights and information on a variety of subjects.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Discussion Comments

By lighth0se33 — On May 03, 2012

I wear contact lenses, and I carry moisturizing eye drops with me wherever I go. I have to apply them about four or five times a day at work, but the relief is instant.

I also carry my contact solution and the case with me. On my lunch break, I will take out my contacts and place them in the solution. I let them soak until time to go back to work, and by then, they are fully re-moisturized.

It is a bit inconvenient to have to depend on drops and solution to keep my eyes from becoming dry. It would be nice if there were a type of miracle contacts that could totally prevent this, but in the meantime, I will continue to lean heavily on my moisturizing products.

By wavy58 — On May 02, 2012

@OeKc05 – There may be hope for people with dry eyes from contact lenses. My sister's eye doctor just told her about a kind of contact that you can wear at night to make your vision better during the day.

It can reshape your eye while you sleep, and supposedly, you can see perfectly well when you wake up and remove the contacts. This is great for people with dry eyes, because they don't have to deal with the discomfort, since their eyes will be shut while they sleep, so moisture loss shouldn't be a problem.

The only drawback is that you do have to wear them every night. However, this is still better than having to deal with dry eyes all day long.

By OeKc05 — On May 02, 2012

I've tried everything, and still, I experience dry eyes with contacts. I've used the drops in the daytime, and I've even tried that gel at night, but nothing keeps my eyes from becoming uncomfortably dry when I wear my lenses.

It's too bad that contacts don't naturally improve your vision over time. I'm too chicken to try the surgery that could fix my vision, but I think I could deal with wearing my contacts if I knew that they would slowly make me able to see on my own.

I might have to give in and go with glasses. I hate to, but I can't stand the dryness much longer.

By cloudel — On May 01, 2012

I think that the best contact lenses for dry eyes are silicone hydrogel lenses. They don't contain a lot of water, but that is actually good for dry eyes.

Contacts with a lot of water in them require more moisture to stay wet throughout the day, and they can sap your eyes of this moisture once their own evaporates. So, I wear the low-moisture kind.

These lenses also let a lot of oxygen through, so they feel more natural. My eyeballs don't dry out, because they can breathe air like they do when nothing is on top of them.

Autumn Rivers

Autumn Rivers

Autumn Rivers, a talented writer for WiseGeek, holds a B.A. in Journalism from Arizona State University. Her background in journalism helps her create well-researched and engaging content, providing readers with valuable insights and information on a variety of subjects.
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.