Pros And Cons Of Daily Contact Lenses Vs. Extended Wear Contact Lenses

In the world of contact lenses, there are basically two options: daily wear or extended wear. Each type has its benefits as well as its drawbacks. This article will explore some of the pros and cons of each to help educate potential contact lens wearers.

Daily contact lenses are the most prevalent amongst contact lens wearers. These lenses are placed in the eyes in the morning and taken out before going to bed. They are not designed to be left in the eye overnight. Taking the lenses out at night gives the eyes a chance to rest and breath. These lenses are available in both the hard and soft varieties.

It is important to clean and sanitize daily contact lenses each day after taking them out of the eyes. Cleaning the lenses includes washing them with the proper cleansing product. After the lenses are clean, they must soak overnight in a conditioning solution. If the lenses are not properly cared for every day, deposits and bacteria will build up on them and cause irritation, if not infection, of the eyes.

Daily contact lenses are available for most prescriptions where contact lenses would be appropriate. They can also be bifocal or designed to help correct astigmatism. Daily lenses are worn by people of all ages and eye types.

Extended wear contact lenses are ideal for people with healthy eyes, who are looking for convenience, who have strong prescriptions as it allows good vision round the clock, and those who have irregular work schedules with which maintenance of daily lenses would interfere. These lenses are available in both hard and soft varieties. They can be worn for extended periods of time due to their high oxygen permeability, which is five to six times greater than daily contact lenses. Extended wear lenses carry extra risks as well, which will be described later.

The idea behind extended wear contact lenses is that the wearer does not have to take them out before going to bed. They are designed to be slept in for up to six days at a time, although there are some new ones out on the market that can be worn for 30 days. Those that are worn for 30 days are commonly referred to as continuous wear. Being able to wear the lenses continuously cuts down on regular maintenance time that daily contact lenses require.

Extended wear lenses put added stress on the eyes. The wearer must have healthy eyes as determined by an optometrist in order to tolerate the extra stress. Since the lenses do not leave the eyes for several days at a time, deposits may build up and irritate the eye. Rarely, a serious infection can develop. This is rare, but does occur more frequently in those who wear extended wear lenses versus those who wear daily lenses.

During waking hours, the eyes regularly produce tears to keep the eyes moist. The combination of tears and oxygen helps to fight off bacteria in the eyes. When the eyes are closed during sleep, oxygen does not get through to the eye and there is also a reduction in the amount of tears produced. This can cause the contact to bind with the eye and cause problems, such as infection or corneal ulcers. Rigid extended wear lenses can bind to the cornea and reshape it, which is also undesirable.

To help minimize the risk of serious health issues, optometrists design schedules for extended wear lens users. This schedule will call for wearing the lenses continuously for several days, and then taking them out for a night to give the eyes a break. It is important to stick to the schedule; not doing so could result in unpleasant eye problems. Part of the plan to reduce eye problems includes going for more frequent eye appointments. The optometrist will examine the eyes and look for any signs of infection or other problems.

There are disposable versions of extended wear contact lenses available to consumers. Disposables also help to reduce the risk of health problems since they are thrown away after a short period of continuous wear. The wearer who is looking for the most convenient form of contact lenses would be wise to explore this option. There is generally no cleaning or sanitizing involved as long as the lenses are disposed of at the proper time.

Some eye care professionals recommend daily contact lenses to their patients over extended wear as a safety precaution. Others feel that it is up to the individual to decide. Extended wear contact lenses are more convenient but carry higher risks than daily lenses. The wearer must weigh each factor involved and choose a lens type that best fits into that wearer's lifestyle.