Contact lens wear often causes a dry, scratchy feeling, tempting users to seek relief with eye drops. While using drops with contacts is possible, compatibility depends entirely on the ingredients and how they interact with the lens material and your eye’s surface. Using an over-the-counter drop without checking the label can lead to immediate discomfort, irritation, or even damage to your lenses.
Understanding the Risks of Standard Formulations
The primary component making many standard eye drops incompatible with contact lenses is the preservative, most commonly benzalkonium chloride (BAK). Soft contact lenses are porous, acting like tiny sponges that absorb and concentrate chemicals from the tear film. When a drop containing BAK is used, the lens holds the concentrated preservative directly against the sensitive corneal surface. This exposure can lead to a toxic reaction, causing stinging, burning, inflammation, and worsening dryness.
Standard drops also often contain vasoconstrictors, chemicals that constrict blood vessels to reduce redness. Contact lens wearers should avoid these ingredients completely, as they can cause deposits to form on the lens itself. Over time, using these drops can cause a rebound effect, leading to increased redness and greater discomfort when the drops wear off. Absorption of these chemicals can also cause the soft lens material to become discolored.
Identifying Contact Lens Safe Solutions
To ensure comfort and eye health, contact lens wearers must look for products specifically formulated to be compatible with their lenses. The safest option is to use drops explicitly labeled as “for use with contacts” or “rewetting drops.” These formulations lubricate the eye and the lens surface, helping to remove debris and rehydrate the lens material.
The next best option is to choose preservative-free artificial tears, which are usually packaged in single-use vials to maintain sterility. Since these drops contain no harsh preservatives, they eliminate the risk of the lens absorbing irritating chemicals against the cornea. Preservative-free drops are recommended for people who need to use eye drops four or more times daily. Be cautious with thicker, more viscous dry eye formulas, as they may temporarily cloud the surface of your contact lens.
Techniques for Applying Drops and Lens Care
Even with the correct product, proper application technique is important for maximizing comfort and effectiveness. Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling your eyes or the drop bottle to prevent the introduction of bacteria. When applying the drop, gently pull down your lower eyelid to create a small pocket and look upward. The drop should be placed into this pocket without the tip of the dropper touching your eye, eyelid, or lashes, which keeps the solution sterile.
If you are using medicated, prescription, or any non-compatible eye drops, you must remove your contact lenses first. After instilling the drops, wait a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes before reinserting your lenses, allowing the medication to be absorbed and chemicals to clear from the eye’s surface. Regularly check the expiration date on all eye drop bottles, as degraded ingredients can make them less effective or potentially irritating.