What happens if contacts dry out?

Dry contact lenses are the worst, and nobody likes the scratchy, awful feeling of having clear bits of what feels like sandpaper in their eyes. But as uncomfortable as it is, can you wear dry contact lenses? Technically, yes, but you shouldn't. Beyond that, what can you do if your contacts dry out, and how do you prevent this in the first place? Let's take a look.

The dry contact dilemma: What's the worst that can happen?

Ideally, your contacts shouldn't dry out. Your disposable contact lenses come individually wrapped in their own lubricating goo, which keeps them moist (sorry about using that word, but sacrifices have to be made). Longer-use contacts are kept in solution; leaving them on the counter to dry out is a mistake you'll only make once.

Dry contacts: The silent killer (not really)

Contact lenses are made from polymer- or silicone-hydrogel, which is pretty thin and flexible as long as it stays moist. As soon as the air gets to these, the clock is ticking for the lenses to dry out. This makes them crunchy, to use a technical science term, and it isn't long before they're too dry to use.

Effects of dry contact lenses on eye health

Dry contacts feel awful, assuming you can get them into your eyes at all. The discomfort, irritation, and outright pain this causes are discouragement enough to keep people from using them in this state - at least, one would think. But there's more to it than that. Dry lenses are less protected from contamination by dust, mold, or bacteria.

How can you tell if your contacts need a drink?

Fortunately, your contacts will find ways to let you know they're dry, so you're probably not going to have to guess. Here's what to look for:

Effects on the lenses themselves

The hydrogel that most contacts are made from warps when it dries out, so your lenses will probably twist up like a modern art piece. Before you put in a set of lenses, give them a quick glance to see if there is any warping, twisting, or cracks in the lens material.

How your eyes will feel

Assuming you've put them in without inspecting the lenses first, you'll definitely feel the difference. Dry contact lenses feel scratchy and gritty, and they can easily cause almost instant irritation, redness, discomfort, and even blurred vision since dry lenses change shape and bend light all weird.

Can you still see clearly?

Speaking of blurry vision, contact lenses do their magic because they hold a certain shape. This shape is your prescription, which was written up for you by your eye care professional during your last eye exam. Your vision will probably be noticeably worse with dry lenses than if the contacts were moist.

What to do if contacts dry out

The world doesn't have to end if your lenses happen to dry out. For some lenses, there are things you can do to bring them back from the desert, or you can toss them out and try again with some fresh lenses.

Rehydration for contact lenses

If you have reusable lenses, you can try saving them with a quick (it's actually not that quick) rehydration therapy. Soak your dry contacts in fresh solution for at least 24 hours before taking them out and giving them a try. If they still look warped or feel gritty, you're basically out of luck and should move on to your next pair of contacts.

Better yet, prevent this in the first place

Even better than rehydrating lenses is just keeping them moist. You can do this by keeping your disposable lenses in their packets until you're ready to put them in, like, right away. Likewise, keep your reusable contacts in solution until it's time to insert them. If you need backups, hey, here are some money-saving coupons for you.

Do contacts dry out your eyes?

You bet they can, and they do. This is yet another reason to avoid inserting dry contacts since dryness is no fun and effectively breaks the lenses.

So, what have we learned?

Today, we've learned that dry contact lenses can be no fun, and you should either soak them until it's time to insert them or leave them sealed until you need them. You should also only wear the lenses your eye care professional prescribes for you, ideally after you schedule a visit right now.

 

FAQs

Can wearing dry contacts damage your eyes?

Dry contacts can irritate and scratch your corneas, so. . . not good.

How can I prevent my contacts from drying out?

Soak your reusable contacts overnight. Only open disposable packets when you're absolutely ready to put them in.

Are there specific contacts for dry eyes?

If you already have dry eyes, you can try scleral lenses. These are larger than average and help trap moisture close to your eyes.