Contact lenses and allergies
Having eye allergies and contacts in is no picnic for anyone. About 75 percent of allergy symptoms directly affect the eyes and can become even more agitating when you combine that with contacts.
Symptoms of allergies can include dry eyes, itchy eyes, puffy eyes and red eyes, and sometimes it seems like contact lenses make the problem worse. You might be tempted to ditch your lenses and go back to eyeglasses for the allergen-heavy months, but there’s no need to do that.
Here’s some advice on how to deal with allergies with contact lenses so you don’t have to break out the spectacles.
Basic preventative steps to combat allergies
Take preventative measures against your allergies.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water and wash your face while you’re at it (but keep the soap away from your eyes).
- Wash cloth items regularly, especially those that spend a lot of time close to your face—pillowcases, washcloths, etc., with a hypo-allergenic detergent. Be sure to dry these items in an electric dryer, rather than hanging them up to dry outside where they can collect pollen, dust mites and other allergens that float through the air.
- During pollen season, keep windows and doors shut and vacuum frequently with a HEPA filter vacuum. Also consider installing HEPA filters in air conditioning and heating units. When traveling, keep your car windows rolled up. Vacuuming your vehicle’s interior can cut down on allergens, as can changing the car’s cabin air filters regularly.
Whether your allergies are seasonal or year-round, try to avoid whatever it is you’re allergic to whenever possible. This may seem like simple advice, but sometimes the solution to your allergy symptoms is simple. You could say no to adopting a cat, postponing cleaning out your dusty attic, or not taking a hike through the pollen-filled forest in springtime.
Avoiding the cause can save you the trouble of trying to treat the symptoms of your allergies. Sometimes avoiding the cause completely isn’t a realistic goal. However, you can still try to minimize the amount of contact you have with allergens.
The importance of proper contact lens care
When it comes to contact lenses and allergies, cleanliness is key. Most importantly, don’t touch or rub your eyes when wearing your contact lenses.
The moist surfaces of contact lenses allow allergens such as spores, pollens and dust to stick to them, and rubbing pushes those allergens into your eyes. Allergens such as dust and pollen can also build up on your contact lenses over time. This is why, if you’re leaving your lenses in for long periods of time, proper contact lens care is especially important. Clean and disinfect your lenses regularly.
If your current lens care regimen isn’t providing relief, ask your eye doctor to recommend a different lens care solution.
Can you use eye drops with contacts?
Eye drops provide necessary relief during allergy season, but they should not be applied when wearing contacts. Instead, remove your contacts before putting in eye drops. Once you’ve applied the drops, wait fifteen minutes, and re-insert your contacts.
The benefits of daily lenses
Alternatively, you may consider switching to daily disposable lenses.
One-day disposable lenses don’t require much lens care. Since you throw them out after each use they don’t allow for as much allergen build-up. Replacing your lenses regularly with fresh, clean ones can help relieve your symptoms and keep irritants out of your eyes.
Just to be transparent, daily disposable contact lenses can be slightly more expensive than continuous wear or reusable lenses. In allergy season though, the advantages far outweigh the increase in cost. Disposable lenses will relieve a lot of the irritation allergens cause.
You’ll be saving money by not paying for cleaning solutions and other lens care products. Plus, you don’t have to worry about cleaning your lenses every night. You can just toss them at the end of the day. With the wide variety of contacts available, you should be able to find daily disposable lenses that match your prescription.
Eye drops for itchy eyes
Itchy eyes are an annoying allergy symptom.
It’s tempting, but it’s important to avoid scratching or rubbing your eyes. This is especially true if you’re wearing contact lenses. Touching or rubbing your eyes will make the symptoms worse and will dirty your lenses, increasing irritation.
Dry eyes and itchy eyes usually go hand in hand. To keep your eyes from drying out, which will increase the itchiness and discomfort you feel, try using artificial tears or lubricating eye drops.
The right eye drops will keep your eyes moist and hydrated—sweet relief to dry, burning eyes. Be sure that the solution you use to keep your eyes moist is compatible with your lenses. In most cases you may use allergy eye drops with contacts, just be sure to remove your contacts before applying the drops.
Talk to your doctor about which eye drops you can safely use. They may even recommend specific eye drops for allergies with contacts. Artificial tears, also called lubricating eye drops, are inexpensive and are usually available over the counter.
Other treatments of eye allergy symptoms
If necessary, ask your eye doctor about prescription eye drops which can directly treat your allergy symptoms.
Antihistamine eye drops, or eye drops for allergies, should only be applied after you take your contact lenses out. These eye drops will provide relief for many of your allergy symptoms. You may need to apply them multiple times a day. Unless you have access to Pataday Once Daily Relief - which lucky for you, is now available online. The #1 doctor-prescribed brand of anti-histamine eye drops no longer requires a prescription - all-day eye relief is now just a click away.
As always, your doctor’s recommendations are the best option for alleviating your allergy symptoms. There is not a best eye drop for allergies with contacts – the best remedy will be determined between you and your doctor.
Decongestant eye drops
Decongestant eye drops, or whitening eye drops, can help treat eye redness temporarily. They are primarily used for cosmetic purposes like an important photoshoot or business meeting. Sometimes you just need to have clear eyes. Whitening eye drops are perfect for these occasions.
Unfortunately, when used excessively these eye drops may worsen your allergy symptoms. Always consult with your doctor if you noticed any dryness or irritation.
Anti-inflammatory eye drops
There are two types of anti-inflammatory eye drops, which can be used to treat itchy eyes: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids.
NSAID eye drops affect the eyes’ nerve endings, changing the way your body reacts to the allergen making your eyes feel itchy. Corticosteroid eye drops are used to treat severe eye allergy symptoms. These eye drops are usually only necessary for treating severe allergies, and prolonged use of them is not recommended. Some types of allergy eye drops can be purchased over the counter, although prescription-strength allergy eye drops are also available.
Whether you choose prescription strength or over-the-counter allergy eye drops, remember that long-term use of them can actually make some of your symptoms worse. Only use allergy eye drops for a few days at a time. If you have severe allergies and the eye drops aren’t providing enough relief, your eye doctor may also prescribe oral medications in addition to these treatments.
With the right contact lenses and proper lens and eye care, you’ll find that allergies don’t have to be a hindrance to wearing contacts and feeling comfortable. Talk to an eye doctor if you’re experiencing allergy symptoms or if you need additional help finding the best product for your allergy treatment needs.
Original published date: 1/24/2020
Updated: 9/28/2022