Some eye drops are designed to be used with contact lenses, while others are not. Learn the difference, and why you should always reach out to your eye doctor with questions.
Rewetting drops are specifically formulated to help keep your eyes comfortable while wearing contact lenses. They work by lubricating the lens and rehydrating it, which can help relieve dryness or discomfort that you feel during the day.
Artificial tears are designed to supplement your natural tear film and provide temporary relief from dry eye symptoms. Artificial tears typically contain a lubricant or two as the active ingredient that helps with dryness symptoms. The drops do this by mimicking the different layers of the tear film to help maintain hydration of the eyes.
Some eye drops aren't safe to use with contact lenses. One reason is that contact lenses can act like a sponge and absorb preservatives and/or the ingredients in the eye drops. Eye drops are usually concentrated because they’re washed out of the eye quickly, but when contacts are involved, the ingredients can end up contacting the eye for longer periods of time, which can cause a reaction. Certain eye drops may also cause blurry vision, or cause your contact lenses to move too much when you blink.
These products have active ingredients that constrict blood vessels in the eye to help reduce redness. The problem is, these active ingredients (in addition to preservatives) can be absorbed by your lenses and may worsen dryness. If your contacts are bothering your eyes and making them red, take them off and get in touch with your eye doctor.
Medicated drops for allergies may contain antihistamines or other active ingredients to help reduce allergy-related itchiness. Since medicated eye drops can be absorbed by contacts, eye doctors often recommend applying these drops 10 to 15 minutes before putting your contacts on. If you suffer from severe allergies, it may also help to use daily disposable lenses or skip contact lenses altogether during peak allergy season.
Some eye drops are formulated as gels so that the lubrication lasts longer, but they may cause temporary blurring of vision. Unless the drops are clearly labeled for use with contact lenses, do not use them. Consult your doctor if you are unsure what kind of eye drops you have.
Once you open a bottle of eye drops, it’s exposed to air, which leaves it vulnerable to bacteria or fungus growth. Preservatives are found in many eye drops to help prevent this. The downside is that these preservatives can attach themselves to your contacts and irritate your eyes or cause discoloration of the contact lens. If you’re looking for preservative-free eye drops, you’ll usually find them in small, single-dose vials. Once opened, these vials should be thrown away since they are no longer sterile.
The information provided on this page and across the entire Acuvue.com experience is designed to offer educational insights into eye health, referencing expert advice from reputable medical and government organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Optometric Association and the National Eye Institute. While we research, report, and review the content on Acuvue.com and its extended social media to deliver accurate and up-to-date vision, vision care, and vision correction information, we do not make any assurances, and content accessed on or through Acuvue.com and its extended social media is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any eye conditions or health issues. This brings us to our #1 eye health tip: Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical guidance and care.
