Wearing contact lenses for prolonged time

Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 2:12 pm Post in Contact Lenses

According to wearing schedules, contact lenses have two types: daily wear and extended wear. The difference lies in that extended wear requires no removal before sleeping so that they can provide a clear vision as soon as you wake up. Extended wear contacts are designed to permit more oxygen on the cornea, which should get prior approval from FDA. While most extended wear contact lenses are made for continuous seven days wearing, silicone hydrogel-made ones can last up to 30 days without removal. This type is also available in RGPs. Thanks to technological improvement; extended wear contacts are comfortable during the full time period.

Extended wear contact lenses were first approved by FDA in 1981, initially in two weeks period and later in 30 days. However, there was a reported higher infection possibility among extended contacts wearers. Both ECPs and the FDA took actions in response to this situation. FDA reduced the continuous wearing period to seven days and ECPs persuaded customers to remove contacts before sleep. The infection may come from organisms from your fingers. They are lodged under extended wear contacts and thrive in the comfortable environment. These organisms may cause infections, which in turn lead to pink eyes or even blindness.

Due to lens technological advancement, extended wear contacts are safer today. The greatest contribution comes from the invention of disposable contact lenses. After the wearer removing their contacts after a week’s wearing, they just discard them, along with the deposits accumulated during the days, which avoids long-term deposit built-up. In this ways, the old application that extended wear contact were re-used week after week is forever gone. The new created silicone hydrogel lenses also contribute to extended wear contacts by offering more oxygen to the eye, so that they are approved for 30 days continuous wearing. Another tricky way is to use extended wear contacts, but remove them at night.

Extended contacts wearers should always obey the instructions from doctors to minimize underlying risks, because lens improvements can never provide a 100% safety for these contacts. You should discard the used contacts after a period of continuous wear, never re-use them. Some factors such as smoke exposure and previous infections may also be dangerous. For extended contacts wearers, daily observation of their eyes is important. The eyes should be looking good, feeling good, and seeing well. Red eyes, irritated eyes and reduced vision are dangerous signs.