Contact lens re-wetting eye drops
Many contact lens wearers experience dry eyes at some point, since the contact lens itself may disrupt the eye’s natural tear film. Contact lens technology has come a long way to address this, but sometimes people still need some relief before the end of the day, and that’s where rewetting eye drops come in. Rewetting drops are designed to improve the comfort of the lens on the eye, and because of this their packaging will usually say “for contact lenses” or “contact lens relief.”
Artificial tears: Similar to re-wetting drops, but different
Artificial tears, also often labelled as dry eye relief, are intended to keep your eyes wet temporarily, relieving the common symptoms of dry eye. Though they’re called “artificial tears,” keep in mind, they are quite different from real tears. Real tears are complex, full of things your body naturally produces to protect and nourish your eye. Artificial tears typically contain a lubricant or two as the active ingredient that helps fight dryness. The drops do this by mimicking the different layers of the tear film to help maintain hydration of the eyes. When you’re shopping for artificial tears, the labels you see may say:
- Relieves dry eyes
- Relieves irritation
- Lubricated or lubricant
It’s important to note that not all artificial tears are safe to use with contact lenses, and that’s a main difference between artificial tears and contact lens re-wetting drops. That’s why it’s important that you look for the wording on the label “For use with contact lenses” or “Safe for use with contact lenses”. There’s a huge variety of ingredients in artificial tears, so if you aren’t sure, it’s best to ask your Optician for recommendations that will meet the needs of your eyes.
