Do you feel more sensitive to light since you started wearing contact lenses? Car headlights at night, annoying reflections under a bright sun, or glare in front of screens: this phenomenon is far from rare.
Unlike glasses, the lens is in direct contact with the eye, which changes the way light interacts with your visual system. So, why do your lenses dazzle you more quickly, and above all, how can you remedy this?
1. Why are you dazzled more quickly with lenses?
Several physiological and technical factors explain this increased sensitivity to light:
Dry eye and the tear film: It is the number one cause. A contact lens disrupts the distribution of tears on the surface of the eye. If the lens dries out slightly during the day, its surface becomes irregular. It then diffuses light instead of allowing it to pass through cleanly, causing light halos (especially at night) and glare.
The diameter of the pupil and optical aberrations: At night or in dim light, your pupil dilates to let in as much light as possible. If the diameter of the optical zone of your lens is slightly smaller than that of your dilated pupil, light passes through the edge of the lens. This creates stray reflections, glare, and a decrease in contrast.
Surface deposits: Despite maintenance, micro-deposits (lipids, proteins, makeup or product residues) can accumulate on the lens. These micro-particles act like prisms that diffuse incoming light.
A correction defect or poor centring: A slightly ill-fitting lens, which moves too much or not enough, can induce visual aberrations in front of intense light sources.
2. Essential daily precautions
To limit these inconveniences and protect your visual comfort, some good practices are necessary:
Combat dryness: Don't wait for your eyes to burn. Use artificial tears (moisturising drops) compatible with wearing lenses to maintain a stable and homogeneous tear film throughout the day.
Scrupulously respect hygiene and replacement: Clean your lenses thoroughly if they are reusable, and dispose of them rigorously at the end of their lifespan (daily, bi-weekly or monthly) to avoid build-up.
Protect your eyes outdoors: Wearing quality sunglasses (ideally polarised) is even more essential with lenses to block UV rays and the harsh glare caused by reflection.
3. Solutions to regain optimal visual comfort
If glare becomes recurrent or spoils your night journeys, technical solutions exist:
Change lens material or design: Your optician can guide you towards highly oxygen-permeable silicone-hydrogel lenses, equipped with integrated wetting agents, or adjust the curvature and diameter of the lens to perfectly match your pupil.
Switch to specific geometries: In cases of astigmatism or significant pupil variations, custom lenses or those with optimised optical zones significantly reduce night halos.
Get an eye test: Sometimes, a slight under-correction or undetected over-correction tires the eye and amplifies light sensitivity.
The optician's advice: Don't suffer from your glare! A simple eye test and adjustment of your lenses in-store often helps identify the exact cause (dryness, pupil diameter, build-up) and provides an immediate solution.
A persistent light discomfort with your lenses? Come and visit us in-store for a complete assessment of your visual equipment.