Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes Australia (2026 Guide)

Dry eye symptoms during contact lens wear are among the most common complaints optometrists hear from their patients — and they're also one of the most solvable. In most cases, switching to a lens designed with moisture retention and breathability as primary engineering goals makes a significant difference, even for wearers who've struggled with discomfort for years.

The challenge is knowing which lens to switch to. The Australian market now offers a wide range of daily and monthly options specifically engineered for wearers with dry or sensitive eyes. This guide covers the best contact lenses for dry eyes available in Australia, across both daily and monthly formats, with guidance on which suits different prescription types and wearing habits.

As always, the most reliable approach is to trial a recommended lens through your optometrist before committing to a longer-term supply. Our partner optometrist, Peter Merrett, is available during business hours on 03 9510 2045 or at contacts@buycontactsonline.com.au to help you assess which lens suits your specific eye condition and prescription.

Why Do Contact Lenses Cause Dry Eyes?

Before looking at solutions, it helps to understand the mechanism. Contact lenses sit on the tear film — the thin layer of moisture that coats the eye surface. When a lens is present, it competes with the eye's tissues for the tear film's moisture, and some lens materials accelerate tear evaporation or absorb moisture from the tear film more aggressively than others.

The main culprits are:

Low oxygen permeability. Lenses that restrict oxygen flow to the cornea can cause irritation and a secondary dry-eye-like response. Older hydrogel materials were significantly more limiting than modern silicone hydrogel lenses.

Deposit accumulation. Over a wearing day or across a wearing month, protein and lipid deposits build up on the lens surface. These deposits reduce the lens's surface wettability, making the lens feel increasingly dry and uncomfortable as the day progresses.

Environmental factors. Air conditioning, heating, low humidity, prolonged screen use, and extended flying all accelerate tear evaporation — making already-borderline lenses feel much worse in these conditions.

Understanding which of these is your primary issue helps determine which lens technology will address it most effectively.

Best Daily Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

Daily disposable lenses have a structural advantage for dry eye sufferers: because each lens is worn only once, there's no opportunity for deposit accumulation. Every morning you begin with a clean, fresh lens in optimal condition. This makes daily lenses the generally preferred format for wearers with dry or sensitive eyes.

DAILIES Total 1 — Premium Choice for Dry Eyes

DAILIES Total 1 from Alcon is widely regarded as the gold standard daily lens for dry eye sufferers. It uses water gradient technology — the water content increases from the core of the lens (approximately 33%) to the surface (approximately 100%), creating an extremely smooth, high-moisture outer layer that feels almost indistinguishable from the natural eye surface. This outer layer is highly resistant to deposit accumulation and maintains its lubricity throughout the day.

DAILIES Total 1 is available for spherical and toric prescriptions, and in a multifocal format for presbyopia. For many dry eye sufferers who have tried other lenses without success, DAILIES Total 1 is the lens that changes the experience. Available in 30-pack and 90-pack formats. Browse the Alcon Dailies collection.

Biotrue ONEday — Biomimetic Comfort

Biotrue ONEday from Bausch + Lomb takes a different approach. The lens material is designed to mimic the biology of the eye — matching the water content of the cornea (78%) and packaged in a solution formulated to mirror the composition of the natural tear film. The lens maintains over 98% of its moisture content even after 16 hours of wear, making it a strong performer for wearers with extended wearing days.

Biotrue ONEday is available for spherical, toric, and presbyopia prescriptions in 30-pack and 90-pack formats. It is generally well tolerated by wearers who find other daily lenses drying, and is often recommended for wearers with mild-to-moderate dry eye symptoms. Browse the Biotrue collection.

MyDay — Smart Silicone for All-Day Breathability

CooperVision's MyDay uses Smart Silicone Technology — a silicone hydrogel material with a naturally wettable surface that doesn't rely on surface coatings. High oxygen permeability (Dk/t of 100+) combined with inherent surface wettability makes MyDay a strong choice for wearers whose dry eye symptoms are primarily driven by low oxygen supply or lens surface drying rather than environmental evaporation.

MyDay is available for spherical, toric, and multifocal prescriptions in 30-pack and 90-pack formats. Browse the MyDay collection.

Best Monthly Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

Monthly contact lenses require more care in selection for dry eye sufferers, because the lens is worn repeatedly across 30 days — meaning deposit accumulation and moisture degradation can become significant issues toward the end of the wearing month. The best monthly options for dry eye minimise these issues through material technology and active surface protection.

