Every time you try to wear contacts, your eyes get red and irritated. You've tried everything you can think of, but the only way to find relief has been to remove your lenses entirely.[1] It shouldn't feel like this, yet you’re not alone. Many people live with dryness and discomfort while wearing contact lenses, or give up on them completely.[2,3]
If you're struggling with redness, irritation, or discomfort while wearing contacts, you likely have Dry Eye Syndrome (DES).[2,3] Continue reading to find out some of the most common causes and symptoms of DES, as well as 6 easy steps for reducing the symptoms of this condition and getting back into your contact lenses.
What You Need to Know About Dry Eye Syndrome
What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough tears in your eyes. This dryness can then cause irritation and, in the worst cases, infection. DES is a global problem that affects many people. While DES can be attributed to a range of factors,[2] an international study recorded that 16% - 30% of people discontinued wearing contact lenses after their first fitting. Dryness and discomfort were the main reasons.[2,3]
The Role Of Tears In DES
To understand the causes of DES, we first need to appreciate why tears are important. Your eyes are naturally wet and covered in tears.
You produce tears from several glands in your eyes, each layer having its own significance.
The oily surface is released by your eyelid glands and should be a clear thin fluid, which keeps the tears from evaporating.[4] The watery body is linked to how well we stay hydrated. It contains all the important stuff that allows the eyes to remain healthy and fight off infections. The sticky base is the glue for the tears, keeping everything stuck to the surface of your eyes.[5,6]
Collectively, your tears are responsible for mending any damage, removing any undesired debris, protecting your eyes from infections, and keeping your eyesight clear.[5] It goes without saying that we need our tears to keep our eyes healthy.
Unfortunately, a lack of tears puts us at risk of developing inflammation, irritation, and serious eye infections, the worst of which is an eye ulcer. In healthy eyes, tears serve as a natural defense mechanism to protect your eyes from bacteria. However, if you have DES, bacteria can penetrate the surface of your eyes. This means your tears are no longer able to fight off the bacteria, leaving your eyes vulnerable to an attack that could lead to an ulcer. After treatment, your eye needs time to recover, and your tears gradually help repair the damage.[5]
You may have felt this dryness without realizing it. Read on to explore other symptoms you could be experiencing that could be contributing to your dry eye condition.
Common Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome
Here are some other common symptoms you may have experienced that could indicate you have DES:[4,5]
Headaches when wearing contact lenses
Lenses getting stuck to your eyes
Blurred vision that clears when you rub your eyes
A foreign body sensation or gritty feeling in your eyes
Irritable or red eyes that feel worse throughout the day
Crusting around your eyelashes in the morning
Difficulty opening your eyes because they feel so sore
Red, swollen, and itchy eyelids
Watery eyes, where tears roll down your cheeks
Tired or strained eyes when reading or looking at digital screens
It’s important to recognise that contact lenses are not the reason you have DES. If you’ve already experienced any of the above symptoms, it’s very likely that you have some level of DES that’s magnified by contact lenses.[7]
For example, when you wear contact lenses with dry eyes, they rub against your eyes, causing irritation and damage. This damage can lead to infections.[1] If this is happening to you, you’re essentially entering a vicious cycle of dry eyes, inflammation, and seeking relief, without correctly treating your DES.[8]
What Is The Cause Of Your Dry Eyes?
Before we consider DES treatment approaches, let's take a look at some of the common causes. DES can be linked to many health and environmental factors.[9] But, occasionally, the simplest aspects of our lifestyles are to blame, creating a vicious cycle of cause and effect.[1,10]
When assessing for DES, your optician will first consider your medical and lifestyle history. While there’s little you can do about things like medications and allergies, you can assess your daily habits that could be contributing to DES. These include:
Long waking days[11]
Extended screen use (e.g. phones, tablets, and computers)[12]
A lack of important vitamins and nutrients in your diet[13–15]
An insufficient water intake
Exposure to pollution, dust, and dirt (e.g. commuting on public transport)[16]
All these factors can make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable and cause your eyes to feel dry.
However, you don't have to live with this discomfort. Read on to find out how you can get out of the vicious cycle that is DES.
6 Easy Steps to Address Dry Eye Syndrome
There are plenty of people who have been wearing contact lenses for years. By making the following changes, you too can have that amazing feeling of "clear vision”.[2]
While some aspects of our lives are beyond our control, simple precautions can be taken to avoid serious irritation, inflammation, and infection:
Blink more. Blinking will encourage and promote the flow of tears over the eyes.[17] Squeeze your eyes shut for a few seconds and repeat throughout the day. Put a sticky note on your screen or download a blink training app to guide you.
Take breaks from your screens. Find an excuse to go for a walk — whether it's a water break (bonus), a bathroom break, or a trip around the office, just take 5 minutes when you can. Taking a break from the screen will mean your eyes won’t feel overly tired or strained,[12,17] and will also encourage you to blink more.
Drink plenty of water. Since your tears are made up mostly of a watery substance,[5] it only makes sense to keep hydrated. It can be challenging to balance your water intake with caffeine and/or alcohol. Keep a water bottle with you to make it easier.
