Is It Safe To Use Eyedrops With Contact Lenses -- Including Eyedrops That Are Medications?

Aug. 24, 2009— -- Question: Is it safe to use eyedrops with contact lenses -- including eyedrops that are medications?

Answer: Whether it's safe to use eyedrops with your contact lenses depends upon a few things: First of all, what the type of drop is it that you're using? For example, there are rewetting drops that are specially formulated to be used with contact lenses, and those would certainly be okay. The other factor that you need to consider is how long the lens is -- how long you wear the lens. So a lens that's used for a daily disposable, on a daily disposable basis, you would have less worry about using a medication with that lens in place versus a lens that you keep for two weeks or a month or even longer than that.

In general, it's not a good idea to use medicated drops with your contact lenses in place, but as always, it's a good idea to check with your eye care provider regarding the specifics of your individual lens type and the individual eyedrop that you're considering using.