Bausch + Lomb ULTRA — Engineered for Screen Users and Dry Environments

ULTRA from Bausch + Lomb was specifically designed for the modern wearer who spends significant time in front of screens, in air-conditioned environments, or in other conditions that accelerate tear evaporation. MoistureSeal Technology retains 95% of the lens's moisture content throughout a 16-hour wearing day — a genuinely meaningful advantage for wearers who notice their lenses becoming uncomfortable by mid-afternoon.

ULTRA is available in monthly spherical, toric, and multifocal formats, as well as ULTRA One Day in a daily disposable format for wearers who prefer not to manage a cleaning routine. This is particularly useful for dry eye sufferers who want MoistureSeal performance without the commitment of a monthly reusable lens. Browse the ULTRA collection.

Biofinity — Natural Moisture Without Coatings

CooperVision's Biofinity is one of the most recommended monthly lenses for wearers with dry eyes who prefer a reusable monthly format. Aquaform Technology makes the lens material itself naturally water-loving — the moisture retention is built into the material rather than applied as a surface treatment, which means comfort is consistent across the full month of wear rather than degrading as surface treatments wear down.

Biofinity's Dk/t of 160 is also among the highest available in a monthly lens, which supports corneal health and reduces oxygen-deprivation symptoms. Available in spherical, toric, toric XR, and multifocal formats. Browse the Biofinity collection.

Practical Tips for Managing Dry Eyes in Contact Lenses

Choosing the right lens is the most important step, but other factors also influence comfort:

Wearing schedule. For dry eye sufferers, daily lenses are generally preferable to monthly lenses because the fresh-lens advantage eliminates deposit accumulation. If you currently wear monthly lenses and experience dryness, trialling a daily lens is worth discussing with your optometrist before trying a different monthly brand.

Screen time habits. People who use screens for extended periods blink less frequently — sometimes up to 60% less than when not looking at a screen. Reduced blinking means reduced tear spreading and accelerated evaporation. Regular screen breaks and conscious blinking can help; so can choosing a lens specifically engineered for screen use, such as ULTRA.

Environmental factors. Heating and air conditioning both reduce humidity, which accelerates tear evaporation. Positioning yourself away from direct air vents and using a humidifier if possible can reduce lens dryness in office or home environments.

Lubricating drops. Your optometrist may recommend lubricating eye drops compatible with your contact lenses. Not all drops are suitable for use with contact lenses — always confirm compatibility before use.

Wearing hours. If you consistently wear lenses for 14+ hours a day and experience dryness, reducing wearing time may help as much as changing lens brand. Discuss realistic wearing schedule expectations with your optometrist.

When to See Your Optometrist

Contact lens-related dry eye symptoms that persist despite switching lenses or adjusting habits may indicate an underlying dry eye condition that requires clinical management rather than just a lens change. Our partner optometrist, Peter Merrett, is available during business hours to assess your lens fit, tear film, and eye health, and to recommend appropriate clinical interventions if needed.

If you'd like to discuss which dry eye lens might suit your prescription and wearing habits, call us on 03 9510 2045 or email contacts@buycontactsonline.com.au.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are daily or monthly contact lenses better for dry eyes?

Daily contact lenses are generally recommended for dry eye sufferers because each fresh lens starts the day with no accumulated protein or lipid deposits, which are a primary driver of lens-related dryness. Monthly lenses can also be comfortable for dry eyes when the right technology is chosen — particularly Biofinity and ULTRA — but require more careful selection.

What is the most comfortable contact lens for dry eyes in Australia?

DAILIES Total 1 is widely regarded as the most comfortable daily lens for dry eye sufferers due to its water gradient technology. For monthly lenses, ULTRA and Biofinity are the most consistently recommended options for dry eye comfort. The right choice depends on your prescription type and wearing habits.

Can I use lubricating drops with my contact lenses?

Yes, in most cases — but not all lubricating drops are compatible with all lens materials. Always check with your optometrist or pharmacist that the drops you intend to use are safe for contact lens wear. Preservative-free drops are generally the safest option.

Do silicone hydrogel lenses help with dry eyes?

Yes, generally. Silicone hydrogel lenses allow significantly more oxygen to reach the cornea than traditional hydrogel lenses, which reduces one of the contributing factors to contact lens-related dryness. However, early silicone hydrogel lenses could have surface wettability issues — modern lenses like DAILIES Total 1, ULTRA, and Biofinity have addressed this through advanced moisture technology.

Should I tell my optometrist I have dry eyes before getting contact lenses?

Yes, always. Dry eye history is important information for lens fitting. Your optometrist can assess your tear film and prescribe a lens that is appropriate for your eye condition, rather than trialling a standard lens and waiting for discomfort to emerge.