Start taking omega-3 supplements. Omega-3 is proven to have a positive effect on the eyes and is crucial to maintain a healthy layer of tears.[13–15] Taking the supplements will make sure you have a sufficient intake in your diet.[14,15,18] Plenty of studies have shown omega-3 to have anti-inflammatory properties and contribute to healthy eyes.[13–15,18] This is a long-term solution, so be sure to stock up and remain consistent in your efforts.
Massage your eyelids in the shower. Gentle massage is a good way to clear out dust and dirt from city pollution that can accumulate in your eyelid glands. This is because the warmth from the shower melts down the thickened substance. The gentle pressure on the eyelids then releases all the gunk, cleaning them out.[4,16,19]
Use artificial eye drops. Eye drops lubricate your eyes to help your eyelids glide over them with comfort and ease. However, to be effective, you need to use them frequently. Artificial eye drops are not medicated and, therefore, can be used as often a
The Good News
DES can be a real pain, but there are treatments to help prevent and relieve its symptoms.[8,20]
Follow the 6 easy steps above to relieve DES from the comfort of your home. Don’t let dry eyes force you to ditch your contacts. Break out of the vicious cycle and start implementing these steps into your daily routine.
Book a consultation with your local optician to ask for a dry eye assessment along with recommendations for new lenses that suit your lifestyle!
REFERENCES:
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M.B.A JR OD. New Data on Contact Lens Dropouts: An International Perspective. Accessed January 2, 2023. https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/new-data-on-contact-lens-dropouts-an-international-perspective
Young G, Veys J, Pritchard N, Coleman S. A multi-centre study of lapsed contact lens wearers. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2002;22(6):516-527. doi:10.1046/j.1475-1313.2002.00066.x
Meibomitis: Causes, Treatment, Diagnosis, Prevention, and Pictures. Healthline. Published July 30, 2019. Accessed January 11, 2023. https://www.healthline.com/health/meibomitis
Pflugfelder SC, Stern ME. Biological Functions of Tear Film. Exp Eye Res. 2020;197:108115. doi:10.1016/j.exer.2020.108115
Labetoulle M, Benitez-Del-Castillo JM, Barabino S, et al. Artificial Tears: Biological Role of Their Ingredients in the Management of Dry Eye Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(5):2434. doi:10.3390/ijms23052434
Pucker AD, Jones-Jordan LA, Marx S, et al. Clinical factors associated with contact lens dropout. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2019;42(3):318-324. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2018.12.002
Rolando M, Merayo-Lloves J. Management Strategies for Evaporative Dry Eye Disease and Future Perspective. Curr Eye Res. 2022;47(6):813-823. doi:10.1080/02713683.2022.2039205
What Is Dry Eye? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published July 25, 2022. Accessed January 2, 2023. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-dry-eye
Bron AJ, Tomlinson A, Foulks GN, et al. Rethinking dry eye disease: a perspective on clinical implications. Ocul Surf. 2014;12(2 Suppl):S1-31. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2014.02.002
Almutairi R, Algezlan S, Bayamin R, et al. The Association Between Dry Eye and Sleep Quality Among the Adult Population of Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 14(3):e22736. doi:10.7759/cureus.22736
Fjaervoll H, Fjaervoll K, Magno M, et al. The association between visual display terminal use and dry eye: a review. Acta Ophthalmol. 2022;100(4):357-375. doi:10.1111/aos.15049
Bhargava R, Kumar P. Oral omega-3 fatty acid treatment for dry eye in contact lens wearers. Cornea. 2015;34(4):413-420. doi:10.1097/ICO.0000000000000386
Georgakopoulos CD, Makri OE, Pagoulatos D, et al. Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Dietary Supplementation on Ocular Surface and Tear Film in Diabetic Patients with Dry Eye. J Am Coll Nutr. 2017;36(1):38-43. doi:10.1080/07315724.2016.1170643
Simopoulos AP. The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomed Pharmacother. 2002;56(8):365-379. doi:10.1016/s0753-3322(02)00253-6
Mandell JT, Idarraga M, Kumar N, Galor A. Impact of Air Pollution and Weather on Dry Eye. J Clin Med. 2020;9(11):3740. doi:10.3390/jcm9113740
Kim AD, Muntz A, Lee J, Wang MTM, Craig JP. Therapeutic benefits of blinking exercises in dry eye disease. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2021;44(3):101329. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2020.04.014
Jalbert I. Diet, nutraceuticals and the tear film. Experimental Eye Research. 2013;117:138-146. doi:10.1016/j.exer.2013.08.016
McCulley JP, Shine WE. Eyelid disorders: the meibomian gland, blepharitis, and contact lenses. Eye Contact Lens. 2003;29(1 Suppl):S93-95; discussion S115-118, S192-194. doi:10.1097/00140068-200301001-00026
The Psychology of Dry Eye. Eyes On Eyecare. Accessed January 2, 2023. https://eyesoneyecare.com/resources/the-psychology-of-dry-eye/
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