Do your eyes feel dry or uncomfortable even with your scleral lenses in? You are not alone! Scleral lenses offer amazing vision correction, but sometimes they need a little extra help to stay comfortable all day. Finding the perfect eye drops to go with them can feel like a treasure hunt. Many people worry about picking drops that might damage their expensive lenses or not work well enough.
It’s frustrating when dryness creeps in, making your perfect vision blurry or irritating. You need drops that work safely with the lens material. Choosing the wrong one can lead to more discomfort, not less. This guide cuts through the confusion. We will explain exactly what makes a good eye drop for scleral lenses.
Keep reading to learn the secrets to all-day comfort. We will break down the best ingredients, what to avoid, and how to choose the drops that will make wearing your scleral lenses a dream again. Let’s dive into finding your perfect moisturizing match!
Top Eye Drops For Scleral Lenses Recommendations
- Relief with Every Blink: Blink Contacts Lubricating Eye Drops moisturize dry contact lenses to provide long-lasting comfort. These drops work with the eye's natural tears to help keep your contact lenses feeling fresh and comfortable all day
- Hydration Boost with Hyaluronate: Our moisturizing eye drops instantly moisturize dry lenses. Our unique hyaluronate formulate works as a hydration booster to help contacts stay refreshed and comfortable through end of day
- Comfort till End of Day: Blink Contacts Lubricating Eye Drops are formulated with beneficial electrolytes similar to those found in natural tears. Enjoy the freedom to wear your soft or RGP lenses while experiencing long-lasting comfort
- Moisturizes Dry Lenses: The Blink Contacts Lubricating Eye Drops rewet and moisturize lenses before insertion and during wear, moisturizing and refreshing lenses. They reduce the feeling of contact lens dryness to help maintain comfort to the end of the day and reduce discomfort that may lead to removing your lenses early
- Trusted Brand: Blink has a range of products to meet your eye and contact lens care needs, from drops for dry eyes to lock in moisture, to preservative-free formulas; and contact lens drops to keep your contacts clean and hydrated. Blink products provide comfort and hydration, to help your eyes and contacts feel moisturized
- Relief with Every Blink: Over the course of the day, a film of protein and other material can build up on your contact lenses, irritating your eyes. Blink eye drops for contact lenses provide convenient and gentle in-eye contact lens cleaning
- Clean & Moisturize: Blink sterile, preserved rewetting drops for contact lenses do more than just moisturize, they clean too. The dual cleansing formula gently removes build up and moisturizes your contact lenses while you wear them
- On-the-Go Cleaning: Experience the convenience of in-eye cleaning. These contact lens eye drops gently remove particles and material that can cause irritation and discomfort, keeping your lenses feeling fresh and your vision clear
- Works for All Lenses: Whether you wear soft or rigid gas permeable lenses, our contact rewetting drops instantly moisturize and gently cleanse your lenses. Enjoy the benefits of a moisturizing and cleansing solution that suits your contact lens type
- Trusted Brand: Blink has a range of products to meet your eye and contact lens care needs, from drops for dry eyes to lock in moisture, to preservative-free formulas; and contact lens drops to keep your contacts clean and hydrated. Blink products provide comfort and hydration, to help your eyes and contacts feel moisturized
- ENHANCED FORMULA: Dry eye relief scientifically designed for contact lens wearers
- FAST ACTING: Instantly lubricates and wets contact lenses to relieve dryness, burning, irritation, and discomfort in the eye
- EASY TO USE: You may keep your contacts in during application
- INNOVATIVE: The only artificial tears for contact lens wearers with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), glycerin, hyaluronic acid (HA) (inactive ingredient), and HydroCell technology
- SOOTHING: Safe to use as often as needed and as a contact lens rewetter
- SALINE SOLUTION FOR CONTACT LENSES: ScleralFil is a sterile, buffered isotonic saline solution for scleral, soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses
- BUFFERED CONTACT LENS SOLUTION: The sterile saline solution is buffered to maintain pH, and is suitable for use with scleral lenses
- TRAVEL SIZE CONTACT SOLUTION: ScleralFil is packaged in travel-friendly, single-use 10ml vials that stand upright. Simply twist-off the plastic cap to open the vial
- EYE CARE EXPERTS: For over 150 years, Bausch plus Lomb has focused on innovation and quality in our eye care products, from contact lenses and solutions to eye drops, ointments, eye vitamins and more
- EYE DROPS and MORE: Bausch plus Lomb makes eye care products you can trust, from contact lens solution to eye drops, vitamins, and ointments to make sure your eyes feel comfortable, moisturized, and protected
- Saline Solution
- Each box contains 100, bulk packed
- 5 ml unit dose
- Can be used for eye care
- Multiple household uses
- NATURALLY INSPIRED INGREDIENTS: Biotrue Hydration Boost for Contacts are enhanced with HA (Hyaluronan), Antioxidant (Protects HA from free radicals), and Electrolyte.
- LASTING MOISTURE: For up to 8 hours of moisture (based on a laboratory study) and to help prevent deposit buildup.
- REWETTING DROPS FOR CONTACT LENSES: Biotrue Hydration Boost for Contacts are the first preservative free multi-dose contact lens drops.
- BIOTRUE CONTACT LENS DROPS: Not only are Biotrue Hydration Boost for Contacts free of preservatives but they are also pH balanced for comfort.
- EYE DROPS & MORE: Bausch + Lomb makes eye care products you can trust, from contact lens solutions to eye drops, vitamins, & ointments to help your contacts and eyes feel moisturized and protected.
