Updated on  March 14, 2024
9 min read

The 10 Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes in 2024

13 sources cited
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Dry eye is a common eye condition. Approximately one in four people experience its symptoms, including over 50 percent of contact lens wearers.1,2

Contact lenses can be one of the causes of dry eye. They can also worsen a person’s symptoms. Fortunately, the technology for contact lenses has advanced significantly.

According to Dr. Molly King, OD FAAO, “The best contact for patients with dry eye is a daily disposable lens. This eliminates the need for contact lens solutions and preservatives, and prevents protein build-up on the lenses.”

Meet the Expert

Dr. Molly King is a residency-trained optometrist in Colorado. She currently works at a pediatric clinic and owns SimplEye, a telehealth service for patients with dry eye. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a member of the American Optometric Association and Colorado Optometric Association.

However, there are other factors to consider, Dr. King adds. Eye doctors will perform a contact lens fitting and consider:

  • The fit of the lens
  • Lens movement
  • Lens material
  • DK value (oxygen permeability)

These are especially important for long-term contact lens wear and use.

Top Recommendations from an Optometrist
Best Overall Acuvue Oasys 1-Day
Best Weekly/Biweekly Acuvue Oasys
Best Monthly Acuvue Vita
Best Daily Disposable Acuvue Oasys 1-Day
Best for Heavy Screen Users Biofinity Energys
Best for Astigmatism Acuvue Oasys 1-Day for Astigmatism
Best for High Astigmatism Biofinity XR Toric
Best Multifocal Bausch + Lomb Ultra for Presbyopia
Best for Sensitive Eyes Acuvue Oasys 1-Day
Best Colored Lenses Air Optix Colors

*NOTE: It’s important to know that contact prescriptions and glasses prescriptions are different. Your current glasses prescription won’t work for contact lenses. Make sure you have a professional contact lens fitting exam from an eye doctor before purchasing lenses from online retailers.

10 Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes in 2024

We asked Dr. King what the best contacts for dry eyes are.

Here are her choices:

Best Overall: Acuvue Oasys 1-Day

ACUVUE OASYS 1 Day with

Protein, calcium, lipids, and other substances can build up on reusable lenses. Daily lenses are discarded after one use, which eliminates this possibility.

Acuvue Oasys are Dr. King’s top recommendation for people with dry eye. HydraLuxe Technology lets your tears hydrate the lens as well as your eye. This helps keep them moist all day.

Lens Features:

  • High UV-A and UV-B protection
  • HydraLuxe Technology moisturizes the lens like your eye
  • 62% senofilcon A; 38% water
  • Manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson

Best Weekly/Biweekly: Acuvue Oasys

Acuvue Oasys

Weekly contact lenses can be worn for one to two weeks, depending on your eyes’ response to the lens. Acuvue Oasys lenses are built with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS technology. This helps to stabilize your tear film, resulting in less dryness.

Lens Features: 

  • Highest UV protection of any contact lens
  • BLINK STABILIZED® design to keep contacts in place
  • Material: 62% senofilcon A; 38% water
  • Manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson

Best Monthly: Acuvue Vita

Acuvue Vita

Acuvue Vita lenses were designed to help alleviate dry eye symptoms that monthly contact lens wearers experience. Their HydraMax Technology maximizes and maintains moisture throughout the lens from week 1 to week 4.

Acuvue Vita lenses were designed to help alleviate dry eye symptoms that monthly contact lens wearers experience. Their HydraMax Technology maximizes and maintains moisture throughout the lens from week 1 to week 4.

Lens Features:

  • The highest level of UV protection‡ available in a contact lens
  • HydraMax Technology
  • Material: 59% senofilcon C; 41% water
  • Manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson

Best Daily Disposable: Acuvue Oasys 1-Day

ACUVUE OASYS 1 Day with

Acuvue Oasys tops this category as well. If you struggle with contact lens-induced dry eye, try these lenses.

Lens Features: 

  • High UV-A and UV-B protection
  • HydraLuxe Technology moisturizes the lens like your eye
  • 62% senofilcon A; 38% water
  • Manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson

Best for Heavy Screen Users: Biofinity Energys

biofinity energys

Eye tiredness and dryness are common symptoms caused by screen use. The Biofinity Energys lens was designed for people who use digital devices daily. 

The Digital Zone Optics® lens design helps you shift focus from your screen to your natural environment with less effort, reducing eye fatigue. They also feature Aquaform® technology that attracts and binds water throughout the lens. 

