We've all been there. You're out and about, going about your day, when you realize that your eyes feel dry and irritated. You rummage through your purse or pockets, hoping to find some relief in the form of eye drops—but wait! If you wear contact lenses, can you use eye drops?
The answer, in short, is yes! However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when using eye drops with contact lenses. In this blog post, we'll give you a crash course on everything you need to know about using eye drops with contacts. Keep reading to learn more!
Can You Use Any Type of Eye Drop With Contacts?
The first thing you need to know about using eye drops with contact lenses is that not all types of eye drops are safe to use. In fact, using the wrong type of eye drop can actually lead to serious damage to your eyes. Here's a quick breakdown of the different types of eye drops and whether or not they're safe to use with contacts:
• Artificial tears: These are safe to use with contacts and can actually help relieve dryness and irritation. Just be sure to discard the contact lens after using artificial tears—you don't want to put them back in your eyes while they're still wet!
• Redness-relieving eye drops: These are NOT safe to use with contacts. In fact, they can actually cause your lenses to absorb too much moisture, leading to discomfort and blurred vision. If you need to use redness-relieving eye drops, be sure to take out your contacts first.
• Allergy relief eye drops: These are also NOT safe to use with contacts. Like redness-relieving eye drops, allergy relief eye drops can cause your lenses to absorb too much moisture. Again, if you need to use these type of drops, be sure to take out your contacts first.
How Often Should I Use Eye Drops?
Now that we've gone over which types of eye drops are safe (and not so safe) to use with contact lenses, let's talk about how often you should be using them. If you wear contact lenses regularly, it's important not to overdo it with the eye drops. Using them too often can actually lead to dependency and make your symptoms worse in the long run.
That being said, if you do find yourself reaching for the bottle more often than usual, it may be time to consider switching up your lenses. Talk to your optometrist about which type of lens would be best for your needs—they may recommend switching from daily disposables to a monthly or yearly lens that provides more moisture throughout the day.
Conclusion:
Eye drops can be a great way to relieve dryness and irritation—but only if you use them correctly! Don't suffer through another day of dry, itchy eyes! Click the link below to see our list of the best eye drops for contact lenses. These products have been carefully selected to provide relief from dryness and irritation, and they're all available without a prescription. So what are you waiting for? Give your eyes the relief they deserve today!