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What are the best contact lenses for dry eyes 2023?
Medically reviewed by Tina Patel, Contact Lens Optician at Feel Good Contacts
One of the most common questions asked by contact lens wearers is: what are the best contact lenses for dry eyes? Whether you’re short-sighted or long-sighted, we stock a wide selection of the most comfortable contact lenses for dry eyes and astigmatism. These lenses will keep the surface of your eyes moist and help your eyes stay refreshed and hydrated throughout the day.
Are daily contact lenses better for dry eyes?
Daily contact lenses are considered to be the best option for contact lens wearers who experience discomfort from dry eyes. This is because the lenses are disposed of at the end of each day.
Modern silicone hydrogel contact lenses combined with moisture technology are particularly popular for dry eye sufferers as they provide ultimate comfort and hydration.
Popular daily disposable contact lenses for dry eyes
Daily disposable contact lenses are widely considered to be a more manageable and healthier lens wearing option for all. This is because they are replaced more often, reducing the risk of contamination from the build-up of deposits on your lenses and eliminating the burdensome daily cleaning routine.
We’ve compiled a list of the best daily contact lenses for dry eyes and provided information that explains how they help. Here’s our list of the best contact lens brands for dry eyes.
The world’s first water gradient contact lens, Dailies Total 1 boasts a very high water content that increases up to 80% at the surface of the lens. This means that as the day goes on, you can be sure that your eyes stay hydrated all day long and into the evening.
Acuvue Oasys 1 Day with HydraLuxe are daily silicone hydrogel contact lenses that offer very high levels of comfort. Designed to withstand the demands of modern-day lifestyles and the often drying environments we occupy, added UV filters provide protection against harmful rays from the sun and a slight tint makes handling a much easier task. Using exclusive HydraLuxe™ technology, the lenses are coated with tear-like molecules that retain moisture both in your eyes and on the lens itself. This method is one of the most effective at preventing dry eye symptoms and subsequent irritation.
The UK’s most popular contact lens, 1 Day Acuvue Moist is an exceptional option for any lens wearers who regularly suffer from dry eyes. LACREON® technology works to bind moisture to the surface of the lens, keeping eyes hydrated and refreshed all day long.
Made with a highly breathable silicone hydrogel design, comfi Purest 1 Day daily disposable contact lenses offer an unrivalled degree of comfort and freedom for your eyes. This makes them ideal for those who are more susceptible to dry eyes at a lower price point so that healthy eyes is an option for every contact lens wearer.
Dailies AquaComfort Plus offer the manufacturer’s trademark blink-activated moisturising technology, whilst offering a 69% water content. Those who are continuing to use Focus Dailies All Day Comfort should consider switching to this upgraded version.
One of the most affordable daily disposable contact lenses on the market, comfi Daily Disposable boasts a premium level of comfort. With 58% of water content, they are designed to keep your eyes refreshed and lubricated from morning ‘til night.
Monthly contact lenses for dry eyes
Monthly contact lenses are specifically designed to provide the same level of comfort you would experience from the first day of wearing the lenses to the last. Find the best monthly contact lenses for dry eyes from top brands including Biofinity and Air Optix.
comfi Air is an exceptional monthly contact lens, suitable for dry eyes and produces less waste. These silicone hydrogel lenses are combined with a BioPlus wetting agent. These elements work together to ensure outstanding comfort and hydration throughout the day.
Made from a moisture-rich material, CooperVision’s Biofinity is a monthly contact lens that is designed to be worn by those with sensitive eyes. The lenses manage to lock in water, delivering moisture and hydration to eyes throughout each day of wear.
Air Optix Aqua contact lenses are an impressive monthly option. Known for their highly breathable silicone hydrogel material, they also have an exceptional water retention quality.
Another monthly contact lens suited to dry eyes, Proclear contact lenses were designed by CooperVision using PC Technology which aids water retention throughout the day. This means that your eyes will be able to withstand extensive computer use, air conditioning and other drying factors.
What are the best toric contact lenses for dry eyes?
The best contact lenses for astigmatism and visual correction are toric contact lenses. We have plenty of these suitable for those who are particularly susceptible to dry eyes.
These daily disposable toric contact lenses are one of the most advanced options around. The 1 Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism has been created with a blink-stabilised design, delivering stable and clear vision. They are made using Acuvue’s renowned LACREON technology, enabling the lens to retain its moisture all day long to keep your eyes hydrated and healthy.
Dailies AquaComfort Plus Toric lenses represent an upgrade to Focus Dailies Toric. They deliver blink-activated moisture technology alongside a triple moisturising formula. This essentially means longer-lasting hydration for your eyes from the insertion in the morning until removal at bedtime.
The material used to make Biofinity Toric is moisture-rich and naturally wettable. This means that the lens will stay moist and comfortable to wear all day long (if cleaned properly and stored in the correct contact lens solution). This monthly contact lens is a great choice for those susceptible to dry eye symptoms, offering a highly breathable and hydrating toric contact lens option.
This impressive monthly toric lens is known for its breathable nature, which is ensured by a soft and comfortable silicone hydrogel material. Also ideal for dry eyes, Air Optix for Astigmatism retains its water content throughout the day, keeping eyes feeling good, even when you’ve had a really long day.