Lens Features:

  • Digital Zone Optics® lens design to reduce eye fatigue
  • Aquaform® Technology to minimize eye dryness
  • Material: comfilcon A 52%; 48% water
  • Manufacturer: CooperVision

Best for Astigmatism: Acuvue Oasys 1-Day for Astigmatism

ACUVUE OASYS 1 Day for ASTIGMATISM

The Acuvue Oasys 1-Day contact lenses provide the same benefits and dry eye relief for people with astigmatism.

Lens Features:

  • High UV-A and UV-B protection
  • HydraLuxe Technology moisturizes the lens like your eye
  • 62% senofilcon A; 38% water
  • Manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson

Best for High Astigmatism: Biofinity XR Toric

Biofinity XR Toric

Biofinity XR Toric can correct very strong astigmatism; ±10.50D to ±20.00D (sphere) and to -5.75 (cylinder). This is some of the strongest vision correction in a contact lens. People who couldn’t wear contacts before might be able to use these lenses.

Lens Features:

  • Can correct prescriptions up to +/-20.00D (sphere) and -5.75 (cylinder)
  • Aquaform Technology for high breathability and wettability
  • 52% comfilcon A; 48% water
  • Manufacturer: CooperVision

Best Multifocal: Bausch + Lomb ULTRA for Presbyopia

Bausch Lomb ULTRA for Presbyopia

If you have presbyopia (farsightedness) and want to wear contact lenses, you’ll need multifocal lenses.

Dr. King recommends Bausch + Lomb ULTRA for Presbyopia. They have a unique 3-Zone Progressive design. This gives you clear vision up close, far away, and in between.

MoistureSeal technology helps the lenses retain 95% moisture for up to 16 hours.

Lens Features:

  • 3-Zone Progressive design for clear vision close, far, and in between
  • MoistureSeal technology which maintains 95% of moisture for 16 hours
  • Material: 54% samfilcon A; 46% water
  • Manufacturer: Bausch + Lomb

Best for Sensitive Eyes: Acuvue Oasys 1-Day

ACUVUE OASYS 1 Day with

Similar to other categories, Acuvue Oasys 1-Day tops this one. Sensitive or dry eyes can benefit from daily disposable lenses and this is many eye doctors’ top choice for people with sensitive eyes.

Lens Features:

  • High UV-A and UV-B protection
  • HydraLuxe Technology moisturizes the lens like your eye
  • 62% senofilcon A; 38% water
  • Manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson

Best Colored Lenses: Air Optix Colors

air optix colors

Air Optix Colors are monthly lenses that transform the color of your eyes. They can be worn with or without eye correction.

They are made from a state-of-the-art silicone hydrogel material that allows a high oxygen flow. They also feature SmartShield® technology that prevents protein deposit buildup.

Lens Features:

  • 12 colors to choose from
  • SmartShield® Technology
  • Material: 67% polymer (lotrafilcon B); 33% water
  • Manufacturer: Alcon

Why Trust Us?

The Vision Center team spends several hours researching and writing every review page. We base all of our recommendations on:

  • Customer reviews
  • Product details and specifications
  • Company reputation and reports
  • Contemporary scholarly articles 

Every review is checked, edited, and ultimately approved by our staff optometrist Dr. Melody Huang, O.D.

Always get an eye exam and contact lens fitting from an eye care professional before purchasing contact lenses online. Your eye doctor can provide you with professional medical advice band recommendations.

What to Consider in Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

These are the factors you should consider before buying contact lenses:

Custom Fit

We recommend getting a professional contact lens fitting from a licensed eye doctor. They will perform an eye exam to check your prescription. They may also perform tests to determine your general eye health. 

After the eye exam, they will gather additional information to determine your best contact lenses. This may include:

  • Corneal measurements (with a keratometer or a corneal topography)
  • Corneal health evaluation (using a biomicroscope/slit lamp)
  • Tear film evaluation 
  • Questions about your lifestyle

Once the exam is completed, they will make recommendations based on the outcome. Some eye doctors may provide free trial lenses.

Water Content

Many assume that high water content is better for dry eyes, but it’s the opposite in most cases. Lenses with high water content can draw water away from the eyes. They are also thicker and may irritate your eyes, especially when blinking.

