Why Do My Contacts Feel Uncomfortable? An Eye Doctor Reveals The Truth

Your contacts feel uncomfortable each morning after putting them in? You're not alone. The CDC reports that over 30 million Americans wear contact lenses, yet 40 to 90 percent fail to care for their lenses properly.

Contact lenses should offer a convenient alternative to glasses, but reality often differs. Many wearers struggle with dry eyes - one of the most common issues. What starts as a clear solution often becomes a frustrating experience when discomfort sets in and turns the world into a bothersome blur. The numbers tell the story - while 15% of people wear contact lenses, many abandon them due to discomfort.

This piece examines the most frequent causes of contact lens discomfort and offers practical solutions from an eye doctor's view. Your path to relief starts with understanding why your contacts cause issues, whether it's dryness, poor fit, or protein buildup.

You might not be caring for your lenses correctly

Your contact lens care directly affects how comfortable your eyes feel. Research shows 40-90% of contact lens wearers don't clean their lenses properly. Uncomfortable contacts often point to problems with your cleaning routine.

Why hygiene matters for contact lens comfort

Contact lenses rest directly on your eye's surface. This makes them easy targets for bacteria, debris, and infection if you don't handle them properly. Touching your lenses with dirty hands transfers microbes that irritate your eyes or lead to serious infections.

The numbers tell a scary story. People who skip hand washing before handling contacts face 4.5 to 13 times higher risk of microbial keratitis (a serious corneal infection). This infection doesn't just make your eyes hurt—it can damage your vision forever.

Your tears leave proteins and oils on lens surfaces as time passes. These deposits become perfect breeding grounds for bacteria without proper cleaning. This creates that gritty feeling many lens wearers know too well.

Common mistakes in cleaning and storage

These mistakes often lead to contact lens discomfort:

• Using tap water on your lenses or case. Tap water has microorganisms like Acanthamoeba that stick to lenses and cause severe infections. Your risk of microbial keratitis goes up seven times if you shower with contacts.

• "Topping off" solution instead of using fresh solution each time. This practice makes the disinfectant weaker and lets bacteria grow.

• Skipping the rub-and-rinse step, even with "no-rub" solutions. Soaking alone won't remove all deposits and microorganisms.

• Neglecting your lens case. Cases used under 3 months showed no bacteria in tests, but most users keep their cases too long. Only 14.3% to 57.9% of people clean their cases daily.

• Wearing lenses longer than recommended or sleeping in lenses not made for overnight wear.

How to build a better lens care routine

Here's a simple routine to keep your contacts comfortable:

1. Wash your hands really well with antibacterial soap for at least 20 seconds before touching lenses. Use a lint-free towel to avoid getting fibers on your lenses.

2. Use fresh solution each time you clean and store lenses. Never reuse old solution or use water, saliva, or other liquids.

3. Rub and rinse your lenses with solution, even with "no-rub" types. This hands-on cleaning removes buildup better.

4. Clean your lens case daily with fresh solution (never water) and let it air dry upside down without caps. Get a new case every 1-3 months.

5. Stick to your replacement schedule—whether daily, bi-weekly, or monthly. Calendar reminders help you stay on track.

6. Take out your lenses before swimming, showering, or sleeping (unless your doctor says overnight wear is okay).

These care steps will substantially improve your contact lens comfort. A good cleaning routine doesn't just make your lenses feel better—it protects your eyes and prevents serious problems.

Your lenses may not fit your eyes properly

Poorly fitting contact lenses often cause ongoing discomfort without you realizing it. Glasses just rest on your nose, but contacts touch one of your body's most sensitive areas—the cornea. So even tiny fitting issues can make you really uncomfortable.

How lens fit affects comfort

Each person's eyes have their own shape and size that need matching lenses. Your eye doctor measures your cornea's curve, checks your tear production, and looks at your eye health to find the right lens size and shape. A lens that fits well should feel almost invisible, moving a bit when you blink while staying in place.

Contacts that don't match your eye's measurements rub against the cornea and mess up the tear film that keeps your eyes comfortable. Lenses that are too tight can block oxygen from reaching your cornea, which makes it swell and get cloudy - a condition called corneal edema. Loose lenses bounce around too much and irritate your eye every time you blink.

