Do you wear contacts and have dry eyes? Here the five most important rules you must follow then, courtesy of our eye clinic in Calgary.
Being a contact lens wearer and having dry eyes is a tough combination. There are even some people who have such bad dry eyes that their optometrist will strongly advise against them wearing contacts at all. Hopefully, your dry eyes aren't that bad because contacts can be a great way to not only correct your vision but also let you live your life the way you want to.
Here are the five most important rules contact lens wearers with dry eyes must always follow, so they can continue to do so without exacerbating their dry eye symptoms even further.
Affordable Eye Exams in Calgary for All Ages
Specs in the City Optometry provides children, adult, and senior eye exams in SE Calgary to help safeguard your sight and overall ocular health. Our experienced optometrists use the latest technology to quickly and accurately diagnose any eye conditions you may be suffering from, so treatment may commence right away. Contact us today to book your eye exam or dry eye care appointment, and let us help you adjust your focus so you can see clearly and comfortably again!
The 5 Rules Contact Lens Wearers With Dry Eyes Must Always Follow
While it can be difficult for those with dry eyes to wear contact lenses comfortably, it's not impossible. It just requires a little extra care and effort. By following the below five rules, you'll be able to wear contacts without making your dry eyes any worse.
1. Always wash your hands before handling your lenses
And when we say always, we mean it in the most literal sense possible. Yes, this means every time. While we know that can be a bit of a hassle, it's absolutely imperative as washing your hands before handling your contacts will reduce your risk of contracting an eye infection, which can be a total pain if you suffer from dry eyes.
Our Calgary optometrist recommends you wash your hands with mild soap and water and then dry them on a lint-free towel for the best results.
2. Don't try to extend the life of your contacts
We know it can be tempting to try and save a few bucks by extending the life of your contacts. But please, don't do it. The box your contact lenses come in should have clear instructions on how often they need to be swapped out with a new pair, and your optometrist most likely told you how important it is to follow those instructions when you had your contact lens fitting exam. Follow the sage advice of your contact lens manufacturer and eye doctor.
If you don't, debris can easily build up on your expired ones, which can make it a lot more difficult for your tears to effectively lubricate your eyeballs. Which is one of the main causes of dry eyes in the first place.
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3. Don't even think about sleeping in your contacts
We're going to have to be a little firm with you on this one. We know you're tired, or you may have partied a little too hard, but if you fall asleep with your contacts in and you have dry eyes, then you're just asking for trouble. That's because doing so can not only affect your natural tear film, which can exacerbate your dry eyes even further, but it can also put you at an elevated risk for contracting a cornea infection. When you sleep with your contacts in, your eyes don't receive as much oxygen as they normally would, which creates a much friendlier environment for bacteria to develop.
4. Change out that contact solution in your case daily
Most of us don't like wasting money, and it certainly seems like a smart way to save some of your hard-earned scratch by simply topping off the solution in your contact lens case each day. But like trying to extend the life of your contacts, not emptying out the solution in your case and filling it with new stuff every day is a no-no. The reason for this is that the disinfecting capabilities of the solution are decreased when you reuse it, which can lead to infection or inflammation.
Our Calgary eye doctor recommends dumping out your old solution after putting in your contacts for the day, then rinsing the case with more solution and setting it upside down on a paper towel to dry out.
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5. Give your eyes a break by going contacts-free for a couple of hours each day
If you wear contacts consistently, it's a good idea to give your eyes a break for a couple of hours each day, especially if you suffer from dry eyes. Doing so will let them breathe and get the oxygen exposure and natural tear film nourishment they require without your contacts inhibiting things.
Our optometrist in SE Calgary recommends giving your eyes a break from your contacts for at least two hours each day. Ideally, you would take them out about two hours before you go to bed. This will allow your dry eyes to get the additional rest and rejuvenation they need for the next day. And you won't forget to take them out before falling asleep!
Contact Us Today
If you have dry eyes and are looking for the best type of contact lenses that will minimize your symptoms so you can wear them comfortably, Specs in the City Optometry has you covered. Simply give us a call at 403-252-2020 or fill out our online contact form to book your contact lens fitting appointment, and let us help give you the comfortable vision you need!
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