{"id":9228,"date":"2022-01-07T08:50:54","date_gmt":"2022-01-07T07:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/blog\/dry-eye-syndrome-what-to-choose-contact-lenses-or-laser-vision-correction\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T10:15:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T08:15:53","slug":"dry-eye-syndrome-what-to-choose-contact-lenses-or-laser-vision-correction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/blog\/dry-eye-syndrome-what-to-choose-contact-lenses-or-laser-vision-correction\/","title":{"rendered":"Dry Eye Syndrome \u2013 What to Choose: Contact Lenses or Laser Vision Correction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Contact lenses<\/strong> \u2013 what an invention! They are discreet, provide freedom of movement, and deliver truly excellent vision comfort, even with significant refractive errors. It is easy to understand why we love them so much. But let&#8217;s be honest: have you ever woken up with the sensation of <strong>sand under your eyelids<\/strong>? Or felt that terrible burning at the end of the day? Unfortunately, for many people, contact lenses become the <strong>main culprit<\/strong> behind eye problems, because they provoke and exacerbate <strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/blog\/dry-eye-syndrome-causes-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment\/\">Dry Eye Syndrome (DES)<\/a><\/strong>. Sometimes discontinuing them is the first step toward <strong>lasting relief<\/strong>. Are you wondering whether you have reached the point where it is worth saying goodbye to contact lenses for good and considering <strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/laser-vision-correction\/\">laser vision correction<\/a><\/strong>? Let&#8217;s find out!<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What will you learn from the text below?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Can contact lenses really harm your eyes?<\/strong>Absolutely! Your contact lenses can both trigger and severely worsen the unpleasant symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What is the role of the tear film in this conflict?<\/strong>When tears do not spread properly, the lens does not float but instead adheres to the cornea and literally begins to &#8220;draw moisture out&#8221; of it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Are there rules for safe contact lens wear?<\/strong>Yes. You must strictly adhere to the wearing time and skip wearing them when you are intensely staring at screens.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>When should laser correction be considered?<\/strong>LVC is a brilliant solution if your DES is &#8220;secondary,&#8221; meaning it is directly caused by contact lenses \u2013 you remove the cause and the problem disappears!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Does DES disqualify me from laser surgery?<\/strong>No, Dry Eye Syndrome is only a <strong>relative contraindication<\/strong>, but the doctor must very carefully assess the condition of your eyes before making a decision.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Contact Lenses and Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) \u2013 Who Is to Blame?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why are contact lenses so popular?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They are affordable, comfortable, and completely invisible. Who wouldn&#8217;t like them? They deliver excellent results, especially if you have a high refractive error and thick lenses tire you. Switching from glasses to contact lenses can feel like a bungee jump \u2013 suddenly you experience that incredible rush of freedom!<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Does wearing contact lenses trigger or worsen DES symptoms?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, yes. Although contact lenses are excellent, they can cause trouble. Did you know that <strong>they may be responsible<\/strong> for your suffering from <strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/blog\/dry-eye-syndrome-causes-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment\/\">dry eye<\/a><\/strong>? The problem is that the secretion from your tear glands is not effectively distributed across the surface of the eye. If drops stop working and your eyes start to rebel \u2013 burning, stinging, and turning red \u2013 that is a sign that it is time to visit a specialist.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Statistics: How common is DES among contact lens users?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is hard to believe, but it is widespread! <strong>As many as 75%<\/strong> of people who regularly wear contact lenses may struggle with DES! Moreover, this risk only increases with age, and statistically it affects women more often. This is therefore not an isolated case, but a serious problem.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Mechanism of eye irritation by the lens (role of the tear film)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an ideal world, the contact lens gently <strong>floats<\/strong> on your tear film. But when tears are lacking or of poor quality, that buffer disappears. The lens literally <strong>adheres<\/strong> to the cornea, irritating it. And that is not all! When contact lenses lose hydration, they behave like a sponge and <strong>begin to draw moisture directly from your natural tears!<\/strong> Add to that protein deposits and micro-tears \u2013 and you have guaranteed, massive discomfort.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Rules for Safe Contact Lens Use and Minimizing Discomfort<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dedicated solutions for discomfort: drops and daily disposable lenses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you do not want to give up contact lenses, consider solutions that will help your eyes. <strong>Daily disposable lenses<\/strong> are the best in this regard. Also use good drops \u2013 those with <strong>hyaluronic acid<\/strong> are a real hit, because they not only hydrate but also build a protective layer on the eye.