Signs your contact lens doesn't fit right

Your body tells you clearly when contacts don't fit well. Look out for these warning signs:

• Persistent awareness of the lens in your eye, from mild irritation to a scratchy feeling like sand in your eye
• Fluctuating vision clarity or blurry sight when blinking
• Halos or starbursts around lights that cause problems while driving at night
• Lens displacement where contacts move or wobble as your eyes move
• Redness and inflammation that stays even after taking out your lenses
• Excessive tearing or pronounced dryness, both show your tear film isn't working right
• Light sensitivity that makes normal bright settings uncomfortable

These aren't just annoying - they're warning signs. Wearing badly fitted lenses for too long can lead to serious problems like corneal scratches, infections, and conditions that might threaten your vision.

Why one eye might feel worse than the other

It's pretty common to find that just one contact lens bothers you. This happens because your eyes aren't exactly alike. Each eye might have a slightly different shape, so lenses fit and feel different. One eye's cornea might be steeper or flatter than the other, needing different lens measurements to feel comfortable.

There's another reason - tear production varies between eyes. Your left eye might make fewer tears than your right, making that contact feel drier and more irritating. Eye problems like dry eye syndrome or mild inflammation might affect one eye more than the other.

Your environment plays a part in uneven discomfort too. Something simple like sleeping with one side of your face on the pillow can change that eye's surface temporarily, affecting how the lens feels all day.

Whatever eye feels uncomfortable, don't ignore ongoing discomfort. A well-fitted lens should feel comfortable all day without irritation. Book an appointment with your eye doctor who can adjust your lens measurements, suggest different materials, or recommend other lens types that better suit your eyes.

You’re overwearing or misusing your lenses

Your contacts might feel uncomfortable even with a perfect fit and clean lenses because you wear them longer than you should. Many people experience discomfort because they ignore replacement schedules or wear duration guidelines.

Wearing lenses too long or overnight

Your contacts develop several problems when used beyond their intended lifespan. Proteins and lipids from tears build up on the lens surface and create a biofilm that reduces oxygen flow. This buildup makes your lenses uncomfortable and raises your risk of eye infections and complications.

Sleeping with contacts not designed for overnight use creates serious issues. Your corneas need about 35% more oxygen during sleep, but contact lenses cut oxygen flow by 10-20%. This lack of oxygen can cause:

• Corneal swelling and inflammation
• Increased risk of microbial keratitis
• Blood vessels growing into your cornea (neovascularization)
• That distinctive "sandpaper feeling" when you wake up

Some contacts have FDA approval for overnight wear, but you should use them carefully. Research shows these extended wear lenses still make infections 5-15 times more likely than daily wear options.

Using expired or damaged lenses

That emergency pair of contacts in the back of your drawer might seem fine to use, but expired lenses can be dangerous. The packaging might not stay sterile past its expiration date. The lens material breaks down over time and could release harmful chemicals onto your eye's surface.

Damaged contacts cause similar issues. Bacteria hide in torn edges or tiny cracks while irritating your cornea. You might notice these signs of damaged lenses:

• Unexplained blurry vision
• Discomfort that gets worse throughout the day
• Visible tears, chips, or cracks during inspection
• Lenses that stick to your finger instead of keeping their curved shape

How to follow your replacement schedule

You can prevent most discomfort by tracking lens replacement properly. Here's a practical approach:

1. Mark your calendar with replacement dates right after opening new lenses
2. Set smartphone reminders a few days before scheduled replacement
3. Maintain a backup supply of fresh lenses to avoid wearing old ones
4. Track opening dates on lens cases or boxes with a permanent marker

Monthly lenses need replacement 30 days after first use—not 30 wears. Replace bi-weekly lenses after 14 days whatever your wearing frequency. Daily disposables should never see reuse since they lack the protective coatings found in longer-wear options.

Daily disposables might help if you struggle to remember your replacement schedule. They cost more upfront but eliminate most compliance issues and feel more comfortable for many people. You could also ask your eye doctor about quarterly or semi-annual lens subscriptions that deliver replacements based on your wearing schedule.

Your eyes may be dry or irritated

Comfort with contact lenses depends on proper fitting, lens care, and keeping your eyes well-hydrated. Dry eye symptoms are extremely common among lens wearers—research shows that nearly 40% of people who use soft contact lenses experience dryness, and about a quarter struggle with moderate to severe discomfort.

