Have you ever noticed any differences when you wear contact lens during warm or cold weather? Or when you are outside and going indoor where it’s air-conditioned? While contact lenses are made to withstand all weathers, sometimes, changing of temperatures can make wearing contact lens slightly less comfortable. Here are some tips for wearing contact lens indifferent climate.
Wearing contact lens in hot and cold weather
Dontcha wish the weather was hot like this?
Is it true that hot or cold weather can wreak havoc to the wearability of the contact lens? Let’s discuss on hot weather first shall we. Some urban myths say that your contact lens will ‘melt’ in hot weather, this is not true. Hot weather generally will not have any significant effect on your contact lenses. However, warmer weather may dry the lens quickly, of which may causes light discomfort for wearer. This problem is easily resolved with the use of eye drops to keep your eyes moisture. If you’re spending more time outdoor during the warmer months, don’t forget to protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays. You can wear sunglasses or choose contact lenses with UV protection.
It is not recommended to wear contact lens including colored contact lens in saunas or spas. Heat and humidity may cause sweat to get into your eyes and get behind the lenses, causing discomfort and even an infection. If you sweat a lot or are working out, do consider using a headband to absorb your sweat on forehead or wipe your sweat frequently with a towel or handkerchief.
The cold never bothered me anyway…
Just like the ‘Let It Go’ lyric, cold weather conditions generally don’t impede the wearing of contact lenses. Many people wear their contact lenses outdoors in fall and winter even when the temperature drops below zero degree, without any difficulties. However, cold conditions usually mean low humidity, and therefore, your contact lens may feel a little dry. When wearing contact lens indoor with the heating on during winter, your eyes may also feel dry, red or even slightly irritated because the heat dries out your eyes quicker. Once again, simply use eye drops to lubricate your eyes.
If you’re outdoor during the cold weather, harsh winds can trigger eye pain and discomfort for contact lens wearers. The wind not only dries out the surface of your contact lens quicker, it may carry debris that goes into your eyes. The dryness and debris cause friction between the contact lens and your eye lids when you blink, resulting in discomfort and redness. Wear a sunglasses or protective goggles to block the winds when you’re outdoor. In addition to that, drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated. This is because less water in your body means less tears in your eyes to maintain the moisture level of your contact lens that sits so closely to your eyes.
Fortunately, there’s one thing you don’t have to worry about, that is your contact lens will not freeze in extreme cold weather. Thanks to our body temperature that’s warm enough to help prevent it from happening.
The right contact lens is also important to ensure maximum comfort while wearing it during cold weathers, like silicon hydrogel contact lenses are popular amongst those with sensitive eyes. If you’re prone to dry eyes, you will probably find contact lenses with water content below 40% more comfortable to wear because contrary to popular belief, high water content lenses tend to draw out the eyes’ tears making your eyes more prone to dehydration.
How about wearing contact lenses at high altitude?
You may wonder if you can wear contact lens at high altitude, where the air is thinner and colder. In general, our contact lenses behave the same whether you are at sea level or high altitudes like when you’re hiking up the mountains. With lesser oxygen and dryness of the air at higher altitude, the possible effect from wearing contact lens is probably the discomfort of your contact lens drying out. Bring along a travel-friendly eye drop so that you always have it handy whenever you need it to relieve any discomfort caused by dryness.
Other weather conditions
Wearing contact lens has its benefits in other weather condition like during the rainy day. Unlike a normal glasses, our contact lens will not become smeared with water droplets in the rain or fog up in cold weather or when you enter a heated room from the snowy weather outside. The only challenge is windy days where your contact lens dries out faster or you get dirt and dust blowing into your eyes.
Contact lens is also very convenient for those who are doing sports. However, it is not recommended for you to wear your contact lens while swimming as there’s the risk of eye irritation and infection. If you need to wear your contact lens in the pool, make sure to put on your goggles before you hit the water.
Care for your eyes and contact lens
Be it sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, or snowy, making sure that your contact lenses are handled and stored properly is important for your eye health. Follow the recommended instructions for the contact lenses and use approved eye care solutions to clean your contact lenses.
One of the solutions to prevent eye issues regardless of the climates or weathers, is to go for daily disposable contact lenses. Also take note to avoid wearing your contact lenses past the disposable period as the lenses may deteriorate and accumulate proteins, which will then increase the risk of eye infections.
Whether you are wearing colored contact lens or clear contact lens, remember to have regular eye checks in case your prescription changes, so that you will always get the right prescription for your lenses. Moreover, give your eyes a rest by taking a break from wearing contact lens and remove them few hours before bedtime. Never wear your contact lens while you’re sleeping. Adequate sleep is also essential to avoid eye dryness and also fatigue. Drinking enough water helps to keep your body, as well as your eyes, well hydrated.
Last but not least, listen to your body and pay attention to any changes, for example, if your eyes seem to feel tired, a little red, scratchy or you vision become blurry. These are the tell-tale signs that you shouldn’t ignore. Remove your contact lens immediately and seek professional advices if the conditions become worse.
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