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Basic rules for wearing contact lenses that must not be broken<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must stick to the rules, period.<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The matter of wearing time:<\/strong>Wear them only for as long as they were designed! If you break this rule, you guarantee yourself irritation, and in the long run you can <strong>trigger DES<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Occasional use instead of continuous (e.g., avoiding monitors):<\/strong>If your eyes are sensitive, treat contact lenses as an option for special occasions \u2013 the pool or a party. When you work at a computer or watch TV, <strong>you blink less frequently<\/strong>, and your eyes dry out at an alarming rate. Put on glasses instead!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Choosing the right lenses and solutions (role of hyaluronic acid)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Buy only proven and high-quality products. If you have DES, look for <strong>silicone hydrogel lenses<\/strong> with hyaluronic acid. As for storage solutions \u2013 forget saline, because it dries out lenses! Use dedicated solutions.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When should you absolutely discontinue contact lenses? (Cold, eye diseases)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember safety! Do you have a <strong>cold<\/strong>? Discontinue contact lenses! Do not risk transferring germs directly to the eye. If you have any <strong>eye disease<\/strong> (e.g., conjunctivitis), be even more cautious and discontinue them.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Laser Vision Correction (LVC) as a Solution to DES Problems<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>DES as a Contraindication to LVC: Relative or Absolute?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since contact lenses are bothering you so much, maybe it is time for <strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/laser-vision-correction\/\">laser vision correction<\/a><\/strong>? Does DES disqualify you? Fortunately, it is only a <strong>relative contraindication<\/strong>. This means that the doctor at Swisslaser simply needs to thoroughly examine your eyes before making a final decision.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Analysis of chronic DES cases (advanced stage of the disease)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you suffer from primary DES at a truly advanced stage \u2013 one that causes, for example, <strong>epithelial defects<\/strong> \u2013 this is a more difficult case. This type of chronic DES, unfortunately, cannot be cured once and for all.<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"nv-cv-m wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Statement by Dr. Victor Derhartunian:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;When we are dealing with chronic, advanced Dry Eye Syndrome, we must be <strong>very cautious<\/strong> with <strong>laser vision correction<\/strong>. We always thoroughly analyze the patient&#8217;s condition, because we do not want the procedure to worsen existing symptoms. Our goal is safety and comfort. But if the disease is under control and we know that eliminating contact lenses will <strong>truly<\/strong> help, then we proceed with the intervention. Precise diagnostics and an individual decision always matter.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When Is Laser Correction the Best Solution? (Secondary DES)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And now the good news! If your DES is <strong>secondary<\/strong> \u2013 meaning it appeared precisely because you constantly wear contact lenses \u2013 then <strong>LVC may be your path to freedom<\/strong>! Symptoms often regress or completely resolve after discontinuing contact lenses! By undergoing <strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/laser-vision-correction\/\">laser vision correction<\/a><\/strong>, you <strong>eliminate the source of the problem<\/strong>. You no longer need to worry about contact lenses and the associated irritation \u2013 that is what real comfort means!<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQ \u2013 Frequently Asked Questions About DES and LVC<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Does dry eye always occur after laser vision correction?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the procedure, dryness may occur temporarily, because it is a natural response to intervention on the cornea. But do not worry! This is a <strong>transient condition<\/strong>. We treat it with drops and it usually resolves within a few weeks, at most a few months.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can Dry Eye Syndrome be cured?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We cannot cure primary, chronic DES, but we can control the symptoms very well. On the other hand, <strong>secondary DES<\/strong>, triggered by contact lenses, often <strong>resolves<\/strong> once we eliminate them through <strong>laser vision correction<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How long after LVC must I use lubricating drops?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a very individual matter. Initially you must lubricate intensively, but later the doctor gradually reduces the dosage. Most often the tear film fully stabilizes within 3 to 6 months.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can I return to contact lenses if LVC does not eliminate the refractive error 100%?