Best Eye Drops For Contacts Wearers, According To Experts

To determine the best eye drops for contacts wearers of 2023, the Forbes Health editorial team consulted a panel of two experts (an optometrist and an ophthalmologist) who provided their product recommendations for the best eye drops for contacts wearers. Star ratings were determined by the editorial team, factoring in cost and user satisfaction.

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Eye drops serve a number of purposes and are essential when your eyes need relief from dryness, redness, itchiness and other forms of irritation. Common eye drop types, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, include:

• Redness-relieving drops
• Itch-relieving drops
• Lubricating drops for dry eye
• Dilating drops for eye exams
• Antibiotic drops for certain infections
• Pre-surgery numbing drops
• Pressure-lowering drops for glaucoma

Eye drops are available over-the-counter or in prescription form.

You should follow the suggested use instructions on the labeling of your eye drop solution. “In most cases, you need to remove your contact lenses before using eye drops,” says Dr. Jacob. He adds that you can usually re-insert your contact lenses 15 minutes after use.

Research shows contact lens wearers are at especially high risk of developing dry eyes. A study in BMC Ophthalmology showed 57.4% of contact lens-wearing participants experienced severe dry eye syndrome^[1]lmutairi AH, Alalawi BS, Badr GH, et al. Prevalence of dry eye syndrome in association with the use of contact lenses in Saudi Arabia. BMC Ophthalmol. 2021;21(147). .

If you’ve dealt with eye irritation or discomfort while wearing contacts, you know how difficult it can be to alleviate the symptoms with your lenses in—and rubbing your eyes for relief will only make it worse. Eye drops for contacts can help alleviate irritation, dryness and other discomforting symptoms, and can be administered while a person is wearing contacts.

“Eye drops can help provide relief from these symptoms by rehydrating the eyes and reducing irritation,” says Besty Jacob, O.D., a Florida-based optometrist.

Eye drops offer several benefits for contact wearers. Those benefits include the following, according to Dr. Jacob:

• Moisture restoration in the eyes
• Relief from irritation associated with wearing contact lenses
• Increased comfort during contact lens wear time
• Glare reduction
• A soothing effect on “tired and strained eyes”

There are some eye drops that contain ingredients that may help your contacts stay cleaner and last longer, too, adds Dr. Jacob.

Factors to Consider When Buying Eye Drops

When buying eye drops as a contact lens wearer, you’ll want to consider why you need them in the first place.

For contact lens wearers, Dr. Jacob suggests “a lubricating drop with moisturizing ingredients” if you’re experiencing dryness or redness. Examples of such moisturizing ingredients include hyaluronic acid and glycerin. “These ingredients in eye care products can extend the tear film breakup time, which is how long it takes for a dry spot to form on your eyes after you blink,” he says. “Additionally, such ingredients can aid in healing any damage sustained by the eyes due to dryness.”

Contact lens wearers should avoid vasoconstrictor eye drops used to reduce redness, as they act to tighten the small blood vessels in the eye. For lens wearers, this means less oxygen is getting to the eyes.

It’s also important to find eye drops that won’t compromise the quality of your contact lenses, such as contact rewetting drops. These drops “help reduce discomfort and dryness while preventing contact lenses from sticking to the eyes,” Dr. Jacob adds.

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Dr. Jacob confirms that eye drops are safe for contact lens wearers. The right eye drop solution for you will depend on “the severity of your symptoms,” he says. Over-the-counter eye drops should do for mild irritation, but you might need a prescription eye drop for more serious cases, he adds. Consult with a health care provider for guidance on the right solution.

Additionally, people who wear contact lenses should look for an eye drop that does not contain preservatives, due to the risk of preservatives adhering to contact lenses and causing irritation.

The side effects of eye drops can vary based on the severity of your condition. “The most common side effects of eye drops are redness, stinging and burning,” says Dr. Jacob. He adds that you should visit an optometrist if the “symptoms persist or worsen.”

When choosing an over-the-counter eye drop solution, make sure the formula’s contents are safe for contact wearers. You can do this by simply checking the product’s labeling. “It’s important to read the label and determine if the product is suitable for your needs,” according to Dr. Jacob.

Prescription eye drops require the approval of an eye care specialist, such as an optometrist. Schedule an appointment with your doctor if discomforting symptoms worsen.

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Partner Offers feature brands who paid Forbes Health to appear at the top of our list. While this may influence where their products or services appear on our site, it in no way affects our ratings, which are based on thorough research, solid methodologies and expert advice. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services

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