Winter Eye Care Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

Contact lenses need management & it may be challenging to tackle with the obstacles faced at initial stages. As the climate takes a turn towards spring, contact lens wearers need to manage the allergies. Similarly, the winter sun also calls for attention. The climate in winter is dry with hot air inside and cold outside that disturbs the tear film. Tear film in eyes is responsible for keeping eyes moist & contact lenses soft. The sudden shift from hot indoor air to cold outside leaves eyes dry that instigate dryness. To manage contact lens wear in winters, please follow the tips given below

Make Arrangements to Keep Contact Lenses Soft

Soak your contact lenses in multi-purpose solution for 6-8 hours prior to each wear. Refill the chambers every morning with new supply of solution.

Make Arrangements to Keep Eyes Moist

Since contact lenses in winter turn eyes dry sooner than usual, it is mandatory to make special arrangements about keeping them moist. Contact lenses themselves block oxygen permeability to some extent & dry air of winter further aggravates the condition. Using re-wetting eye drops or silicone hydrogel contact lenses help settling things.

Also Read: What are Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses & How They are Beneficial?

Protect Your Eyes

Forget that sunglasses are only for scorching summer sun. Contrary to the myth, eye experts recommend wearing sun glasses in winter & even in cloudy weather. Not only do they prevent harmful agents getting in to your eyes, but also intercept damaging UV rays. Wearing a hat may also help. However, keep in mind that the hat does not shed, because the lint cause irritation & tingling in eyes

Make use of Humidifiers

Heaters draw moisturizer out from the air making it even drier. This dry air facilitates quick tear evaporation that leaves eyes dry. Humidifiers help maintaining the moisture level in air that in turns keep eyes moist.

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Effective contact lens management is key to comfortable wearing sessions

With the onset of winters, contact lens tolerance has been badly affected in many regions of the world. Winters instigate dryness & contact lenses tend to aggravate it. Nonetheless, contact lens tolerance can be improved by the effective management of the "changing climate".

How to Tackle Dryness to Continue Wearing Contact Lenses in winter?

Dryness is a syndrome where eyes fail to meet adequate tear production. Due to the cold weather the tears are evaporated too quickly to keep eyes moisten. Upon wearing contact lenses the condition is aggravated even more since they are the barrier towards oxygen absorption. Contact lenses themselves are considered to be a dryness inducing agent. Every year a wide number of people are affected negatively by CLID (contact lens induced dryness) alone. Wearing contact lenses when the climate is harsh enough causes irritation & inflammation which needs effective management if you want to continue wearing your contact lenses.

Also Read:  Why do contact lenses turn my eyes dry?

 In winter; when it is snow outside you would not definitely want to go back to your conventional set of glasses just to end up with them being foggy. Prescription contact lenses have been the choice of millions to ensure clear, crisp & impeccable vision. It is an established fact; that with slight variations in lifestyle, one can improve contact lens tolerance for better. If you have ever felt discomfort due to wearing contact lenses because of reduced tear production then try following:

1. Drink plenty of water
2. Eat fresh fruits & vegetables
3. Avoid prolong working at computer
4. Do not over-wear contact lenses ( not more than 6 hours daily)
5. Use lubricating drops
6. Wear contact lenses with low water content (below 40%)

Re-wetting drops may make huge world of a difference. They add immediate comfort and help you with blinking. However, total dependency on lubricating drops may ruin your life. They should only be resorted to when nothing else seem to relieve the symptoms. Focus on making lifestyle changes on a long term course to see the difference or get your own pair of contact lenses for dry eyes for an immediate rescue. 

Why do Contact Lenses turn my Eyes Dry?

 

If you are among those who feel a sensation of dryness upon wearing contact lenses then you need not to panic. Science reveals that dry eye syndrome affect hundreds of people every year and it happens to increase with the age. Bright side of the story lies in the fact that with advanced technology and medications you are now able to increase contact lens tolerance.

People with dry eyes syndrome and those who do not have it; are both equally affected by contact lens induced dryness (CLID). Actually contact lenses are a barrier towards oxygen absorption for your eyes. Human eyes tend to fulfill the oxygen requirement from the environment but when contact lenses are floating on your iris, oxygen is partially blocked; to fulfill which; your eyes have to draw the oxygen from the eye capillaries.

Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes?

Even though contact lenses with higher water content i.e. above 42% are considered more comfortable; contact lenses with low water content are rather better for people suffering from dry eyes syndrome. Contact lenses with high water content may lose their moisture due to several environmental factors and as a result they will drench the moisture of your eyes to stay supple and moist. Therefore; wearing contact lenses with low water content (38%) is a genius idea for people having dry eyes. 

Symptoms of Dry Eyes Syndrome:

• Redness
• Blurred Vision
• Fall-out of contact lenses
• Difficulty blinking
• Irritation

Your eyes react when they fail adequate tear-production. Upon wearing contact lenses when oxygen is blocked you may find your eyes dry which causes hindrance in blinking. The forced blinking may cause your contact lenses to fall out from eyes.

How to Tackle Dry Eyes with Contact Lenses?

Rewetting drops formulated and approved to be used with contact lenses is the safest choice. However avoid using them unless your eyes really need lubricating drops. If you include eye drops in your routine then your eyes will become dependent on them; restricting your eyes to decrease the natural tear production.

Instead of rewetting drops drink plenty of water, eat fresh & raw vegetables and protect your eyes with safety goggles when travelling. To avoid mishaps always keep your contact lenses clean & disinfected with a multi-purpose solution.

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