Essential Gaming Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

Essential Gaming Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

Gamers who find it a hassle to wear eyeglasses together with their gaming headsets or headphones tend to resort to not wearing glasses at all. Meanwhile, others turn to alternatives like contact lenses, which don’t get in the way of gaming peripherals like headsets and headphones.

However, studies have found that contact lens wearers are more likely to suffer from symptoms such as digital eye fatigue than non-contact lens wearers. These symptoms include dryness and irritation. Unfortunately, this often leads to users removing their contacts, even if they may need them for better vision. According to a survey examining the impact of digital devices on contact lens wearers, up to 74% reported removing their lenses when experiencing discomfort.

Luckily, there are certain practices you can adopt to make gaming comfortable, even when wearing contact lenses for long periods. Below, we’ll be sharing essential gaming tips for contact lens wearers:

Wearing hydrating contact lenses

One of the best ways to prevent dryness when wearing contacts while gaming is by going for hydrating contact lenses. These lenses are designed specifically to help with hydration for the eyes, ensuring all-day comfort while minimizing eyelid friction during use.

When choosing contact lenses, try to look for brands and models with hydrating properties. For example, you can check out ACUVUE’s OASYS® 1-Day contacts, which are equipped with HydraLuxe™ Technology, mimicking the natural properties of tears for added hydration. The contacts also have thin, tapered edges to help reduce eyelid friction when blinking, and — as these are daily disposables — the contacts don’t need to be cleaned after you’re done gaming.

Gamers and Contact Lenses

Using eye drops

If you’re finding it difficult to get used to hydrating contacts, another way to keep your eyes and contacts hydrated throughout your gaming session is by keeping a bottle of eye drops handy.

Depending on your needs and preferences, there are many kinds of eye drops available over-the-counter, with and without preservatives. Some brands of lubricating drops you can check out are Systane’s COMPLETE PF Multi-Doses Preservative-Free drops or Biotrue’s Hydration Boost drops from contact lens company Bausch + Lomb. If your eyes get severely dry, it’s recommended to avoid drops containing preservatives, even if they may last longer. Similarly, if you feel that your dry eye or fatigue symptoms are too severe, you should consult with your eye doctor, who may prescribe prescription-only eye drops.

Taking frequent breaks

Last but not least, aside from investing in the right contact lenses and eye drops, you should also train yourself to maintain healthier eye health habits. This includes, of course, taking frequent breaks — no matter how intense your gaming sessions can be.

Over the years, studies have shown that heavy computer users, including gamers, demonstrate reduced blinking frequency than casual or non-computer users. This lack of blinking causes and exacerbates dryness and may even lead to more severe issues if untreated. In a previous post on the best gamer exercises, we highlighted the importance of eye training so you can track in-game action accurately and as fast as possible. This includes the importance of practicing the 20-20-20 rule: taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away.

Ultimately, wearing contact lenses shouldn’t stop you from being able to game comfortably. However, it’s important to note that wearing contact lenses may make your eyes more vulnerable to dryness, irritation, pain, and discomfort due to many factors. As such, choosing the right contacts and investing in lubricating eye drops can help provide relief while gaming. Giving your eyes a good rest once in a while is also crucial, especially if you feel your eyes straining or getting tired during boss fights and ranked games.

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