Best Contact Lenses For Dry Eyes

What Are RGP Contact Lenses? 

What are the best contact lenses for dry eyes? Individuals with chronic dry eyes or dry eyes syndrome ask this question frequently. 

Unfortunately, contact lenses are often among the causes of dry eyes and they actually trigger dry eye symptoms. There's some good news however. Materials have been developed recently that can be used for contact lenses that reduce signs and symptoms of dry eyes and make wearing contacts more comfortable for those with dry eye syndrome or chronic dry eyes.

The best contacts for dry eyes that have come to market in the last few years include Proclear® Compatibles and Acuvue® Oasys. These are made from a hydrogel material that contains less water than other types of contacts. This seems somewhat counter-intuitive. You might think contact lenses that contain more water would actually work better for someone with dry eye problems. Such is not the case.

Many traditional types of soft contacts contain up to 75 percent water. But these types of lenses tend to lose their moisture the longer you wear them. In other words, they dry out. The more water contained in the lens, the more prone it is to dehydration. As mositure evaporates through the lens, the contact draws water from your eyes to make up for the loss. This aggravates dry eyes symptoms you may already have. In other words, the best contact lenses for dry eyes are those that do not already contain a lot of water or moisture. Those who have these types of contact lenses will probably have to use eye drops for dry eyes at some point.

What are RGP contact lenses? There's a type of contact lens known as Rigid Gas Permeable, or RGP. There's no water in RGP contact lenses. In fact, they contain a polymer that repels water. RGP lenses be specially designed so that they are compatible with the tear film naturally produced by the eyes. Even with these special formulations, RGP lenses tend to dry the eyes. So they can cause even more dry eye symptoms than soft contact lenses. They'd also not be recommended for anyone who works in a very dry environment. Such conditions often mean using special moisturizing eye drops to relieve dryness temporarily. Re-soaking the lenses in a cleaning solution can also help.

Proclear® Compatibles and Acuvue® Oasys contact lenses have a lower water content than most most other lenses - only around 30 percent. The normal procedure is to use them with approved eye drops for contact lenses or a prescription medication like Restasis, for instance.

Many contact lens manufacturers are continuing to experiment with new materials and techniques in order to address the problem of eye dryness associated with the use of contact lenses. This research is especially important for those with chronic dry eyes and dry eye syndrome.

Recent research indicates that around ten million people in the United States alone currently experience dry eye signs and symptoms. Many have vision that needs to be corrected and for them, contact lenses for dry eyes can provide relief from dry eye symptoms.

To see a list of products designed to provide help for dry eyes, click on relief for dry eyes.<