When you’re already living with sensitive eyes, the idea of wearing contact lenses may seem impossible.

After all, you’d be putting a piece of plastic directly onto your eyeball. Wouldn’t that just add to the irritation you already feel?

But don’t give up. Whether you’re sensitive to light, have dry eyes, or struggle with eye allergies, contact lenses can still work for you, says Madison Lessard, O.D., an optometrist who practices at America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses in Coral Springs, Florida.

With these smart strategies and care tips, wearing contacts can be convenient and comfortable, even for the most sensitive eyes. Here’s what you need to know.

Did you know that contact lens prescriptions need to be renewed every year? Find an exam time that fits your schedule!

3 Things That Are Making Your Eyes Sensitive

There are dozens of factors that can lead to sensitivity. But when you boil it down, there are three main conditions behind your sensitive eyes, according to Dr. Lessard.

Bright lights. Being sensitive to light can make it painful to be outside in the sunlight or even in a brightly lit room. You may find yourself squinting and straining your eyes to shield your eyes from the glare.

There’s no single cause of light sensitivity. It can develop for a wide variety of reasons, including the color of your irises, allergies, and migraines, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dry eyes. If your eyes feel dry, itchy, and irritated, you may not be producing enough tears to keep your eyes moist. Your eyes may sting and burn. You may feel like something gritty is in your eye. Your vision might blur, especially while reading.

Dry eye often develops as we age, says Dr. Lessard, especially in those who have gone through menopause. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, it can also be triggered by things like wind, screen use and certain medications.

“Dry eye is not one category. It’s a spectrum,” says Dr. Lessard. “It could be very mild, it could be moderate, it could be severe.”

Eye allergies. Allergies can lead to red, watery eyes and swollen, itchy eyelids. These side effects are triggered when your immune system reacts to an allergen, such as pollen, dust, pet dander, or mold, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. You can also get an allergic reaction if you don’t replace your contacts often enough.

How Contact Lens Wearers Can Find Relief

If you start to notice more sensitivity in your eyes, it’s a good idea to ask your optometrist about ways to lessen your symptoms while wearing contacts. Depending on the cause of your sensitivity, here are some strategies you might be advised to try.

Wear your shades. One of the simplest ways to ease sensitivity is to slip on a pair of sunglasses. The dark lenses cut down on glare and they also act as a shield against environmental triggers.

Make sure you pick a pair that blocks 100% ultraviolet light to get the full benefit of wearing dark shades, says Dr. Lessard. When buying a new pair, look for the words “100% UV protection” or “UV 400” on the frames or lenses. To check the UV protection on your current pair of sunglasses, bring them to your America’s Best store and we’ll check them for you.

Also choose large frames or those with wraparound lenses — these features help keep irritants like wind, smoke, and pollen out of your eyes while you’re wearing contacts.

Switch to a different type of contact lens. Daily contact lenses are made from a softer material than monthly contact lenses, says Dr. Lessard, so they might feel more comfortable in dry eyes.

They also have a fluid barrier that keeps the lens from touching the cornea. And because daily contact lenses are tossed at the end of the day, irritants like pollen won’t accumulate on the lens like they do on extended-wear lenses.

For highly sensitive eyes and/or severe cases of dry eye, your eye doctor may recommend scleral contact lenses. These are larger than standard contact lenses, covering the cornea and the whites of your eye (the sclera).

Use artificial tears. Preservative-free, over-the-counter eye drops, also known as artificial tears, are recommended and safe to use with contact lenses.

“But you want to stay away from Visine, Clear Eyes, or red reducers,” says Dr. Lessard. These types of artificial tears temporarily make your eyes look less red, but they can lead to a “rebound redness” effect, leaving your eyes even redder than before.

Take blink breaks. Blinking can help keep your eyes moist. But if you work at a computer screen, you might not be blinking enough. Screen use is associated with lower blink rates.

Here’s how to take a blink break: Close your eyes for five seconds, squeezing eyelids together. Open your eyes and repeat five times.

Press play to learn more about how screen time affects your eyes:

Keep your eyeglasses nearby. Contact lens wear can sometimes amplify sensitivity and symptoms of dry eye, so try cutting back on the amount of time you wear them. It’s a good idea to alternate between eyeglasses and contacts.

“If your eyes are itchy, you would want to keep contact lenses out of your eyes because you could make the itching or irritation worse,” Dr. Lessard says.

Try tinted lenses. There is at least one brand of contacts on the market that functions like photochromic eyeglass lenses, says Dr. Lessard. Similar to Transitions™ eyeglasses, these specialty contact lenses darken when exposed to sunlight, and they become clear again once you go back inside. Her patients have said these contacts don’t appear to darken the light as much as sunglasses do, so you may still need to keep sunglasses handy for certain situations.

Tips to Prevent Sensitivity

Proper contact lens care is important for everyone, but especially for those prone to sensitivities. Follow these basic guidelines to keep your lenses clean and prevent irritation and eye infections.

Use the right cleaning solution for your lenses. Always use the solution your eye doctor recommends for your contacts, and never use expired solution.

Wash your hands before handling your contacts. Wash your hands and dry them thoroughly with a clean towel before inserting or removing your contacts. (Have a habit of touching your eyes a lot? Here are some tips to help you stop.)

Clean your lenses and lens case daily. Unless you wear daily lenses, clean your contacts every day to keep them free from dirt and bacteria. To clean a soft contact lens, put it in the palm of your hand, pour several drops of contact lens solution on it, and then rub it with your ring finger.

To clean the case, use a clean fingertip to rub contact lens solution around the inside and outside of the case. Dry it with a clean towel or paper towel, or let it air dry face down. Never use soap and water or tap water alone.

Don’t wear your lenses for longer than directed. If you wear your contacts longer than directed, the material can no longer hold up and keep proteins or bacteria from building up, putting you at higher risk for infection, says Dr. Lessard. You should also never sleep in your contacts or use contacts past the expiration date on the package.

If you notice that your eyes feel uncomfortable, take your contacts out right away. It’s a good idea to call your eye doctor if you experience symptoms of eye irritation or a possible infection, including:

• Excess tearing
• Eye discharge
• Unusual sensitivity to light
• Redness
• Itching, burning or pain
• A gritty sensation in the eye
• Blurry vision
• Swelling

See our sources:
Light sensitivity overview: American Academy of Ophthalmology
Dry eye overview: American Academy of Ophthalmology
Eye allergies overview: American Academy of Ophthalmology