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30-day wear contact lenses: advantages and disadvantages

Contact lenses that you can put on and wear continuously for many days are the dream of many contact lens wearers. Don’t worry about cleaning, storing, inserting or removing them, it sounds convenient, doesn’t it? But it’s sure? Find out if extended wear contacts are right for you.

How do extended wear contact lenses work?

Most contact lenses are for daily wear: you wear them during the day and take them out at night. The lenses must be removed because they partially block the flow of oxygen to the cornea. In other words, your eyes need a contact-free rest.

However, many contact lens wearers wish they didn’t have to remove their lenses every night. Knowing this, contact lens manufacturers have worked very hard to develop a contact lens material that does not block oxygen and allows you to wear your lenses for several days, or even weeks, without risk to your health.

Modern technology enables the production of contact lenses that pass approximately six times more oxygen than ordinary soft contact lenses. Lenses designed for extended wear are made from extra-permeable silicone hydrogel materials and “breathe” so well that oxygen deprivation is no longer a problem, even if you wear the lenses for several days.

Are long-wear contact lenses safe?

Long-wear, FDA-approved lenses, such as Focus Night and Day or Acuvue 2, are safe if you follow your doctor’s instructions. They are quite comfortable for many days, unless you have very sensitive eyes.

The only problem with extended wear contact lenses is that since you don’t clean them every day, tiny dust particles can accumulate on them.

To avoid this, follow the following rules:

  • Avoid dusty rooms
  • Stay away from cigarette smoke
  • Try to keep water out of your eyes when you shower and wear tight-fitting goggles while swimming.
  • Never wear your contact lenses for longer than recommended by your doctor. Remember that weekly disposable extended wear lenses must be discarded once a week and 30 day wear lenses can only last one month, not one more day.

Also, to minimize the risk of eye infection, it is very important to pay attention to how the eyes feel and not to ignore any unpleasant symptoms. If your eyes feel irritated or just uncomfortable, remove the lens immediately and let it rest for 6 to 8 hours. Rinse the lens well before replacing it. And if the discomfort continues, don’t ignore it, see your doctor. Perhaps after all, extended wear lenses are not for you.

What extended wear contacts are available on the market?

Two brands of extended wear contact lenses are FDA approved for continuous wear for 30 days: Focus Night and Day by Ciba Vision and PureVision by Bausch & Lomb. Other lenses can be worn for a week without removing them. The most popular of these is Acuvue from Johnson and Johnson.

Are extended wear contact lenses more expensive than normal ones?

Surprisingly, the price difference is not that great. Extended-wear contact lenses are slightly more expensive than the usual weekly or monthly disposable contact lenses, and are cheaper than daily disposables. Plus, since you’ll be wearing your contact lenses for a week or a month and then throwing them away, you’ll save on cleaning and storage solution. Therefore, cost is not an issue when it comes to extended wear contacts.

If the idea of ​​wearing contact lenses continuously for several days appeals to you, ask your doctor if extended wear contact lenses will work for you.