10 Best Eye Drops for Contacts in 2022 (Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, and More)

We looked for eye drops designed for soft and hard (RGP) contact lenses. Based on our extensive research, the following are the top 10 best eye drops for contacts.

Remember, even the product with the best ingredients and the most positive customer feedback can irritate your eyes. It's always important to check with your doctor before deciding on one of these products.

Standard eye drops often contain ingredients and lubricants that can thicken contact lenses. Some ingredients can damage your lenses, as well. If you wear contact lenses regularly, you need eye drops that are designed for your type of contact lenses. 

The guide below will help you through finding the right eye drops when you're wearing contact lenses, regardless of what type they are.  

Two types of contact lenses are commonly in use: soft contact lenses and hard contact lenses. Hard contact lenses are better known as Rigid Gas Permeable lenses. The drops designed for soft contact lenses may not suit you if you're wearing RGP contact lenses.

Soft lenses are made of flexible hydrophilic plastics, which are water-absorbing plastics that can stay soft and moist on your eyes. These lenses need constant absorption of water and may dry out in the absence of lubricants or moisture.

 
These days, silicone hydrogels are used to make these types of contact lenses. These hydrogels can deliver more oxygen to the cornea. They are less resistant to dust and irritant build-up, which can cause blurriness, discomfort, itchiness, and other symptoms, but they're easier to adjust.

 
You should choose eye drops that can remove particles and irritants from your eyes, prevent the build-up of deposits, and keep your eyes and lenses moist. And, as we said before, talk to a doctor before starting to use any kind of drops!

RGP, or Rigid Gas Permeable, contact lenses are harder than soft contact lenses and are hence more durable. They are made of oxygen-permeable materials like fluorosilicone acrylate and silicone acrylate and are meant for long-term use.

Although not that flexible, they are easier to handle and don’t tear or rip easily. Because of their high deposit resistance, they offer clearer vision than soft contact lenses. They also stay highly resistant to material build-up.

However, your eyes can take a while to adapt to rigid gas permeable lenses because they don’t conform to the shape of your eyeballs like soft lenses. Your doctor may prescribe eye drops to remove any debris and material build-up from the eyes that can affect your vision.

With RGP lenses, you may just need rewetting drops to condition your eyes and relieve irritation and discomfort. Wearing hard contact lenses becomes more comfortable with the use of these drops.

Although you might not need eye drops to clean your eyes and keep them free of debris, these drops can also flush out dirt and protein deposits from your eyes without having to remove your contact lenses.

Hard contact lenses can also go dry faster, and hence it’s important to keep them lubricated and moistened all the time. Eye drops containing ingredients like hydroxyethyl cellulose, or artificial tears, work best as they coat the lenses with moisture and keep them suitable for longer wear.

Even with normal use, many contact lens wearers need eye drops to keep their lenses moist and eyes hydrated. But there can be conditions like dry eye syndrome or eye allergies that will require you to use special drops designed to treat that problem.

Many of us use eye drops to relieve the symptoms associated with dry eye syndrome. Those wearing contact lenses for long periods can be especially vulnerable. Lenses with higher water content can feel very comfortable initially but can result in dryness eventually.

If your doctor has diagnosed you with dry eye syndrome, it's important to go with eye drops that mimic the function of tears. Solutions containing hyaluronate or lubricants like glycerin and carboxymethylcellulose will be ideal for you if you have the symptoms of dry eyes.

It's important to choose dry eye drops that are formulated for your type of lenses. Again, always go with your doctor's recommendation and look for the label on the bottle that says whether it's safe to use with contacts.

Redness, itching and watery eyes can result from allergies or infection. Treating such symptoms can be difficult for contact lens wearers. Your doctor might temporarily ask you to stop wearing contact lenses when you have an eye infection. Most eye drops designed to treat allergies might not be suitable to use with contact lenses.

Most allergy medications contain ingredients that can result in a negative reaction in contact lens wearers. Even eye drops meant for contacts normally require you to remove the lenses before using the drops and put them back in 10 to 15 minutes later. Leaving the contacts out will also help them be more effective at this period.

Go for eye drops containing antihistamines like ketotifen that can block histamines. Histamines are chemicals that your body makes to fight an immune response. The overreaction of these chemicals results in allergic symptoms like itchy eyes, swelling and redness, and can be controlled using antihistamines.

Doctors always stress the importance of not using an expired eye product. An expired product can sometimes be more harmful than being ineffective. The ingredients in the product can degrade after the expiration date and can further irritate your eyes. With contact lenses, these symptoms can worsen and result in infections.

If your eyes are sensitive and you still wear contact lenses, you should check for the use of preservatives in the drops. Preservatives are added to eye drops to prevent bacterial growth and make them last longer. The main concern is for those who need to use eye drops long-term, like contact lens wearers.

Preservatives have benefits, and there are many chemicals used, so it's hard to say they're all bad for you. But some eye drops contain disappearing preservatives that break down into water and oxygen upon contact with the eyes, and you may want to look for these.

There are many doctor-recommended products sold over the counter that you might be tempted to try. But it’s important to go with what your own ophthalmologist recommends!

If you’re buying over-the-counter eye drops, you should check with your eye doctor before using them. Your doctor might recommend eye drops containing ingredients that can address the specific condition of your eyes, such as dry eyes, itchiness, and redness.

Some of us ignore taking care of our eyes the way we should. And, if you're wearing contact lenses, either for aesthetic purposes or for vision adjustment, your eyes and contacts need extra care. We have some good product recommendations for you. 

Author: Biji Ravindran

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