ACUVUE^® Blog

Can you use eye drops with contact lenses?

By Dr. Giovanna Olivares, OD, FAAO; Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Director & Staff Writer

Some eye drops are made for contact lenses. Others are not.

All eye drops are not created equal. The ones that are made to be used along with contacts lenses should be clearly labeled “for contacts” or “contact lens relief,” depending on your country's health regulations. Using eye drops not meant for contact lenses can cause anything from discomfort to damage to the lens. And prescription eye drops should never be used with contact lenses in place. That said, there are some nuances, so read on to find out more, and if you have any questions, it’s always best to get in touch with your eye doctor.

Eye drops for contact lenses

If you’re wandering the drug store aisles looking for eye drops that you can use with your contacts, a good rule of thumb is to stick with eye drops that clearly state that they’re compatible with contact lenses. These typically come in two categories.

Contact lens re-wetting eye drops

Many contact 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 contacts” or “contact lens relief.”

Artificial tears: Similar to re-wetting drops, but different

No, these aren’t what actors use in their emotional scenes (though, technically, they could). Artificial tears, also often labeled 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 contacts, 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 eye doctor for recommendations that will meet the needs of your eyes.

Do you need to take your contacts off first?

Re-wetting drops made for use with contact lenses and some preservative-free artificial tears labeled “for use with contact lenses” are safe to use with your contacts. Still, it’s best to talk to your eye doctor about which drops are best for you, and when in doubt, take your contacts off before applying eye drops. Remember, always thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water and dry with a lint-free towel before handling your contact lenses.

The skinny on preservatives in eye drops

Once you open a bottle of eye drops, it’s exposed to air, which means it’s no longer sterile. Because of this, preservatives are found in many eye drops to combat bacteria and fungus growth. This is great news, because you don’t want an eye infection. 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 lack the preservatives that stave off bacteria and fungus. Remember, if you aren’t sure which to use, ask your eye doctor for advice on which drops are right for you.

Eye drops that shouldn't be used with your contacts on

Some eye drops are bad news for contacts. Here are the three most common ones.

Night time eye drops

To start, we should make it clear that most contact lenses aren’t meant to be worn while you sleep, and overnight wear should only be done with approval and supervision of your eye doctor. That said, night time eye drops are basically a thicker version of artificial tears, made that way so that the lubrication lasts longer. Though they can make vision a little blurry, some people use them in the daytime. But unless night time eye drops are clearly labeled for use with contact lenses, don’t, whether it’s day or night. Be sure to ask your doctor if you aren’t sure what kind of eye drops you have.

Eye drops for red eyes

Red eye relief works thanks to chemicals like tetrahydrozoline—which constricts the blood vessels in your eye, helping to reduce the red appearance. Problem is, this drug can be absorbed by you lens, and the vasoconstriction can actually make dry eye worse. If your contacts are bothering your eyes and making them red, take them off and get in touch with your eye doctor.

Eye drops for allergies

If you suffer from allergies, whether seasonal or year-round, you may struggle with the maddening symptom of itchy eyes. Contact lenses can exacerbate the issue since allergens can accumulate on or behind them. Eye drops for allergies are meant to relieve these symptoms with an antihistamine, but since they’re delivering a drug, you don’t want to combine them with contacts. Eye doctors recommend using them 10-15 minutes before putting your contacts on, or avoiding contacts altogether during peak allergy season. Using daily disposable lenses, with a fresh lens every day may also help to minimize the allergy symptoms.

Find the right eye drops for you

There are a lot of options out there. Ultimately, if you aren’t sure, pick up the phone and get in touch with your eye doctor. They’ll be able to steer you in the right direction.

About the author

Giovanna E. Olivares, OD, FAAO is the Global Director, Specialty Platforms Research & Development, at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (JJVC). In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the strategy, design, and development of new products to support the company’s global Astigmatism and Presbyopia platforms. In 2017 under her leadership, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, launched ACUVUE^® Oasys 1-Day with Hydroluxe^® for Astigmatism and ACUVUE^® Vita^® for Astigmatism to meet our patients’ needs. In 2021, her team launched ACUVUE^® OASYS MULTIFOCAL with PUPIL OPTIMIZED design. Recently in September, 2022, she launched ACUVUE^® OASYS MAX MULTIFOCAL for presbyopia patients. Dr. Olivares joined Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. in 2004 as Sr. Manager of the R&D Design Clinical Research Group. In this role, she led a multidisciplinary group including Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Vision Scientists, and Biostatisticians responsible for the development of new innovative contact lens products and clinical methodology. Under her leadership, the group launched several brands including ACUVUE^® ADVANCE for ASTIGMATISM, ACUVUE^® OASYS for ASTIGMATISM, and 1-DAY ACUVUE^® MOIST for ASTIGMATISM. Under her leadership, the first validated patient questionnaire for JJVC was developed, CLUE (Contact Lens User Experience). In 2010, she was appointed to the position of Director of Professional Education, responsible for developing innovative educational programs across the spectrum of students, eye care professionals, Professional Affairs Consultants, and the company’s Sales & Marketing organizations. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson Vision, Dr. Olivares served as the Director of Clinical and Professional Development for Unilens Corp. USA, where she developed contact lens designs for presbyopia. Additionally, she has practiced in an ophthalmology practice, private optometric practice, retail optometry, and as a technical medical consultant at TLC, a center for LASIK surgery. Dr. Olivares received her BS degree from the University of Rochester and her OD degree from the State University of New York (SUNY). She subsequently completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Ocular Disease management at the SUNY College of Optometry. After her fellowship, she joined the SUNY faculty as an Assistant Professor with clinical and didactic teaching responsibilities in the areas of contact lenses, ocular disease, pediatric/binocular vision, and primary care. Dr. Olivares is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, has authored numerous scientific articles and has lectured internationally on contact lens technology and fitting for success.

Footnotes

Consult your eye care professional for more information. Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.

Important information for contact lens wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.

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