Breathability

Contacts cover your eyes and can prevent oxygen from reaching your cornea. The lens material and thickness will determine its oxygen permeability. The more oxygen that reaches your eyes, the better.

Care & Maintenance

The buildup of proteins, lipids, bacteria, and other substances on your lenses is one of the most common causes of dryness. Improper cleaning can increase your chances of dry eye or eye infection. 

It’s crucial to take good care of your contacts. If you wear weekly or monthly contacts, clean your contacts and use proper contact lens solutions. However, daily contact lenses minimize buildup and keep your eyes healthy with minimal effort.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Dry eye is a chronic condition. It is characterized by insufficient lubrication of your eyes. This is usually caused by a lack of tears or a poor-quality tear film.

AdobeStock 87639262

Common causes of dry eye include:

Old Age

When you get older, your eyes naturally produce fewer tears. This can lead to dry eye symptoms such as burning, itching, and a feeling of grittiness.

Environmental Factors

Dry air, wind, smoke, and other environmental irritants can reduce your eyes’ moisture. This can cause dry eye symptoms.

Heavy Screen Usage

Staring at a computer or phone screen for long periods can reduce the amount of moisture in your eyes. Heavy screen usage results in less blinking, which can lead to dry eye symptoms.

Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses may also result in dry eyes because the lenses limit and block oxygen flow to your eyes.

Medications

Certain medications, such as antihistamines, painkillers, and beta-blockers, can reduce tear production and cause dry eye symptoms.

Eye Surgery

In some cases, surgeons may damage the tear glands during eye surgery, resulting in dry eyes.

Symptoms of Dry Eye 

Learning about dry eye symptoms can help determine if you need to seek treatment. Common symptoms of dry eye include:

  • Burning, stinging, or scratchy sensation in the eyes
  • Eye redness
  • Blurred vision
  • Excessive tearing (in response to the irritation)
  • Light sensitivity
  • Discomfort when wearing contact lenses

Summary

Dry eyes can be a very uncomfortable condition. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek treatment from a professional. People who wear contacts may also opt for special contact lenses designed for dry eyes. This will help reduce the discomfort and irritation associated with the condition.

Best Places to Buy Contacts

Best Overall

Discount Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online.

Also Great
glasses usa logo

GlassesUSA has a huge selection of contacts, glasses, & sunglasses.

Best Places to Buy Glasses

Best Overall

Warby Parker has stylish, high-quality frames at affordable prices.

Also Great

Liingo Eyewear is another great option to buy glasses online.

Best on a Budget

EyeBuyDirect has a wide variety of budget frames starting at $6.

Updated on  March 14, 2024
13 sources cited
Updated on  March 14, 2024
  1. O’Brien, Paul D, and Louis M T Collum. “Dry eye: diagnosis and current treatment strategies.” Current allergy and asthma reports,2004.

  2. Molina, Karen, et al. “Not All Dry Eye in Contact Lens Wear Is Contact Lens–Induced.” LWW, Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice, 2020.

  3. Begley, Carolyn G., et al. “Responses of Contact Lens Wearers to a Dry Eye Survey: Optometry and Vision Science.” Optometry and Vision Science, American Academy of Optometry, 2000.

  4. Chalmers, Robin L, et al. “Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8 (CLDEQ-8) and Opinion of Contact Lens Performance.” Optometry and Vision Science : Official Publication of the American Academy of Optometry, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2012.   

  5. 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST for ASTIGMATISM.” ACUVUE® Contact Lenses.

  6. 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST.” ACUVUE® Contact Lenses

  7. 1-DAY ACUVUE® TruEye®.” ACUVUE® Contact Lenses.  

  8. ACUVUE® OASYS® 2-WEEK with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS.” ACUVUE® Contact Lenses.  

  9. Air Optix® COLORS Contact Lenses.” AIR OPTIX® Color Contact Lenses.

  10. AIR OPTIX® PLUS HYDRAGLYDE® MULTIFOCAL Contact Lenses.” AIR OPTIX® Multifocal Contact Lenses

  11. Bausch + Lomb ULTRA Contact Lenses with MoistureSeal Technology.” Bausch + Lomb. See Better. Live Better.  

  12. Biofinity Energys®.” CooperVision®, .  

  13. DAILIES TOTAL1® CONTACT LENSES.” DAILIES TOTAL1® Water Gradient Contact Lenses.

The information provided on VisionCenter.org should not be used in place of actual information provided by a doctor or a specialist.