Finding comfortable contact lenses when one has sensitive eyes can sometimes prove to be quite challenging, as the lens can feel comfortable in the morning but be dry and uncomfortable hours later. Some individuals can find their discomfort to be due to the contact lenses, while for others, extended computer screen time, air conditioning, allergies, or even over-wearing the contacts can be among other issues.
This is one of the reasons why daily disposable contact lenses for sensitive eyes have come about as one such consideration. Unlike using the same lenses time and time again, you receive a new pair of contacts every single day, which you simply throw away at the end of the day.
Nevertheless, no universal "perfect" contact lens exists that would please everyone. People who have the same prescription might experience totally different sensations from the same lens since many factors like the material used to manufacture lenses, the design, the hydration technology, fit, prescription, and environmental conditions play an important role in your experience.
Why Do Some Contact Lenses Feel Uncomfortable?
Before you decide that your contacts are to blame, however, it is important to consider what happens during the day.
Perhaps everything is alright with your eyes upon putting in your contacts, but by the afternoon, you begin feeling the dryness. Perhaps your eyes start watering once you step out of your house.
Maybe you have spent eight hours looking into a computer screen and realize that your contacts are becoming very noticeable now.
It is fairly common to experience any of these, and more often than not, there may be multiple reasons for the same.
Both air conditioning and heaters can dehydrate the air inside your home. Allergens, dust particles in the air, and seasonal changes can irritate your eyes. And finally, there is your screen time, during which you tend to blink less.
Your contact lens is in direct contact with all this, which makes an impact on your contacts.
As the guide from Lens.com on sensitive eyes states, some of the issues that could lead to contact lens discomfort are dryness, allergens, environmental irritants, and use of digital screens.
Why Daily Disposable Lenses Are Worth Considering
The biggest attraction of daily lenses is not complicated technology. It is the fact that you start over every day.
You open a new lens in the morning, wear it according to your prescribed schedule, and discard it. There is no lens case sitting on your bathroom counter and no bottle of solution to remember when you travel.
That can also be useful for people who find that reusable lenses become less comfortable as they get older. Deposits can build up on reusable lenses over time, even when they are cleaned properly.
A daily lens does not eliminate every possible cause of irritation, but it does remove the repeated use of the same lens from the equation.
For someone with sensitive eyes, that simpler routine can be a genuine advantage.
What Should You Look for in a Daily Lens?
It is easy to get caught up in numbers when comparing contact lenses. Water content, oxygen transmissibility, lens material, base curve, and other specifications can all look impressive on a product page.
But those numbers do not tell the whole story.
Moisture Matters, But More Water Isn't Always Better
If your eyes feel dry, you might naturally assume that a lens with the highest water content must be the best option.
It is not quite that simple.
Different lens materials interact with tears differently. Some modern lenses use surface technologies specifically designed to maintain a moist lens surface. Others use materials that are designed to provide oxygen transmission while retaining water.
The important thing is how the complete lens performs on your eyes, not one number printed on the package.
Oxygen Is Another Important Consideration
Your cornea needs oxygen, and contact lenses can affect the amount that reaches the eye.
Many newer daily lenses are made with silicone hydrogel, a material known for allowing high levels of oxygen to pass through the lens. That is one reason silicone hydrogel appears so often when you start comparing modern daily disposables.
But again, material alone does not determine comfort. A lens still needs to fit properly and be suitable for your individual eyes.
The Best Daily Disposable Contact Lenses for Sensitive Eyes
Rather than calling one product the absolute winner, it makes more sense to look at what makes each lens different.
1. DAILIES TOTAL1
If dryness and lens awareness are your biggest complaints, DAILIES TOTAL1 is one of the first lenses you may come across.
The interesting thing about this lens is its Water Gradient Technology. The lens has a lower-water core, while the water content increases toward the surface. Alcon says the outer surface approaches nearly 100% water.
In simple terms, the technology is designed to give the part of the lens that touches the eye a highly hydrated surface. DAILIES TOTAL1 also uses SmarTears Technology, which is designed around a component naturally found in tears. (Alcon)
That makes it an interesting option for people who describe their contacts as feeling dry or noticeable later in the day.
It is not necessarily the right lens for everyone, though. Your eye doctor still needs to determine whether the lens fits your eyes and prescription.
2. ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day with HydraLuxe
In case you find yourself switching between your laptop, smartphone, and computer screen every now and then throughout the day, another contact lens that should be considered is ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day with HydraLuxe Technology.
