How to Make Contacts More Comfortable

Contact lenses possess a number of benefits over regular eyeglasses, but they can sometimes be uncomfortable to wear. In the worst cases, you should speak to your optometrist because glasses may be a better choice health-wise. But in most cases, you can make your contact lenses more comfortable by taking a few sensible steps in your everyday life. Most of the time, they boil down to simple maintenance, or being aware of your environment and making adjustments as appropriate.

Instructions

• 1

  Make sure your lenses are properly fitted. The doctor should fit your lens size for you, but if he makes a mistake or you wear someone else's contact lenses, they may feel supremely uncomfortable. Check with your doctor or refrain from wearing any lenses that haven't been prescribed to you.

• 2

  Follow cleaning and removing procedures closely. Many types of permanent contact lenses require you to remove them at night and clean them so that harmful deposits don't build up on them. Follow your doctor's advice on which cleaning products to use and don't deviate from them.

• 3

  Use disposable lenses. Unlike permanent lenses, disposable contacts are designed to be worn for a set amount of time and then thrown away. Not only does it prevent buildup, but if one of them is torn or damaged, you can simply toss it out in favor of a fresh lens.

• 4

  Drink a lot of water. One of the biggest sources of contact lens irritation is dry eyes, caused when your body gets dehydrated. Staring at a computer all day can exacerbate the condition, as can drinking caffeinated beverages like coffee or soda (caffeine is a diuretic, which makes you urinate and drains your body of water). Try to drink a good eight glasses of water a day. Alternately, ask your doctor about silicon-hydrogel contacts, which allow oxygen to permeate the eyes more readily and keep them from drying out.

• 5

  Stay out of areas with a lot of smoke or pollutants in the air. When irritants get between your eye and the contact lens, they cause itching and scratching. If you smoke, try not to do so while you're wearing your lenses, and move through any areas with irritants as quickly as possible.

• 6

  Pay attention to any allergies you may have. If allergens get on your lenses, they may cause irritation, and allergic reactions associated with your eyes may be exacerbated with contact lens wear. Your doctor may suggest a type of cleaning solution to help with your particular allergies, and disposable lenses tend to help in these circumstances as well. In the worst cases, switch to eyeglasses until your allergies subside.