By Nigel Little 

Contact lenses for dry eyes  which are only worn while sleeping provide a new treatment approach for shortsighted sufferers with dry eye syndrome at a time when attention is increasingly being drawn to this widespread condition affecting more than 100 million people worldwide. Indeed, TearLab Corporation whose Osmolarity System is rated as one of the best ways for measuring the extent to which a person is suffering from dry eye disease have just launched a major new consumer website - www.allaboutdryeye.com - together with a supporting social media programme. The website is designed to provide an information centre and forum where people suffering from dry eye disease can ask questions about the condition.

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition in which the eye does not produce enough tears to keep the surface of the eye sufficiently lubricated. In its mild to moderate forms, it can impact vision and the ability to go about daily activities but in its more severe forms, dry eye syndrome can lead to permanent loss of vision. For many daytime contact lens wearers, working in climate-controlled environments and spending a significant amount of time on screen-based activities are key factors which aggravate their condition. The former factor exerts a drying effect on the eyes whilst the latter factor results in dramatically reduced blink rates and consequently less tear film production. However, by switching to the new overnight ortho-k contact lenses for dry eyes , shortsighted sufferers can dispense with their daytime contact lenses completely.

Overnight ortho-k contact lenses are inserted at night before going to sleep and work by gently flattening the surface of the cornea to correct a shortsighted prescription and ensure that light focuses directly on the retina rather than in front of it. The lenses are removed in the morning after which the wearer has clear daytime vision without requiring any corrective aid and the effect lasts until the lenses are reinserted at night. So working in air-conditioned offices and staring at computer screens does not cause the same problems for wearers of these new contact lenses for dry eyes  as is experienced by daytime contact lens wearers.

Check if you are suitable for overnight ortho-k contact lenses for dry eyes .