According to the manufacturer, HydraLuxe is a tear-like innovation meant to promote comfort. In addition, this lens features an ultra-thin, tapered edge that helps minimize contact with the lid and the lens. (ACUVUE)
This does not guarantee a resolution to screen-induced dryness, however. Environmental factors and blinking remain relevant.
Yet if you are looking for a daily lens specially formulated to be worn during today's long working days, this is a good candidate.
The daily wear system is convenient, too, since at the end of the day, the lenses are removed and thrown away instead of being cleaned up for the next day.
3. PRECISION1
PRECISION1 takes a slightly different approach to keeping the lens surface comfortable.
It uses SMARTSURFACE Technology, which is designed to maintain a highly water-rich surface. The lens is made from verofilcon A silicone hydrogel material.
One reason PRECISION1 gets attention is that it sits between basic daily lenses and some of the more premium options. It gives wearers another option when comparing comfort, lens technology, and price.
The lens is also available in versions suited for particular eye requirements such as astigmatism.
If you are new to wearing contacts, lens handling is as important as wearing comfort. If the lens is hard to insert and take out, there is little likelihood that it will seem a good fit despite its fine specifications.
4. 1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST
Not every comfortable daily lens needs to use silicone hydrogel.
1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST is a hydrogel daily disposable lens that uses LACREON Technology. It has been around for years and remains an option for people who prefer this type of lens.
This is a good reminder that contact lens shopping should not become a race to find the newest technology.
Despite being an older version of lens, this one could still be a better choice for a specific individual.
If you were previously wearing ACUVUE lenses and were satisfied with them, then you could give 1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST lenses a shot.
5. Biotrue ONEday
Biotrue ONEday by Bausch + Lomb is another type of daily disposable lens.
It contains a hydrogel composition and it focuses on retaining moisture throughout the wearing period. It comes in different prescriptions and therefore it is an important daily disposable lens to consider in comparison.
It may also be suitable for individuals who may not wish to move directly to one of the most expensive daily lenses available.
This is because comfort is subjective. While one individual will enjoy wearing Biotrue ONEday, another will like silicone hydrogel.
6. MyDay Daily Disposable
MyDay Daily Disposable by CooperVision is also a silicone hydrogel daily lens.
This lens contains technology called Aquaform Technology that is meant to allow the lens to retain water while letting oxygen through.
MyDay is especially interesting to consider if your eye care professional recommends trying a silicone hydrogel daily lens but you would like to have several options available to choose from before making your final choice.
Brands are often very different from each other even if they are meant to serve the exact same purpose.
Good choice to recommend if: you are interested in trying another silicone hydrogel daily lens.
Which Daily Lens Is Best for Dry Eyes?
The correct answer would be: there isn't one universal answer.
A person who experiences minor discomfort due to dryness might find one contact very comfortable; another individual with a more severe dry eye condition will have a hard time wearing the same contacts.
In case moisture is important for you, DAILIES TOTAL1 would be a good choice to discuss with your eye care professional, thanks to its gradient-wet technology. ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day and PRECISION1 can also be considered reasonable choices due to their unique comfort and surface technologies.
However, don't forget about the most basic things.
If you spend 12 or 14 hours a day wearing your contacts, looking mostly at a computer screen, being in a cooled room, and blinking infrequently, changing the brand might not be the full solution.
What About Contact Lenses and Screen Time?
This aspect has become more crucial for comfortable wearing of contact lenses.
Consider the way you use a computer – you sit down, open your laptop, and concentrate on what you see in front of you. After an hour, you notice that you haven't been looking away from the screen for a while.
Your pattern of blinking can vary in case of concentration and lead to dryness.
You should consider taking breaks and try to blink as usual. Keep your screen at a comfortable distance and prevent the fan or air conditioner from being directed directly to your face.
If you regularly feel dryness while doing a lot of work on the screen, tell this to your eye-care specialist at your next eye examination.
It can be useful for him/her to find out whether it is worth changing the design of your lenses.
Daily vs. Monthly Contacts for Sensitive Eyes
This is another area where there is no universal winner.
Daily contacts are convenient because you do not need to clean and store them overnight. You simply use a fresh pair the next time you wear contacts.
Monthly lenses require more responsibility. These need to be cleaned, disinfected, stored properly, and replaced at regular intervals.
Some individuals find the ease of disposables very appealing.
For others, wearing monthly contacts can be comfortable and less expensive.
