Dry Eyes and Contact Eyes

​By Jade

​For many people, using soft contact lenses are a great alternative to wearing glasses. Comfortable and almost unnoticeable, soft contact lenses are becoming a popular choice among those who are both short-sighted and far-sighted. 

Recently, after many long school days, I noticed that my eyes were feeling dry. This had never happened to me before and I was a bit worried. I noticed that I had to blink a lot or my vision would get gradually blurry over time, when wearing my contact lenses. The excessive blinking made my eyes moist, but it wasn’t very convenient or fun. 

During my yearly visit to the optometrist, I asked her about my dry eyes. She explained that dry eyes are caused by long-time uses of electronic devices (like your phone, tablet, etc.).  She also explained that some people might have drier eyes than others.  She gave me a few suggestions on how to decrease the probability of getting dry eyes.

Decrease the amount of time spent on electronic devices. Although it's difficult to tear yourself away from a long afternoon of browsing social media, it's important for the health of your eyes. Instead, opt for some exercise and go outdoors instead. When I spend more time outdoors, doing exercise, I notice that the condition of dry eyes disappears. If you’re not sure of what activities to do, going on a walk or biking is always a great start. If you’re up to it, you can also go on a hike with friends, who also might be experiencing the issue of dry eyes. Especially with remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, hiking is a great way to hang out with friends, while social-distancing.
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Change the brand of your contact lenses. Certain contact lenses can cause dry eyes more frequently than others. Talk to your optometrist about the brands offered and if they can help decrease the possibility of dry eyes. Don’t be afraid to ask; I can assure you that everyone is dealing with these problems due to the pandemic.
If you can’t do either of those, try using eye drops. Eye drops are available at your local drugstore. If you’re unsure of which brand to use, talk to your optometrist.  When using eye drops, be sure to take off your contact lenses before using eye drops.

Dry eyes aren’t exactly the most fun condition and I definitely didn’t expect dry eyes to come as a setback of wearing soft contact lenses. However, wearing soft contact lenses are definitely worth it. By following the steps above, I’m able to wear my contact lenses more comfortably without excessive blinking or itching.