contact lenses and DES

[Randolph]

I'm wondering how much do contact lenses aggravate dry eyes?

I'm guessing it varies from case to case as with everything regarding DES, but personal experiences are welcome.

Also, what kind of lenses do the least damage?

[Nick12]

Contacts just seem to dry out the eyes faster. A lot of times if it's not too severe you can control it with repeated applications of wetting drops although I believe there are some newer types of contacts that retain more moisture. I tried several pair before giving up and just wearing glasses.

[gz9gjg]

Soft contact lenses have water in the lens material. When the water dries out, the lenses change shape.

RGPs (Rigid Gas Permeable) and Scleral lenses have no water in the lens material. These lenses hold a tear pool against the cornea. In my experience, these are more comfortable in dry conditions.