Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are not fun for anyone, but those who experience chronic dry eye have a more uncomfortable experience than those who just have occasional dry and itchy eyes. Many have been told at some point that their dry eyes " disqualify" them from wearing contact lenses. Not only is this no longer true but with more recent developments, there are many ways that optometrist at Urban Optics in College Station, TX has been able to help dry eyes, partly with specialty contacts. ​​​​​​​

Understanding Dry Eye

There is more to having Dry Eye Syndrome than just feeling like your eyes are dry and itchy. Many factors can contribute to dry eye. Some of these include

  • Damage or malfunction of tear glands in the eyes

  • Autoimmune conditions or diseases, including Sjogren's syndrome

  • Medication side effects

  • Allergies and Aging

  • Hormonal Changes

  • Wearing traditional contact lenses


Because there are so many reasons why you may be experiencing dry eyes, it is a good idea for you to discuss your condition with your optometrist in order to determine what might be the best solution for you.

Contact Lens Options For Dry Eyes

When dry eyes are caused by, or worsened by traditional lenses, other options must be considered. Some of these include

  • Soft Contacts for Dry Eyes - Soft lenses for dry eye are specially developed to retain moisture better than traditional contacts and reduce dry eye symptoms. They use technology such as silicone hydrogel or a water gradient design that keeps the bulk of the moisture in the contact lens in the front and back of the lens, rather than the core.

  • Scleral Lenses - Scleral lenses have a large diameter and is a rigid, gas permeable lens that completely covers the cornea surface. In addition to being prescribed for dry eye, scleral lenses are often presented as an option for those with irregularly shaped corneas to provide clearer vision.

  • Ortho-K lenses - Much of the time contact lens wearers experience dry eye symptoms because of how their contacts interact with the elements throughout the day. With Ortho-K contacts, this dilemma is largely eliminated. Ortho-K lenses are worn at night and reshape the cornea overnight so the wearer wakes in the morning with better vision, so they are able to go about their daily activities without contacts.
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Contact Our Urban Optics in College Station, TX Today!

If one of these choices are being considered in order to help with dry eyes, or because of other special considerations with your vision, it is important to discuss proper care of these lenses with your optometrist, as the traditional contact lens solutions may not be the right choice to take care of these lenses. To hear more about these options, and to find out if these options are available to you contact Urban Optics in College Station, TX at (979) 401-0800 to schedule an appointment.

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