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Theoretically yes, although after successful correction at Swisslaser the residual refractive error is usually minimal. If you had to return to contact lenses, remember that you risk the return of DES. In that case, it is best to choose only <strong>daily disposable<\/strong> lenses of the highest quality.<\/p>\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" id=\"swisslaser-post-schema\">{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@graph\": [\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"MedicalWebPage\",\n   \"@id\": \"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/blog\/zespol-suchego-oka-co-wybrac-soczewki-kontaktowe-czy-laserowa-korekcje-wady-wzroku\/#medpage\",\n   \"url\": \"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/blog\/zespol-suchego-oka-co-wybrac-soczewki-kontaktowe-czy-laserowa-korekcje-wady-wzroku\/\",\n   \"name\": \"Zesp\u00f3\u0142 suchego oka - co wybra\u0107: soczewki kontaktowe czy laserow\u0105 korekcj\u0119 wady wzroku\",\n   \"description\": \"U\u017cywanie soczewek kontaktowych w przypadku zdiagnozowanego zespo\u0142u suchego oka (ZSO) jest trudne, a niejednokrotnie w og\u00f3le niemo\u017cliwe\",\n   \"inLanguage\": \"pl-PL\",\n   \"isPartOf\": {\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/#website\"\n   },\n   \"reviewedBy\": {\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/#victor\"\n   },\n   \"lastReviewed\": \"2026-09-14\",\n   \"breadcrumb\": {\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/blog\/zespol-suchego-oka-co-wybrac-soczewki-kontaktowe-czy-laserowa-korekcje-wady-wzroku\/#breadcrumb\"\n   }\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n   \"@id\": \"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/blog\/zespol-suchego-oka-co-wybrac-soczewki-kontaktowe-czy-laserowa-korekcje-wady-wzroku\/#faq\",\n   \"inLanguage\": \"pl-PL\",\n   \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n     \"@type\": \"Question\",\n     \"name\": \"Czy po laserowej korekcji wzroku zawsze pojawia si\u0119 sucho\u015b\u0107 oczu?\",\n     \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Po zabiegu na chwil\u0119 mo\u017ce wyst\u0105pi\u0107 sucho\u015b\u0107, bo jest to naturalna reakcja na ingerencj\u0119 w rog\u00f3wk\u0119. Ale bez obaw! To jest stan przej\u015bciowy. Leczymy go kroplami i zazwyczaj mija w ci\u0105gu kilku tygodni, maksymalnie kilku miesi\u0119cy.\"\n     }\n    },\n    {\n     \"@type\": \"Question\",\n     \"name\": \"Czy Zesp\u00f3\u0142 Suchego Oka mo\u017cna wyleczy\u0107?\",\n     \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Pierwotnego, przewlek\u0142ego ZSO nie wyleczymy, ale mo\u017cemy \u015bwietnie kontrolowa\u0107 objawy. Z kolei wt\u00f3rne ZSO, wywo\u0142ane soczewkami, cz\u0119sto ust\u0119puje, gdy tylko pozb\u0119dziemy si\u0119 ich za pomoc\u0105 laserowej korekcji wzroku.\"\n     }\n    },\n    {\n     \"@type\": \"Question\",\n     \"name\": \"Jak d\u0142ugo po zabiegu LKW musz\u0119 stosowa\u0107 krople nawil\u017caj\u0105ce?\",\n     \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"To jest kwestia bardzo indywidualna. Na pocz\u0105tku musisz nawil\u017ca\u0107 intensywnie, ale p\u00f3\u017aniej lekarz stopniowo redukuje dawk\u0119. Najcz\u0119\u015bciej film \u0142zowy w pe\u0142ni si\u0119 stabilizuje w ci\u0105gu 3 do 6 miesi\u0119cy.\"\n     }\n    },\n    {\n     \"@type\": \"Question\",\n     \"name\": \"Czy mog\u0119 wr\u00f3ci\u0107 do soczewek kontaktowych, je\u015bli LKW nie usunie wady w 100%?\",\n     \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Teoretycznie tak, cho\u0107 po udanej korekcji w Swisslaser wada resztkowa jest zazwyczaj minimalna. Je\u015bli musia\u0142by\u015b wr\u00f3ci\u0107 do soczewek, pami\u0119taj, \u017ce ryzykujesz powr\u00f3t ZSO. Wtedy najlepiej wybieraj tylko te jednodniowe i najwy\u017cszej jako\u015bci.\"\n     }\n    }\n   ]\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": [\n    \"Physician\",\n    \"Person\"\n   ],\n   \"@id\": \"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/#victor\",\n   \"name\": \"Victor Derhartunian\",\n   \"honorificPrefix\": \"dr med.\",\n   \"honorificSuffix\": \"FEBO, FWCRS\",\n   \"url\": \"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/o-nas\/dr-victor-derhartunian\/\",\n   \"address\": {\n    \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",\n    \"streetAddress\": \"ul. Kolejowa 1\",\n    \"addressLocality\": \"Warszawa\",\n    \"postalCode\": \"01-217\",\n    \"addressCountry\": \"PL\"\n   }\n  }\n ]\n}\n<\/script>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading sl-related-rle\">Related Topics<\/h2>\n\n<ul class=\"nv-cv-m wp-block-list sl-related-rle\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/dry-eye-syndrome\/\">Dry eye syndrome \u2013 symptoms, causes, treatment<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/technologies\/optilight\/\">OptiLIGHT \u2013 IPL therapy for dry eye in Warsaw<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/technologies\/e-eye\/\">E-EYE \u2013 IPL therapy for dry eye in Krakow<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/prp-drops\/\">PRP drops from platelet-rich plasma<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/laser-vision-correction\/eligibility-for-laser-vision-correction\/\">Dry eye and laser vision correction \u2013 qualification<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wearing contact lenses with diagnosed dry eye syndrome (DES) is difficult, and often completely impossible<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3167,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","neve_meta_reading_time":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eye-protection"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9228"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28205,"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9228\/revisions\/28205"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}