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.