Contact Lens Dryness: Why Your Contact Lenses Feel Uncomfortable
Why Do My Contact Lenses Feel Dry?
If your contact lenses become uncomfortable after just a few hours, you're not alone.
Many people assume they simply have "sensitive eyes" or that they need to change their contact lenses. However, the underlying problem is often dry eye disease or meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
The good news is that identifying and treating the cause of the dryness can often improve comfort and help you wear your lenses for longer.
What Causes Contact Lens Dryness?
Contact lenses sit directly on the tear film, so any disruption to the quality or quantity of your tears can affect comfort.
Common causes include:
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)
The meibomian glands produce the oil layer of your tears.
If these glands become blocked or stop functioning properly, tears evaporate too quickly, causing the contact lenses to dry out and become uncomfortable.
MGD is one of the most common causes of contact lens intolerance.
Dry Eye Disease
Some people simply don't produce enough tears to keep their eyes and contact lenses comfortably lubricated throughout the day.
Reduced Blinking
When using computers, phones or tablets, we naturally blink less often.
Less blinking means less oil is spread across the tear film, making contact lenses dry more quickly.
Environmental Factors
Symptoms often worsen in:
Air-conditioned offices
Heated rooms
Air travel
Windy conditions
These environments increase tear evaporation.
Age and Hormones
As we get older, the quality of our tear film naturally changes.
Hormonal changes, particularly during menopause, can also contribute to dry eye symptoms and reduced contact lens comfort.
Symptoms of Contact Lens Dryness
You may experience:
Dry or gritty eyes
Burning or stinging
Blurred vision that improves after blinking
Contact lenses moving excessively
A feeling that your lenses are sticking to your eyes
Red eyes
Watery eyes
Needing to remove your lenses earlier than planned
Many people gradually reduce the number of hours they wear their lenses without realising that an underlying eye condition may be responsible.
Is It the Contact Lens or Your Eyes?
Patients often assume they need a different contact lens brand.
While changing lens materials can sometimes help, persistent discomfort is frequently caused by the health of the ocular surface rather than the lens itself.
Treating the underlying dry eye disease often improves lens comfort more effectively than repeatedly changing lenses.
How Is Contact Lens Dryness Diagnosed?
At The Dry Eye Suite, we perform a comprehensive dry eye assessment to determine why your contact lenses are uncomfortable.
Your assessment may include:
Detailed symptom history
Tear film assessment
Slit lamp examination
Meibomian gland evaluation
Meibography (imaging of the meibomian glands)
Assessment of the ocular surface
This allows us to identify whether dry eye disease, meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis or another condition is contributing to your symptoms.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your symptoms.
Your personalised treatment plan may include:
Preservative-Free Lubricating Eye Drops
Suitable lubricants can help improve comfort while wearing contact lenses.
Warm Compresses
Warm compresses may improve the flow of oil from the meibomian glands.
Blephasteam®
Blephasteam delivers controlled moist heat to help improve meibomian gland function.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
For suitable patients with meibomian gland dysfunction, IPL may reduce inflammation and improve tear film stability.
Meibomian Gland Expression
Expression may help remove blocked oils and improve gland function.
Personalised Home Care
Long-term management often includes eyelid hygiene, blink awareness, lifestyle advice and ongoing treatment where appropriate.
Should You Stop Wearing Contact Lenses?
Not necessarily.
Many people can continue wearing contact lenses safely while managing their dry eye.
However, if your lenses become increasingly uncomfortable or your eyes remain red and irritated, it's important to identify the underlying cause rather than simply pushing through the discomfort.
When Should You Seek Help?
You should consider a specialist dry eye assessment if:
You can no longer wear your contact lenses for as long as you used to.
Your eyes feel dry despite using lubricating drops.
Your contact lenses become uncomfortable after only a few hours.
Your eyes frequently become red or watery while wearing lenses.
You've changed contact lens brands without improving comfort.
How We Can Help
At The Dry Eye Suite, we specialise in diagnosing and managing the underlying causes of contact lens discomfort.
Using advanced diagnostic technology, including meibography, we assess the health of your meibomian glands and tear film before creating a personalised treatment plan tailored to your eyes.
Our goal is not simply to recommend more eye drops, but to identify why your lenses have become uncomfortable and help you wear them more comfortably where possible.
If contact lens dryness is affecting your daily life, book a comprehensive dry eye assessment today at The Dry Eye Suite, Harold's Cross, Dublin.