Extended Wear Contact Lenses
Contact lenses have come a long way since they were first introduced. New advances in silicone material have made them more comfortable than ever before. There are even extended wear contact lenses that can be worn overnight. In fact, these lenses can be worn continuously for up to 30 days without being removed or cleaned.
However, only lenses that allow plenty of oxygen to reach the cornea are approved for such long-term wear.
Ordinary Lenses vs. Extended Wear Lenses
Ordinary contact lenses must be removed at night, otherwise, the eye tissue will not receive enough oxygen and the eyes may swell up causing blurred vision. During sleep, bacteria and debris can collect in the eyes. When you are awake, tears constantly flush the eyes but this doesn’t happen during sleep.
If regular contact lenses are left in overnight, the eyes may become red, teary and sensitive. In that case, you should see an eye doctor immediately, as treatment may be necessary. In severe cases, leaving regular contact lenses in overnight may cause blood vessels to develop in the cornea in an effort to supply oxygen to the eye and this can end up causing blindness.
Extended-Wear Lenses Are Different
Extended-wear contacts, also known as continuous wear lenses, are made from a relatively new material called silicone hydrogel and there are different types. Some are only approved for seven day wear, while others can be worn for up to a month as long as they remain comfortable. You can change them more regularly if that works better for you. In any case, it’s very important to follow the replacement schedule for your particular type of lens.
Problems with Extended Wear Lenses Solved
Before the development of silicone hydrogel, the first extended wear contacts caused a greater incidence of eye infections. Today, extended-wear contacts are significantly safer.
- They are made of silicone hydrogel which allows much more oxygen to get to the eye than traditional soft lenses.
- They are disposable, whereas previous versions were removed and cleaned. Disposable extended-wear lenses prevent the build-up of residue and reduce the risk of infection.
- How they are used is flexible. They can still be removed and cleaned at night, if desired.
Precautions
While extended-wear lenses have improved greatly, there is still a risk of complications when wearing contacts overnight. If you’ve had a previous eye infection, if your eyes are exposed to water, such as when swimming, of if you smoke, your chances for eye infections may be higher. Check your eyes daily to make sure that they look healthy and feel good. There should be no sign of redness or irritation.
Extended-wear contact lenses should be cleaned or replaced when necessary to keep the risk of infection to a minimum. It is important that you dispose of the lenses within the time specified by your eye doctor.
