Can You Cry With Contact Lenses In?
Definitely! You can cry with contact lenses in.
Crying doesn’t damage your eyes or your lenses. Your eyes are designed to produce tears, and contact lenses are designed to sit comfortably on the surface of your eye while that happens.
That said, you may notice changes in how your lenses feel and how clearly you see when you’re crying.
Let’s break down what’s happening while you cry, and how things like makeup can affect your lenses.
What Happens When You Cry With Contacts In
Your eyes already have a thin layer called the tear film, which helps keep everything hydrated and comfortable throughout the day. The tear film is made up of a mix of water, oils, and proteins that work together to protect your eye, keep the surface smooth, and help you see clearly. Your contact lenses are designed to interact with your tear film all day long.
When you cry, your eyes produce a much higher volume of tears than usual, all at once.
That extra moisture can change how your contact lenses sit on your eye. They might move slightly and feel a bit more noticeable. You may also notice your vision getting a little less clear while your eyes are watering.
Why Your Vision May Look Blurry
If your vision looks a little cloudy while you’re crying, that’s completely normal.
Tears aren’t just water, they also contain small amounts of oils and proteins. When there’s more of them on your eye at once, they can leave a light film over your lenses.
This can make things look slightly smeared or foggy for a few minutes.
This will usually clear on its own once your eyes settle.
Can Contact Lenses Fall Out While Crying?
In most cases, no.
Soft contact lenses are designed to stay in place, even when your eyes are producing more tears than usual. They might shift a little, but they’re not going anywhere.
Rigid gas permeable lenses (hard contact lenses) can move around more easily while you’re crying, but even then, it’s not something that happens often.
Can Crying Make Contacts Feel Uncomfortable?
It can, but usually not for the reason you’d think.
It’s often not the tears themselves; it’s everything that comes with crying. Rubbing your eyes, a little puffiness, or that slightly sensitive feeling afterward.
Those are the things that can make your lenses feel off.
If your eyes feel irritated or your lenses don’t feel quite right, taking them out can help everything reset pretty quickly.
What About Makeup and Mascara?
This is where things can get a little messier.
If you’re wearing mascara or eyeliner, crying can cause some of that makeup to mix with your tears and end up on your lenses, making your vision a lot blurrier.
What should you do if you’re wearing mascara and contact lenses while crying?
Taking your lenses out will feel a lot better. If you wear reusable lenses, give them a proper clean before putting them back in. If you wear daily disposables, switching to a fresh pair is the easiest option.
It also helps to avoid rubbing your eyes, even though it’s tempting, since that’s what can push makeup onto the lens or move it out of place.
If blurriness from eye makeup getting on your contact lenses is something you deal with often, waterproof or smudge-resistant makeup can make a big difference.
We have a blog post breaking down how to safely remove makeup from your contact lenses. Check it out, here.
What To Do After Crying With Contacts In
Most of the time, you can keep wearing your contacts and be completely fine.
But if your eyes feel even slightly off, it’s usually worth taking a break.
Taking your lenses out, letting your eyes rest, and either cleaning them or putting in a fresh pair can make everything feel normal again much faster.
Are Tears Good for Your Eyes?
They are! Your eyes need tears to help regulate moisture and keep your eye health in check.
Tears help keep your eyes hydrated, clear out debris, and keep everything feeling comfortable, especially when you’re wearing contacts.
Your eyes are producing tears all day long; crying just turns the amount up for a bit.
When You Should Remove Your Contacts
You’ll probably want to take them out if:
- Your vision stays blurry after you’ve stopped crying
- Your eyes feel irritated or sensitive
- Your lenses feel like they’ve shifted
- You’ve been rubbing your eyes
Taking your lenses out to clean them or changing to a fresh pair should solve the issue totally.
FAQ
Can crying damage contact lenses?
No, it won’t damage them. At most, they might feel a little cloudy for a short time.
Should I remove my contacts before crying?
You don’t have to, but if you know you’re about to cry a lot, it can make things more comfortable.
Can I keep wearing my contacts after crying?
Yes, as long as your eyes feel comfortable. If not, removing or replacing your lenses can help.