How dry eye affects contact lens wear

Your tear film plays a major role in how comfortable your lenses feel. It’s made of three important layers—oil, water, and mucus—and all of them must work together to keep your eyes smooth and moist. When you wear contacts, the lens divides this tear film into two parts: a layer that sits in front of the lens and another beneath it.

The front layer often becomes thinner, holds less moisture, and evaporates much more quickly. This makes dryness worse and can trigger:

• Burning

• Stinging

• A gritty or sandy sensation

• Increased sensitivity

Contact lenses can aggravate existing dry eye conditions because they add friction and interrupt how your natural tears spread across the surface of your eye. For some people, this can even reduce tear production over time, causing a cycle of ongoing discomfort.

Environmental and screen-related triggers

Digital screens make dryness significantly worse. Studies show that your blink rate can drop by half when you’re focused on a phone, computer, or tablet. Fewer blinks mean fewer tears spread evenly across the surface of your eyes.

Indoor environments can make symptoms even more noticeable. Air conditioning, heating units, and low humidity levels accelerate tear evaporation. You may experience more discomfort if you:

• Spend 4+ hours per day on digital devices

• Work or live in air-conditioned or heated rooms

• Are exposed to smoke or air pollution

• Wear lenses in dusty environments

All of these factors can cause your tear film to break down more quickly, making your lenses feel dry and irritating.

Solutions: rewetting drops and hydration tips

There are several effective ways to relieve dryness and make contact lens wear more comfortable. Preservative-free lubricating drops designed specifically for contact lenses can help stabilize your tear film and provide quick comfort while your lenses are still in.

In addition to eye drops, try these simple adjustments:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds to encourage natural blinking.

• Increase your daily water intake: Staying well-hydrated supports healthy tear production.

• Use a humidifier: Adding moisture to indoor air—especially during winter or in heavily air-conditioned spaces—helps prevent your tears from evaporating too quickly.

If dryness continues, speak with your eye doctor. Many people with persistent irritation find relief with daily disposable lenses or lenses made from materials that allow higher oxygen flow, both of which tend to be gentler on dry or sensitive eyes.

You might need a different type of lens

You might need to try a different type of contact lens if nothing else works for your eyes. A simple switch in lens type often solves ongoing comfort problems.

When soft lenses aren't enough

Simple soft lenses work well for most people but don't solve all vision problems. Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses give clearer vision to many users, especially those who have moderate to severe astigmatism or conditions like keratoconus. RGP lenses need time to adjust but resist irritating deposits better.

Options for astigmatism or irregular corneas

Toric lenses are made specifically to correct astigmatism. These lenses differ from standard spherical ones because they have two power levels - vertical and horizontal - that match your eye's shape. Special features like thin-thick zones or ballasting keep them from rotating each time you blink.

Trying daily disposables or scleral lenses

Daily disposable lenses need no cleaning - you just use a fresh pair each morning and throw them away at night. This helps reduce allergic reactions by giving you a clean, deposit-free surface every day. Myeyebb lenses work well for serious comfort issues because they create a protective fluid layer over your cornea.

Conclusion

You don't have to live with contact lens discomfort every day. This piece reveals several reasons your contacts might feel uncomfortable. Poor cleaning habits, bad fits, wearing them too long, dry eyes, or even the wrong type of lenses could be causing issues.

Your body will tell you when something's wrong with your lenses. These warning signs help you act before small irritations turn into bigger problems. The biggest problem is that 40-90% of people who wear contacts don't follow proper care guidelines. They're basically setting themselves up for unnecessary discomfort.

The solution might be as simple as better cleaning habits, getting your lenses properly fitted, or following replacement schedules. On top of that, dealing with things that cause dry eyes could make your experience much better.

Have you tried these solutions but still have problems? You might need lenses made from different materials or with a different design. Daily disposables often help people who always feel discomfort. Specialty lenses work well for specific conditions like astigmatism or irregular corneas.

You ended up with comfortable contacts when you find the right mix of proper care, correct lens type, and good eye health. Finding this balance takes work, but seeing clearly without constant irritation is definitely worth it. Talk to your eye doctor to create a plan that turns your daily contact lens struggle into the convenient solution it should be.