What are the best multifocal contact lenses for dry eyes?
As we grow older, the effects of aging on our bodies become more noticeable and our eyes lose the ability to focus on close-up objects. Vision becomes blurry, and tasks such as reading become very difficult. This condition is called presbyopia, and can be corrected by multifocal contact lenses, also known as varifocal lenses.
Multifocal versions of popular contact lens brands can be found for great prices at Feel Good Contacts. They contain two or more prescriptions to aid your vision in transitioning between distances. If you need presbyopic correction and have particularly sensitive eyes, don’t worry, you’ll be able to find the ideal multifocal contacts for you.
1 Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal is one of our best-selling daily disposable multifocal lens products. Created with comfort and hydration in mind, these dailies feature LACREON technology to deliver all day moisture for those with even the most sensitive eyes.
Another pair of exceptional daily disposables for those who suffer from presbyopia - Dailies AquaComfort Plus Multifocal make use of a Triple Moisturising Formula. They have also been designed with blink-activated technology, so that eyes are refreshed every single time you blink.
Suitable for monthly wear, or as extended wear lenses (if approved for you, by your optician), Biofinity Multifocal lenses are ideal for dry eyes. Aquaform Technology, coupled with a breathable silicone hydrogel design, keeps the lenses soft, flexible and wettable, guaranteeing comfort and hydration from morning ‘til night.
This impressive multifocal contact lens that is suitable for even very sensitive eyes. As a celebrated silicone hydrogel contact lens with SmartShield technology, these lenses ensure that eyes stay fresh and healthy during a full day of wear.
What are the best coloured contacts for dry eyes?
When it comes to colour contact lenses, some lens wearers find it harder to find lenses for their sensitive eyes. You’ll be delighted to know that Feel Good Contacts stock a wide selection of coloured contact lenses that are suitable for even sensitive eyes. These lenses are suitable for both visual correction and cosmetics purposes.
comfi Colors 1 day contact lenses are daily coloured lenses that don’t compromise on comfort or hygiene. Made from a patented hydrogel material, a thin lens design and as a daily disposable option to offer an incredibly smooth and comfortable lens wear. This essentially means you have a fresh new pair of lenses to apply every morning. Choose from five stylish colours and enjoy hydrated eyes from morning to evening.
Can you wear extended wear contact lenses for dry eyes?
You can indeed wear extended wear lenses for dry eyes. However, you should always consult your optician or an eye doctor before you do so. Biofinity’s range of extended wear lenses is great for people with dry eyes, as are Acuvue Oasys lenses.
The Acuvue Oasys ranges we stock are made from silicone hydrogel. This prevents the eyes from drying out by allowing up to six times more oxygen to reach the eye. These lenses will keep eyes refreshed as well as moist for the whole day. Using Hydraclear Plus Technology, these lenses enable excellent water retention via a wettable surface, keeping dry eyes hydrated.
PureVision 2 is also a suitable choice for an extended wear contact lens for dry eyes. These highly breathable lenses made from silicone hydrogel feature ComfortMoist Technology which keeps them consistently moist and comfortable to wear. As such, dry eyes from digital screen use, indoor heating and air conditioning should no longer be a problem.
What is dry eye?
There is a good reason why many people want to know which contact lenses are best for dry eyes. Dry eyes can be an uncomfortable and even painful condition to deal with on a daily basis. They can be caused by a variety of factors in everyday living.
Long hours at the office staring at a computer without blinking can have adverse effects on your eyes as it reduces the rate at which they hydrate themselves. Your eyes rely on the moisture that blinking provides to stay healthy. So, when your blink rate is severely reduced, your eyes will begin to dry out (as will your contact lenses).
This can lead to eyes feeling itchy, irritated and sometimes inflamed and painful.
How can I get rid of dry eye?
Fortunately, dry eye syndrome is usually a short-term condition. Symptoms can include red eyes, discomfort, excessive watering plus more. You should find that any uncomfortable symptoms will subside once you give your eyes a break from the computer screen and catch up on some sleep.
However, faster and more effective relief can be achieved with the use of treatment such as eye drops. At Feel Good Contacts, we stock a huge range of eye drops for dry eyes, as well as other dry eye treatments that include eye masks and sprays.
Dry eyes can lead to scarring on the surface of the eye if left untreated and can affect both the cornea and conjunctiva. It is important to visit your optician so they can provide a personalised recommendation to combat your dry eyes.
To find out more about dry eyes treatments, rate your symptoms on our Dry Eyes Quiz.
Is a higher water content better for dry eyes?
The higher the water content, the greater the chance your lenses have of drawing moisture away from the eye. Therefore, higher water content is not necessarily better for dry eyes.
However, lens technologies can make up for this problem. Most soft contacts range between 38% and 79% water content. With this in mind, we recommend speaking with your optician to determine which lenses are best suited for your eyes.
We hope you can find the best contacts for dry eyes to suit your needs.
Quick links:
How dehydration impacts your eyesA guide to dry eye
What does the water content of my contact lens mean?
