Contact induced dry eye

Article

Understanding the problems of contact lens induced dry eye

Within the general population, moderate dryeye problems can be triggered by many factors including: nutrition, ageing, medications and environmental conditions. While as low as 10% of noncontact lens wearers under the age of 60 are reported to suffer from dry eye; dryness is one of the most common problems reported by contact lens wearers and in extreme cases can lead to contact lens drop out.1

To better understand the problems of contact lens induced dry eye (CLIDE) in Sweden, we sent out a survey to 25 leading Swedish contact lens fitters with the following questions:2

Q: What percentage of your contact lens wearing patients suffer from dry eye symptoms?

Q: What is your favourite prescription for solving dry-eye symptoms?

Q: If you ask your CLIDE patients to use artificial tears, do you prefer preserved or nonpreserved products?

The results from the Swedish survey were calculated and compared to results from a similar study completed in Germany.3

Ninety-two percent (n=23) of the contact lens specialists felt that high water (>50% water) soft contact lenses were the main contributor to CLIDE. In the similar German study over 40% of respondents felt the same.

Regarding which type of artificial tear is preferred, 96% (n=24) preferred to prescribe a nonpreserved product. The German study showed very similar results.

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
Christine Curcio, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, shares histology update and revised nomenclature for OCT with Sheryl Stevenson of the Eye Care Network and Ophthalmology Times
SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, FARVO, shares key points from his retina presentation at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium
Robert Sergott, MD, describes fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) and the International SPECTRALIS Symposium – And Beyond (ISS) in Heidelberg, Germany.
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, spoke with Ophthalmology Times Europe about his presentation. It's titled "An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma" at the International SPECTRALIS Sympsoium. In conversation with Hattie Hayes, Ophthalmology Times Europe
Anat Loewenstein, MD, describes her presentation on remote imaging for age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium, in conversation with Hattie Hayes of Ophthalmology Times Europe
Tyson Brunstetter, OD, PhD, a US Navy Aerospace Optometrist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, shares key takeaways from his keynote at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS)
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, shares his presentation, titled An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma, at this year's International SPECTRALIS Symposium
At the Retina World Congress, Siegfried Priglinger, MD, speaks about ensuring the best outcomes for preschool-aged patients
At the 2025 ASCRS meeting, Robert Ang, MD said small aperture IOLs can benefit all patients, especially those with complex corneas or who have undergone previous corneal refractive surgery
Viha Vig, MBChB graduate student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, discusses her poster presentation on the relationship between mitochondiral disease, Alzheimer disease, and other types of dementia.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.