A Respite for Dry Eyes

You're not alone if you frequently experience dryness in your eyes from wearing contact lenses. Allain Yap, manager/optometrist of The Lens Men - Parkway Parade, shares his tips for keeping your eyes moist and happy.

January 8, 2008 — In screening and consulting with contact lens wearers on a daily basis, we've found that suffering from dry eyes is one of the most typical complaints we hear.

Our patients aren't alone -- a recent survey conducted by CooperVision in Singapore found that 70 percent of contact lens wearers who feel discomfort attribute it to dry eyes. Not coincidentally, this is also a prevailing condition in the Asia-Pacific region -- Asian eyes are more prone to dryness because of a lower volume in tear production, unhealthy working conditions and habits, incomplete blinking patterns which disrupt how our eyes are moistened, and common conditions such as Meibomian gland dysfunction, tear film abnormalities and eye surface irregularities. While different patients have varied tolerances and interpretations of the extent to which dry eyes affect their contact lens wearing experience, a proper initial fitting and end-of-day comfort are extremely important in diagnosing and preventing the condition.

The good news is, you can alleviate your eyes from dry eye symptoms. Here are some easy tips for fully enjoying the benefits of wearing contacts:

- Eye drops to the rescue! All contact lens wearers should never leave home without a vial of eye drops -- you'd be amazing at how a few drops can truly ease discomfort from dry eyes and other irritations.

- Clean off that protein! It may not be the most fun bathroom activity, but cleaning your contacts thoroughly is the key to ensure protein deposits and other foreign particles don't build up on your lenses, the main culprit for dry eyes and even more dangerous ailments and infections.

- Switch to daily disposables! If you can't find the time to take the proper care of long-term, monthly or fortnightly lenses, consider wearing daily disposables like many Singaporeans are. They may cost a little more, but are typically more comfortable and hygienic; teens and busy adults especially find these convenient and a better solution for their lifestyles. We'll be happy to fit you with a trial pair of disposable contacts that always fel fresh when you wear them and that you can toss away daily. In particular, the new ProClear 1 day is not only exceptionally comfortable, it provids precise and sharp vision and is especially suited for those who wear contacts for more than eight hours a day (however, we do recommend you alternate contact lens wear with glasses to give your eyes a break).

If you have any further questions about dry eyes and how to address this condition, just give me or any of The Lens Men and The Eye Site optometrists a call or a visit and we'll be more than happy to diagnose your condition.

By Allain Yap, The Lens Men - Parkway Parade