Ultimately, it is up to you and what works best for your eyes and circumstances.
How to Make Contact Lenses More Comfortable
Even the highest quality lenses will not be comfortable if basic precautions are overlooked.
Clean Hands First
Wash your hands and make sure that they are completely dry before putting in your lenses.
It is something that you should never skip in a hurry, even if you are already running late.
Don't Sleep With Your Contact Lenses
Without having an appropriate recommendation from your eye care professional about a suitable lens and wear schedule, don't sleep with your contact lenses in.
Taking out contact lenses prior to sleeping is crucial for responsible use of contact lenses.
Keep Your Lenses Dry
Do not rinse your contact lenses with water or wear them when swimming without receiving proper instructions from your eye care professional.
Water may contain microorganisms and other harmful substances that can affect your contact lenses.
Listen To Your Eyes
This one sounds obvious, but it is easy to ignore.
If your eyes are telling you that something isn't right, take the lenses out.
You shouldn't feel that you have to "push through" significant discomfort simply because you paid for the lenses.
When Should You Stop Wearing Your Contacts?
Not every little bit of dryness means something serious is happening.
But certain symptoms should not be ignored.
Remove your contacts and seek professional advice if you experience persistent:
- Eye redness
- Pain
- Significant irritation
- Light sensitivity
- Discharge
- Sudden blurry vision
- Major changes in vision
These symptoms may be caused by factors unrelated to which brand of contact lenses you have chosen.
In case you experience irritation every time you put on your contact lenses, you should see an eye care professional and not keep switching your lens brand yourself.
Are Premium Daily Contacts Worth the Money?
This depends on how often you wear contacts and what you value most.
A premium daily lens can cost more than a basic daily option. If you wear contacts every single day, that price difference can add up.
But price is only one part of the equation.
Think about the option of opening a new set before a busy workday ahead of you or any travel.
Even for a person wearing contact lenses just a few days per month, it would be wise to use daily lenses because you are not looking after a reusable set.
And the least expensive lens does not have to be the most cost-effective one if you find it uncomfortable to wear.
How Should You Choose Between These Lenses?
Instead of asking, "Which brand is number one?" start with your own experience.
If dryness is your biggest problem, be sure to let your eye care professional know when this occurs.
If your lenses are comfortable for four hours but become uncomfortable after that, tell them.
Also, if your eyes are comfortable unless you've been staring at a computer screen for hours, note this as well.
And if the lenses feel like they are slipping or are dislodged from where they should be, this too will be helpful information.
All of this will help your eye care professional figure out what the problem may be – if it's lens-related, fit-related, wearing time, tear film, or something else.
A prescription gives you the power and vision correction you require. It does not mean that all contact lenses with this prescription will be exactly the same for your eyes.
There are plenty of good daily disposable contact lenses available today, but finding the right one is less about finding a winner and more about finding a good match.
DAILIES TOTAL1 is an interesting choice for people who want to explore water-gradient technology. ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day with HydraLuxe offers tear-like comfort with a design tailored for digital environments. PRECISION1 is another silicone hydrogel lens with a moisture-oriented surface;
1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST, Biotrue ONEday, and MyDay offer you yet more choices to talk to your eye care professional about.
Daily contact lenses could make your life simpler, especially if you do not like to clean reusable lenses or if lenses are less comfortable when used many times.
FAQs
Are daily disposable contacts good for sensitive eyes?
This could be a great choice for certain people since there is a new lens that you put into your eyes every single day. Nevertheless, daily contact lenses are not an automatic choice for all people who have sensitive eyes.
What is the most comfortable daily contact lens?
There is no single lens that would suit every wearer. Different daily contact lenses like DAILIES TOTAL1, ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day, and PRECISION1 have various technologies and materials.
Are daily contacts better than monthly contacts for dry eyes?
Does not have to be that way. There are individuals who feel more comfortable with daily lenses, and others may prefer monthly lenses. Your type of lenses, their fitting, wearing and the medical state of your eyes could influence comfort.
Can I wear daily contacts all day?
You are supposed to wear your contact lenses as recommended by your eye care provider and the lens manufacturer. In case you get uncomfortable wearing the lenses before the end of the day, you had better take off your lenses.
Should I change brands if my contact lenses irritate my eyes?
Switching brands might be a good idea in some cases; however, if you experience constant irritation, then it would be wrong to just attribute it to the brand. Consultation with an eye specialist would be required.
