Dry Eye
Contact lens discomfort is the number one reason people abandon contacts — and dry eye is usually the underlying cause. But with the right lens and the right treatment, most dry eye patients can wear contacts comfortably.
Contact lenses divide the tear film into two layers and accelerate evaporation from the ocular surface. For dry eye patients, this compounds an already stressed system — accelerating end-of-day dryness, redness, and blurred vision.
Water gradient daily lenses (Dailies Total1) have very high surface water content, reducing lens-surface friction and evaporation. Many dry eye patients find these dramatically more comfortable than other lenses.
Daily disposables in general eliminate solution sensitivity and deposit buildup — two major irritants for dry eye wearers. Switching from biweeklies or monthlies to dailies alone resolves discomfort for many patients.
Scleral lenses — for severe dry eye — create a liquid reservoir over the cornea throughout the wearing period. Many patients who cannot tolerate any conventional lens wear sclerals comfortably for 12+ hours.
Wearing contacts on an untreated dry eye surface is like running on a sprained ankle. Managing the underlying dry eye — with prescription drops, meibomian gland treatment, or punctal plugs — gives contact lens wear a much better foundation.
If contact lens discomfort has been limiting your wear time, schedule a dry eye evaluation at Harnos Optometry in New Paltz: (845) 255-4696.
Harnos Optometry provides expert eye care for the whole family. New patients welcome — book online 24/7.
222 Main Street, New Paltz, NY 12561 · (845) 255-4696
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