Rewetting Drops for Contact Lenses: What They Do and When to Use Them

Rewetting drops are lubricating eye drops made for use while wearing contact lenses. They add moisture, rinse away small debris, and ease dryness or discomfort during wear. Unlike many regular eye drops, they're formulated to be safe with your lenses.

If your contacts feel dry, scratchy, or blurry by mid-afternoon, rewetting drops may be the easiest fix. These drops are designed to go directly into your eyes while your lenses are in. But not every eye drop is safe to use with contacts, and knowing the difference can protect both your lenses and your eyes.

Here's what rewetting drops do, how they compare to regular eye drops, and how often you can use them.

What Are Rewetting Drops?

Rewetting drops, sometimes called rewetting eye drops or contact lens drops, are sterile lubricating drops for contact lens wearers. They're made to be used while the lenses are on your eyes.

Most rewetting drops contain:

• A buffered saline base that matches the natural balance of your tears
• Lubricating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate), carboxymethylcellulose, glycerin, or povidone, which help moisture cling to the lens and eye surface
• Lens-friendly preservatives, or none at all. Preservative-free options usually come in single-use vials or special multi-dose bottles.

When you use them, rewetting drops:

• Rehydrate the lens surface
• Rinse away small particles, like dust or makeup, that collect on the lens
• Help the lens move more comfortably when you blink
• Ease dryness, grittiness, and blurry vision caused by a dry lens

Rewetting Drops vs. Contact Lens Solution

People sometimes search for "contact lens rewetting solution," but rewetting drops and lens-care solutions are different products.

• Rewetting drops go directly into your eyes while your lenses are in.
• Multipurpose solution is for cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, and storing lenses. It is not meant to be used as eye drops.
• Hydrogen peroxide solution is a cleaning system that must be fully neutralized before lenses go back in. Never put hydrogen peroxide solution directly in your eyes; it causes painful burning and can damage the eye surface.

Never use tap water or saliva to wet your lenses, since both can carry organisms that cause serious eye infections. For more on lens-care basics, see our guide on how to care for your contact lenses.

Can I Use Regular Eye Drops With Contacts In?

Only if the package says it is safe to use with contact lenses. Many regular eye drops are not made for lens wear, and using them with contacts in can cause irritation, blurry vision, or damage to your lenses.

Here's how common types of eye drops compare:

Why preservatives matter: Some preservatives, especially benzalkonium chloride (BAK), can be absorbed by soft contact lenses. The lens then holds the preservative against your eye for hours, which can cause irritation and damage to the eye surface.

Using a drop that isn't lens-compatible: Remove your lenses first, put in the drops, and wait before reinserting your lenses. Wait at least 10–15 minutes, or the time listed on the label or given by your eye doctor.

If you're unsure, check the label for "for use with contact lenses," or ask your eye care provider.

When Should You Use Rewetting Drops?

Rewetting drops are most helpful when your lenses start to feel dry or uncomfortable. Common situations include:

• Late in the day, when lenses tend to dry out
• Long screen sessions, since you blink less often while focusing on a screen
• Dry or windy environments, including air conditioning, heating, and outdoor wind
• Air travel, because cabin air is very dry
• Blurry vision that clears when you blink, which often means the lens surface is drying out
• Before removing lenses, since a drop can make a dry lens easier to take out

Some people with sensitive eyes also use a drop right after putting in their lenses.

How Often Should You Use Rewetting Drops?

Follow the directions on the package. Most rewetting drops are used as needed, usually 1–2 drops per eye.

Occasional use is completely normal. But if you need drops several times a day, every day, just to stay comfortable, that's worth mentioning to your eye doctor. Frequent dryness can be a sign of:

• Dry eye
• Clogged eyelid oil glands (meibomian gland dysfunction)
• Blepharitis
• A lens material, fit, or replacement schedule that isn't right for your eyes
• Wearing lenses longer than recommended

Hormonal changes can also make contacts feel drier over time. Read more in can menopause cause dry eyes?

If you use drops often, a preservative-free option is usually gentler on the eyes. Ask your eye doctor which is best for you.

How to Use Rewetting Drops

1. Wash and dry your hands.
2. Tilt your head back and look up.
3. Gently pull down your lower eyelid to make a small pocket.
4. Place 1–2 drops into the pocket. Don't let the bottle tip touch your eye, lashes, or fingers.
5. Blink a few times to spread the drops over the lens.

A few more tips:

• Throw away single-use vials after each use, even if some liquid is left
• Recap multi-dose bottles right away and replace them by the expiration date or the discard date on the label
• Don't share eye drops

Special Lens Types

If you wear specialty lenses, such as scleral lenses or orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses, ask your eye doctor which drops and solutions to use. These lenses often call for specific preservative-free products.

Other Ways to Keep Contacts Comfortable

Rewetting drops help in the moment, but daily habits make the biggest difference:

• Follow your lens replacement schedule. Old lenses collect deposits that make them feel dry.
• Don't sleep in lenses unless your eye doctor has approved it.
• Take screen breaks and blink fully.
• Keep your eyelids clean. Oil, makeup, and debris from the lash line can coat your lenses. A gentle eyelid cleanser used daily helps keep the lid margin clear.
• Remove eye makeup completely every night.
• Give your eyes a break by wearing glasses some days. See contacts vs. glasses for when each works best.

You can find rewetting drops and lens-care essentials in our Contact Care collection. For dryness beyond lens wear, browse our Eye Drops and Dry Eye collections.

When to See an Eye Doctor

Rewetting drops relieve dryness, but they can't fix a torn lens, a poor fit, or an eye infection. Remove your lenses and see an eye care provider promptly if you notice:

• Eye pain
• Redness that doesn't go away
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurry vision that doesn't clear with blinking or drops
• Discharge or excessive tearing
• A feeling that something is stuck in your eye after removing the lens

Contact lens wearers have a higher risk of serious corneal infections, so these symptoms shouldn't wait.

The Bottom Line

Rewetting drops are a simple, safe way to keep contact lenses comfortable when your eyes feel dry. Choose drops labeled for contact lens use, follow the directions, and avoid regular eye drops unless they're approved for lens wear.

If you're using rewetting drops more and more, don't just keep adding drops. Talk to your eye doctor about what's behind the dryness.

Healthy eyes start with healthy eyelids.