What Kind of Contacts Should I Wear for Dry Eyes? 

Dry eyes are a pain, and when you’re wearing contact lenses, you have it the worst. But there’s good news: there’s a specialty contact for that!

Scleral lenses are designed to treat dry eyes by providing a larger surface area for tear exchange, which is key to keeping your eyes hydrated and healthy.

Read on as a Highland, MI optometrist discusses dry eye syndrome and how scleral lenses work.

What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome?

In the majority of cases, dry eyes are caused by an imbalance in the tear film that coats your eye. The tear film consists of three layers: 

• Oil
• Water
• Mucus 

The oil layer is made up of meibum (made by the meibomian glands) and sebum (made by the sebaceous glands). The water layer is made up of tears produced by your lacrimal gland. The mucus layer is made up of mucin produced by goblet cells in the conjunctiva.

While any number of underlying conditions can cause an imbalance in your tear film, the resulting symptoms are the same:

• Decreased blinking rate (from stress or computer use)
• Contact lens wear 
• Aging-related changes in the eye’s anatomy or physiology (like thinning corneas) 
• Certain medications, such as antihistamines

Why Standard Contact Lenses Don’t Work With Dry Eyes

There are many reasons why standard contact lenses don’t work with dry eyes—and they all relate to the fact that your cornea needs to stay hydrated in order for the lens to glide on smoothly without causing irritation, pain, or discomfort.

The following are common problems that result from wearing contact lenses with dry eyes: 

• Lens intolerance (a burning or stinging sensation that makes it difficult to wear the lenses for an entire day)  
• Red eyes, which can indicate a serious infection 
• The lenses are more likely to slip out of place, causing irritation or pain
• They may be harder to remove (or impossible if they stick to your eyeball), which can lead to an increased risk of infection
• They may not stay moist enough for you to wear them comfortably

Scleral Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

Scleral contacts are specialty lenses, custom-made to fit your eyes. They are breathable, rigid, gas-permeable lenses that cover the whole eye. Scleral lenses are a lot large than hard contact lenses, which only cover the center of the eye’s surface.

This huge diameter creates a reservoir area between your lens and the eye, which helps conserve your tear film and prevent dryness from developing.

The large diameter of scleral lenses also creates a more comfortable fit since the lens sits on the sclera and not the cornea, which is more sensitive than the sclera. 

If you have more questions or wish to schedule a consultation, don’t hesitate to call your Highland, MI optometrist office today!