Are you experiencing mild discomfort or even pain while wearing contacts? You are not alone. Millions of Canadians wear contact lenses, and most have likely experienced some form of discomfort during use.
Mild discomfort isn’t uncommon. As contact lenses sit directly on the eye, small changes in dryness, fit, lens care, or your environment can make a big difference in comfort.
But contacts shouldn’t hurt every time you wear them. If discomfort keeps coming back, or if you notice redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or changes in your vision, it is best to take your lenses out and have your eyes checked.
Symptoms and Causes for Contact Lens Discomfort
Contact lens discomfort is surprisingly common, even amongst those who wear lenses regularly.
In most cases, discomfort is mild and can be attributed to dryness or grittiness in the eye.
But sometimes the symptoms are more noticeable. Burning, pressure, redness, or a sensation of something stuck in the eye requires closer inspection. So does blurry vision or changes in how clearly you see.
So, why does this happen?
There is usually more than one reason contact lenses become uncomfortable.
Comfort can depend on several things working together properly, including the contact lens itself, the tear film, the eyelids, blinking patterns, and the overall health of the ocular surface. Even lifestyle habits like screen time, indoor heating, seasonal allergies, and hydration can affect how lenses feel.
5 Reasons Why My Contacts Hurt
Here are five of the common reasons why your contacts hurt when you put them in.
1: Dry Eyes and Tear Film Instability
The most common reason why your contacts may hurt is due to dryness.
Your eyes rely on a healthy tear film for surface smoothness, hydration, and protection. When you put on contacts, the lenses sit directly on top of this delicate layer. Any instability and your lenses can start to feel dry, scratchy, or sticky very quickly.
This issue can be further compounded for those who have dry eye disease or mild aqueous deficiency, a condition where your eyes simply do not produce enough tears to support comfortable lens wear.
Basically, not enough tear production leads to dryness, which in turn makes contacts feel uncomfortable.
Dryness can also occur naturally. Long hours of screen time can reduce blinking, which causes the tear film to evaporate faster. Air conditioning, indoor heating, fans, or not keeping yourself hydrated enough also worsen dryness and comfort.
Luckily, there are ways you can avoid this discomfort. Using lubricating eye drops, changing blinking habits, or adhering to dry eye treatment recommendations from an eye care professional can greatly improve comfort levels.
2: Poor Lens Fit, Material, and Oxygen Flow
On occasion, the issue can be the lens itself.
Every eye has a slightly different shape, which affects how contact lenses sit and move.
A lens that is too tight may feel uncomfortable or create pressure. A lens that is too loose may move around excessively and create irritation.
That is why a contact lens prescription includes more than vision correction. You also need a professional fitting evaluation to make sure your contacts fit just right.
Apart from fit, the material that the lens is made of can also play a major role in comfort. Newer silicone hydrogel lenses allow more oxygen to reach the cornea than older hydrogel lenses.
For many people, this newer material offers noticeably better comfort, especially during long days.
For patients with unique eye needs, specialty lenses are often the best option. Customized lenses can offer improved eye shape matching, moisture support, and reduced friction during wear.
3: Deposits, Hygiene, and Replacement Habits
Just like your glasses get scratched and dirty over time, so do contact lenses.
Protein deposits from tears, tiny particles from the environment, makeup residue, bacteria, and oils from the eyelids can all slowly accumulate on the lens surface. As this buildup increases, lenses may start feeling rough, cloudy, or irritated.
This is why adhering to replacement schedules matters so much.
Lenses are designed to be worn for a specific amount of time. Go beyond that time frame, and it can increase discomfort while raising the risk of irritation or infection.
Poor lens hygiene can also contribute to discomfort. Common habits include:
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Sleeping in lenses not approved for extended wear
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Rinsing lenses with tap water
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Topping off the old solution
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Skipping proper cleaning
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Wearing old lenses for too long
These habits can all increase the chance of bacterial buildup and inflammation.
For some patients, using daily disposable lenses can help get around these problems. These lenses are single-use, so there is no need for lens care. However, costs can add up quickly, especially if you plan on using contacts daily.
For others, improving cleaning habits, changing lens material, or adjusting the wearing schedule may be enough.
4: Contact Lens Solution or Allergies
While mild irritation may come and go, ongoing eye pain or redness is not something contact lens wearers should ignore or simply push through.
Persistent redness, burning, or irritation usually means your eyes are reacting to something and deserve a closer look.
Maybe the eye care solution you are using contains preservatives or ingredients that are irritating your eyes, causing them to burn, sting, get red, or become extremely dry. Or you may have pollen, dust, pet dander, or other environmental allergies that are causing increased redness, itching, swelling, and irritation.
If allergies or solution sensitivity may be involved, your optometrist can help you sort out whether a different lens solution, lens type, or allergy-safe approach would be better for your eyes.
5: Eye Health
The occasional discomfort or mild irritation while wearing contacts is to be expected. However, some symptoms are worth checking promptly, especially if they are new, worsening, or affecting your vision.
If you notice significant pain, worsening redness, light sensitivity, discharge, blurred vision, or sudden vision changes, take your lenses out and arrange to have your eyes checked by a professional.
These symptoms can occur for several reasons, including irritation, inflammation, infection, a scratch on the eye, or other issues affecting the eye surface, like abrasion or staining.
The only way to determine the cause and best treatment method is through a comprehensive eye exam.
Helping Your Contacts Feel More Comfortable
The right fix depends on what is causing the discomfort, but a few changes often make a noticeable difference.
Helpful strategies include:
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Scheduling a fitting evaluation with an eye care professional
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Asking whether daily disposables or a different lens material may be a better fit
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Using lubricating eye drops (if recommended)
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Taking regular screen breaks
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Blinking more intentionally during computer use
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Improving lens hygiene habits
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Following the wearing schedule closely
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Avoiding overwear
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Staying hydrated throughout the day
While it may not seem like much, these small changes can have a surprisingly big impact on comfort.
Finding the Right Contact Lenses for Optimal Comfort
Dryness, poor fit, deposits, allergies, solution sensitivity, and more serious eye problems can all make wearing contacts a hassle. But once the cause is understood, many patients can find a lens option or care routine that feels much more comfortable.
At Insight Optometry, we look beyond the prescription. We consider how your lenses fit, how your eyes feel throughout the day, your work and screen habits, your eye surface health, and the type of lens material that may best support your comfort.
Feel free to book an online appointment or call (902) 422-4444 to discuss options that best fit your eyes and lifestyle.
FAQs
Why do my contacts hurt as soon as I put them in?
This can happen because of dryness, lens damage, debris, solution sensitivity, or a lens that is inside out or not fitting properly.
Are daily contact lenses more comfortable?
In many ways, yes. Daily lenses are one-time use, so you don’t have to worry about buildup, allergens, or cleaning-related issues that may contribute to discomfort.
Should I keep wearing my contacts if my eye is red and painful?
No. If your eye is red or painful, take the lens out and avoid wearing contacts again until your eye has been checked.
Why do my contacts feel worse after screen time?
People tend to blink less while using screens, which can make the eyes drier and reduce contact lens comfort.
When should I see an eye care professional about contact lens pain?
If discomfort keeps happening, or if you have pain, redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, or discharge, it is advisable to get assessed.
