Dry, Irritated Eyes in Summer? Your Contact Lenses May Need an Update

Summer should make it easier to enjoy the outdoors, but contact lens discomfort can quickly get in the way. Heat, wind, pollen, air conditioning, chlorine, and longer days in the sun may leave lenses feeling dry or irritating. If your contacts become uncomfortable before the day is over, the problem may not be something you simply have to tolerate. Your prescription, lens material, replacement schedule, or fit may need to be updated.

Why Contact Lenses Can Feel Drier in Summer

Contact lenses rest directly on the tear film that keeps the surface of your eyes comfortable. During summer, outdoor heat and wind can cause tears to evaporate faster. Indoors, fans and air conditioning may create the same effect. Dehydration, seasonal allergies, smoke, sunscreen, and increased screen time during travel can add to irritation.

A lens that felt comfortable during cooler months may become harder to wear under these conditions. Older lenses can also collect deposits that interfere with moisture and clear vision, especially when they are worn longer than recommended.

Signs Your Current Contacts May Not Be Working

Occasional dryness can happen, but recurring symptoms deserve attention. Contact us for a contact lens exam when you notice:

• Burning, stinging, itching, or a gritty sensation
• Redness that develops or worsens while wearing contacts
• Blurry or fluctuating vision that improves after blinking
• Lenses that move, fold, or feel difficult to keep in place
• Discomfort that causes you to remove your contacts early
• Increased sensitivity to light or excessive watering

Sudden pain, significant redness, discharge, or a rapid change in vision may require prompt eye care. Remove your lenses and avoid putting them back in until your eyes have been evaluated.

How a Contact Lens Exam Can Help

A contact lens prescription involves more than correcting nearsightedness or farsightedness. During an exam, we assess your vision, eye health, corneal shape, tear film, and how the lenses sit and move on your eyes. These details help us determine whether your current contacts remain suitable.

Depending on your needs, we may recommend a different material, design, or replacement schedule. Daily disposable contact lenses can be helpful for some patients because each day begins with a clean, fresh pair. Other wearers may benefit from lenses designed to retain moisture, correct astigmatism, provide multifocal vision, or address a more complex corneal shape.

Protecting Contact Lens Comfort During Summer

Never swim, shower, or use a hot tub while wearing contact lenses. Water can expose the lenses and eyes to microorganisms that may cause serious infection. Wear sunglasses outdoors to reduce exposure to wind and sunlight, wash and dry your hands before handling lenses, and follow the recommended replacement schedule.

Rewetting drops approved for contact lens use may provide temporary relief, but frequent dryness should not be covered up without determining the cause. An updated fitting can improve comfort, vision, and eye health throughout summer and beyond.

Schedule your contact lens exam with Fox Eye Care Group at Four Seasons Town Center in Greensboro, NC at (336) 854-1290, Friendly Shopping Center in Greensboro, NC at (336) 292-7700, Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, NC at (336) 760-2169, or Berkeley Mall in Goldsboro, NC at (919) 778-9662.