Eye Sensitivity Solutions
Wearing contact lenses and suffering from dry, sensitive eyes can create a vicious cycle. The contact lenses irritate the conjunctiva, which in turn compels people to rub their eyes, which in turn irritates the conjunctiva, and so on. Understanding how dry eye syndrome affects the composition of tears can help make simple eye sensitivity solutions more palatable.
Tears are comprised of three distinct components: an oily, lipid component, a watery lachrymal component, and a mucous-based mucin component. Each corresponds to a different gland located in and around the eye socket. Each person secretes a unique combination of these elements, and people who suffer from dry eye syndrome are thought to lack a balance of the three.
There are two gender-based correlations with regards to dry eye syndrome. The fluctuation of menstrual and menopausal hormone levels is thought to contribute to dry eye syndrome amongst women. For men, the greatest correlation is between dry eyes and age. According to the Archives of Ophthalmology, the highest instances of dry eye syndrome were amongst men 50 or older.
Among the more popular eye sensitivity solutions are the use of re-wetting drops. These artificial tear solutions can be very effective in the short term. Rather than having to remove a pair of contacts, clean them, then put them back on, re-wetting drops can flush the eye with enough saline to lubricate both the lenses and the conjunctiva. The key is using re-wetting solution that matches your unique tear composition. This, of course, is a matter of trial and error.
An obvious solution to reducing the irritation caused by environmental factors, is to either filter the irritants out, as with a HEPA air filter, or to leave the area entirely. Do not stay in an area that exacerbates seasonal allergies or contributes any irritation. Staying in a smoky bar, for instance, is not a good idea.
Keep in mind certain over-the-counter and prescription remedies for seasonal allergies, like anti-histamines, have been known to interfere with tear film viscosity. Likewise, drops and ointments designed to clear up blood-shot eyes are resoundingly bad for both the contact lenses and tear production. These vasoconstrictors can actually hinder more than help.