Posted on March 7, 2010 in Contact Lenses
A contact lens is a cosmetic or corrective lens placed on the cornea of the eye. They serve the same corrective purpose as glasses, but are light in weight and virtually invisible.
Some cosmetic lenses are intentionally coloured to change the appearance of the eye. Some lenses now have a UV coating which protects the eye from the harsh UV radiation. For people with dry eyes, contact lenses can be a nightmare!
Generally in a healthy eye, a thin layer of tears always forms under a contact lens. If this layer of tears dries out then the lens starts to feel as sand particle.
There are many causes for eye dryness-
- Less amount of tears: Some people produce less amount of tears than others. The capacity to produce tears in considerable amounts decreases with age.
- Environmental factor: If you are exposed to dust, smoke or wind, or if you work in an over-heated or air conditioned room, your eyes will feel dry.
- Computer users: Blinking is essential for for wetting your eyes but people tend to blink less when working on the computer.
- Contact lenses: Soft contact lenses are generally made from polymers and water (sometimes up to 70%). It helps in keeping the lens moist but the water evaporates from the lens gradually as the day progresses. So, the lens absorbs water from your tears, leaving you dry eyed.
Soft contact lenses that can help with dry eyes
Lens manufacturers are constantly working to produce contacts that will be comfortable for people with dry eyes since dry eyes is a serious problem. One way is to reduce the water content of the lens. Modern silicon hydrogel lenses available now contain only 30% water (much less than 50-60% of traditional lenses).
Acuve Oasis and Proclear Compatibles get the most amazing reviews from contact wearers who have dry eyes.
Acuve Oasis (Johnson and Johnson):
- It is specifically formulated for people who work or live in dry environments. It is made of high-quality polymer senofilcon A.
- It also contains a special re wetting agent-Hydraclear Plus. It makes the lens feel moist even if your eyes don’t produce enough tears.
- It is a daily wear contact lens (you should take it off at night) and should be replaced every two weeks.
Proclear Compatibles (Cooper Vision):
- It is made from omafilcon A which provides very high on-eye water retention. It also implements the revolutionary technology of biocompatibility.
- It also contains phosphorylcholine, naturally found in human cells, which prevents rejection of contact lens perceived as a foreign object by your body.
- They are monthly disposable contact lens.
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