Extended Wear Contact Lenses: #1 Ultimate Guide To Understand It

Contact lenses can be perfect for those who want to leave their glasses behind. As technology advances, there is a huge improvement in contact lenses, including the materials that are used to make contact lenses and the design. Extended wear contact lenses are one type of lens that benefits from advanced technology.

For some people, it can be troublesome to wear daily disposal contact lenses, which require taking them off every night and wearing a fresh lens in the morning. Extended wear contact lenses can be worn for long hours. So, If you are one of those who don’t like to take lenses in and out, extended-wear contact lenses are definitely something that suits you.

It can be a convenient choice, but there are things you should know before you opt for extended contact lenses. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of extended wear contact lenses, allowing you to understand more about them.

What Are Extended Wear Contact Lenses?

Extended wear contact lenses can be worn for up to six to seven days. You can even wear it to sleep at night. This is because the material of this type of lens allows oxygen to go through the lens better. Some better ones can even be worn for up to 30 days.

Usually, your doctor will advise you on how long you can wear the lenses. Although you can wear it for a period of time or depending on eye health and tolerance level, taking off at least for one night is still recommended to rest your eyes.

This contact lens type suits those who don’t like to insert and remove contact lenses daily. They don’t need to do this often if they wear extended wear contact lenses; also, for those who want to save time on cleaning contact lenses since they can be worn for a few days.

Benefits Of Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Wearing it overnight is the most obvious benefit of this type of contact lens. This suits those with unpredictable or highly active lifestyles, such as military personnel, firefighters, or outdoor lovers.

People such as doctors and firefighters will need to be on call. They may have to get up from their sleep during emergency calls, and they won’t have time to clean and handle their lenses. They can benefit from wearing extended-contact lenses Without needing to take off the lenses every day.

It is also helpful for those with binocular vision problems, including amblyopia. It helps to address their vision issues better. If you have a very bad vision, it can be helpful for you, too. It allows you to see clearly at all times, especially when you wake up at night to use the toilet. You wouldn’t be knocking around to just look for your glasses.

Risks Of Wearing Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Since you will be wearing the lenses for long hours, some risks may impact your eye health. Your eye relies on tears and oxygen to maintain your eye health, but wearing extended wear contacts can prevent tears or oxygen from reaching your eyes. It can be a big issue when this happens.

No matter what type of contact lenses you wear, they can block oxygen, so be cautious when your eyes experience discomfort. Take your lenses out immediately and let your eyes breathe. Most of the time, the issues will be solved after you remove your lens, but see a doctor if it continues. So follow doctors’ instructions when wearing this type of contact lens.

Another risk is the possibility of getting an eye infection. The most common type is ulcerative keratitis. The American Academy Of Ophthalmology says people who wear extended-wear contacts will have a 10 to 15 times higher risk of getting this infection than those who wear daily versions.

Eye infection is usually caused by bacteria accumulating on the lens. So do take out your lenses to clean once in a while to lower the risk of getting your eyes infected. Remember to keep your hands clean and avoid touching the lens directly when cleaning it. If there’s any eye infection, contact your doctor immediately.

Am I Suitable To Wear Extended Wear Contacts?

Extended-wear contact is popular for certain people. It can be a good option if you take proper care of the lens. You will need to discuss wearing this extended contact lens with your doctor.

Things you should discuss should replace schedules, cleaning routines, hygiene issues, and signs of problems. Understand when to take off and how long before you need to replace it with a new pair. The cleaning routine is important as it helps to avoid eye infection issues. Understand how to clean it and keep it clean before you put it back into your eyes.

You should also understand the importance of checking your lens. What you should do when you realize the lens has a problem. If you have no issues wearing it, it shouldn’t be a problem. However, some people are sensitive to contact lenses, and it will cause eye infections. You have to stop wearing if you are one of those.

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