- Original strength, preservative-free formula
- Relieves mild symptoms of eye dryness
- Instantly moisturizes and lubricates
- Designed to act like your own natural tears
- Great for sensitive eyes
- iVIZIA Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops for Dry Eyes, Preservative-Free, Moisturizing, Dry Eye Relief, Contact Lens Friendly, 0.33 fl oz bottle.
- Free of Irritating Preservatives: Sterile, safe for use with contact lenses
- Patented ABAK Bottle: preservative-free, dispenses drop-by-drop, and does not stream. The ergonomic bottle is easy to open, easy to hold and squeeze.
- iVIZIA – We See a Better Way: for healthy, comfortable eyes
Choosing the Best Eye Drops for Your Scleral Lenses
Scleral lenses offer amazing vision, but sometimes your eyes need a little extra help staying comfortable. Eye drops are your best friend for keeping those lenses feeling great all day. This guide helps you pick the perfect drops.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping for drops, look for specific things. These features make a big difference in how your eyes feel.
- **Lubrication Power:** The drops must create a thick, lasting cushion between the lens and your eye. Look for words like “high viscosity” or “long-lasting moisture.”
- **Preservative-Free:** This is very important. Preservatives can build up on scleral lenses and cause irritation or clouding. Always choose preservative-free options, especially if you use drops often.
- **Compatibility:** The label must say the drops are safe for use with soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. Scleral lenses are a type of RGP, so compatibility is key.
- **pH Balance:** The drops should match the natural pH of your tears. This prevents stinging or burning when you apply them.
Important Ingredients Matter
The ingredients list tells you a lot about the drops. Certain materials work better for scleral lens wearers.
Hydrating Agents
These ingredients pull water into the eye surface and keep it there.
- **Hyaluronic Acid (HA):** This is a top-tier hydrator. HA holds many times its weight in water. It forms a strong, comfortable layer.
- **Glycerin (Glycerol):** Another excellent wetting agent. It adds slip and moisture to the lens surface.
- **Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC):** This ingredient is thicker and helps the moisture stay on your eye longer.
Buffering Agents
These ingredients keep the drops from irritating your eyes. They stabilize the formula. Borate or phosphate buffers are common and generally safe for lens wearers.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Not all drops perform the same way. Some things boost performance, while others ruin the experience.
Quality Boosters
High-quality drops use ingredients that mimic natural tears closely. Drops with higher concentrations of HA usually feel better for longer periods. Drops packaged in single-use vials often guarantee sterility and avoid preservative issues, which greatly improves quality.
Quality Reducers
Avoid drops that contain harsh cleaning chemicals or strong redness relievers (like tetrahydrozoline). These ingredients can damage the delicate surface of your scleral lens material. Also, products with heavy oils can sometimes leave a film on the lens, reducing clear vision.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the drops affects which type you need. Think about when your eyes get dry.
Daily Comfort Maintenance
If you need drops just for general dryness during screen time or in dry air, a simple, preservative-free lubricating drop is perfect. You reapply these drops throughout the day as needed.
Severe Dry Eye or End-of-Day Relief
If your eyes feel very dry by the afternoon, you might need a thicker, gel-like drop or an ointment (used only when lenses are out, or a specific type approved for in-eye use). These offer more intense, longer-lasting relief.
Contact Lens Insertion
Some people use specific drops to fill the space between the lens and the eye when inserting the lens in the morning. These drops must be very sterile and compatible with the lens solution you used to store the lens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Scleral Lens Drops
Q: Can I use regular artificial tears with my scleral lenses?
A: You must check the bottle first. Many regular tears contain preservatives that damage the lens surface over time. Only use drops specifically marked as safe for use with all contact lenses, preferably preservative-free.
Q: How often should I put in the drops?
A: This depends on your eyes. Start by using them every two to four hours. If your eyes feel dry sooner, use them more often. Listen to your eyes!
Q: Will these drops clean my lenses?
A: No. These drops are only for wetting and lubricating the eye surface while the lenses are in place. You still need a separate disinfecting or cleaning solution for overnight storage.
Q: Why do my eyes sting when I use some drops?
A: Stinging often happens because the drop’s pH is much different from your eye’s natural pH, or the drop contains an irritating preservative or ingredient.
Q: Are preservative-free drops more expensive?
A: Yes, they often cost more per ounce because they require special packaging, like single-use vials, to keep them sterile without chemicals.
Q: Should I use drops before or after I put my lenses in?
A: You should use drops both ways. Fill the lens cup with drops before insertion. Then, use more drops throughout the day as needed to refresh the moisture layer.
Q: What if my vision gets blurry after using drops?
A: Blurriness usually means the drop is too thick or has left a film. Try using less product next time, or switch to a lighter-viscosity drop. Wipe your eyelids gently if the blurriness persists.
Q: How do I know if a drop is truly compatible?
A: Look for explicit statements on the packaging that say “Safe for use with RGP and Scleral Lenses.” If in doubt, ask your eye doctor.
Q: Can I use saline solution instead of special drops?
A: Saline solution is not ideal for continuous comfort. Saline lacks the necessary lubricants (like HA or CMC) to keep the lens surface hydrated and comfortable all day long.
Q: Do I need a prescription for the best scleral lens drops?
A: Most high-quality, preservative-free lubricating drops are available over the counter (OTC) without a prescription. Your doctor might prescribe stronger formulas for severe dry eye.