Contact Lenses for Dry Eye

Ask an Eye M.D. Answer Archive

Question:
Is there a preferred brand of contact lenses for those that suffer from dry eye?     

Answer:
First of all, the dry eye must be addressed aggressively. Contact lenses simply do not work well on a dry surface. Since dry eye (ocular surface disease) has many causes, it may take a while for treatment to be successful. Be patient. This may take months. Once that occurs, the choice of a lens material will also vary according to the cause of the dry eye. Proclear lenses, some high water content lenses, silicone hydrogels, etc., all have their place. Do not sleep in the lenses. Daily disposables are often successful, because they avoid the use of toxic preservatives used in cleaning and storing solutions. See your Eye M.D., but check first to see that he or she actually personally fits the contact lenses and will see you through the entire process. Many ophthalmologists outsource or delegate these fittings, and that is not the best situation for dry eye patients.   

Answered by: Richard G. Shugarman, MD

Categories: General Eye Health, Eye Conditions

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