Extended wear contact lenses

[audi321]

Hi I’ve just started wearing contact lenses (daily) but I find getting them in an absolute nightmare - removing them is easy but I simply cannot get them in.

Has anyone tried the continuous wear ones? I see they can be left in for 30 days and nights.

Thanks all

[redhotsheep]

Wouldn't recommend them for the increased infection risk.
You'll get used to putting in contacts soon enough.

[TNJ]

I have used the two weekly ones for a few years but am going back to daily ones.

The current ones are ok but get blurry after 2-3 days so need to be taken out and cleaned so not too different to daily ones.

I have found the daily lenses to be more comfortable and keep the moisture in the eyes better. They are more expensive though

[cliffe_mafia]

I’ve worn acuvue night & day extended wear ones for 20 years. I change them once a month and rarely have problems with them. I definitely would recommend them as they’re pretty much hassle free.

[cliffe_mafia]

redhotsheep said:

Wouldn't recommend them for the increased infection risk.
You'll get used to putting in contacts soon enough.

I’d say the opposite - it’s the putting in/taking them out that irritates your eyes more or was for me especially after a night out.

[Ashtray83]

I use Biofinity Toric ones and I found I would forget about them as they’re so comfortable and sometimes go 6 weeks without touching them obviously that’s not ideal so I set a reminder to take them out for a day a month before putting in a new pair, swear by mine

[MB140]

Two years ago when I started wearing contact lenses it took me nearly an hour to get them in and I looked like I’d had a fight with Mike Tyson.

I had to wear a full face fire fighters mask for my job so i had no choice but to learn.

These days it takes longer to get the things out the packaging and on my finger. Probably 30 seconds an eye these days. I can do them without a mirror. Oh and I’m pretty blind and struggle to see the lens but still manage it.


OP, it’s just practice and try not to get frustrated. I also found that not looking directly at my finger as I pop the lens on my eye makes it easier. I effectively get the lens to within an inch looking directly at my finger to make sure it’s lined up and then look to the side.

As for 30 day lens. Not sure how I would feel about that. The chance of infection must be quite high. Do you not have to take them out to sleep and shower even if you wear the same pair for 30 days. I’ve only ever used daily disposable.

[Mr Pointy]

Dailies are very thin & can be tricky at first. Try monthly ones first as they are a bit thicker & easier to handle - that's monthlies that you take out at night & disinfect, not the continuous wear ones.

I wouldn't leave any lenses in for a month.

[audi321]

Thanks guys. It seems we have a proper split here.

People who have used them love them and swear by them.

People who haven’t used them saying they’re bad and it’s a bad idea.

Is there anyone who has used them and have had issues or maybe wouldn’t use them again?

[u6dw4]

Had daily (disposable) for 20+ years, eventually had serious infections and had to give up, had laser to correct.

Despite the risks of laser, my eyes look much better, all the redness has gone (but the dryness is an issue 2+ years later)

Wouldn't consider monthly, or everyday replaceable, dirt gets behind the contacts. Overwear was my fault - even with daily - but also could have have caused serious issues.

For getting them in - just make sure the eye surface is wet and your finger is dry (dry after lifting from container - they will 'jump' to your eye. After enough practice, you don't need to actually touch your eye at all.

Also the advice above about not focussing on it...you learn to look to the side / not focus.

Edited by u6dw4 on Thursday 11th April 20:54

[sir benny]

audi321 said:

Thanks guys. It seems we have a proper split here.

People who have used them love them and swear by them.

People who haven’t used them saying they’re bad and it’s a bad idea.

Is there anyone who has used them and have had issues or maybe wouldn’t use them again?

Wore extended wear lenses for about 10 years. I developed a nasty ulcer on my cornea however so went back to daily disposables. It could have been coincidental but every optician since when I’ve got my eyes tested has agreed that dailies pose less of a risk of complications.

[u6dw4]

sir benny said:

Wore extended wear lenses for about 10 years. I developed a nasty ulcer on my cornea however so went back to daily disposables. It could have been coincidental but every optician since when I’ve got my eyes tested has agreed that dailies pose less of a risk of complications.

I used to be careless (i,e not washing hands) with dailies, but it was extended wear (+3 days) that eventually caused the issues, i had ulcers that fortunately didn't cause long term damage,

[Aletank]

I have 2 weeklies, I have tried the dailies but can't get them in, they are too thin, the 2 weeklies are thicker.

[phil4]

I don't wear contacts any more, but roll back a few years and I was wearing them for a 30 days.

Once you got the hang of put in and take out, which did happen, they were mostly fine. I never got any infections. The biggest issue was cost, but worse, on that odd time you did lose it... the hassle/cost of getting replacements. Occasionally occurred, mostly when I was asleep.

I moved to daily after I got referred to eye hospital for high eye pressures and the doctor I saw went off on one about how I was ruining my life, and how dare I wear lenses etc. etc. Daily's were fine until I found I needed to take them out to read close up stuff. A doddle with glasses, not so easy with contacts. I'm now on varifocal glasses.

[MB140]

phil4 said:

I don't wear contacts any more, but roll back a few years and I was wearing them for a 30 days.

Once you got the hang of put in and take out, which did happen, they were mostly fine. I never got any infections. The biggest issue was cost, but worse, on that odd time you did lose it... the hassle/cost of getting replacements. Occasionally occurred, mostly when I was asleep.

I moved to daily after I got referred to eye hospital for high eye pressures and the doctor I saw went off on one about how I was ruining my life, and how dare I wear lenses etc. etc. Daily's were fine until I found I needed to take them out to read close up stuff. A doddle with glasses, not so easy with contacts. I'm now on varifocal glasses.

They now do daily varifocal contacts. I’m at the point of needing them really. Just had my first pair of varifocal glasses (last Sunday), what a pain in the arse they are, seem to be permanently out of focus (I look like a nodding dog trying to get them in focus) and have given me banging headaches after a few hours, so much so I have gone back to wearing my old glasses.

The varifocal contact lenses work in an amazing way and how your brain works with them is astounding. But they are expensive.

[Digger]

Aletank said:

I have 2 weeklies, I have tried the dailies but can't get them in, they are too thin, the 2 weeklies are thicker.

Yep - I found the 2 weekly Acuvue Oasys Ast to be the best compromise for my eyes.

MB140 said:

The varifocal contact lenses work in an amazing way and how your brain works with them is astounding. But they are expensive.

May I ask how much? I'm currently paying £35pm for 2-weeklies incl solutions.

Did it take the brain some time to work them out?

I might give the varifocals trial a go . . .

[MB140]

Digger said:

MB140 said:

The varifocal contact lenses work in an amazing way and how your brain works with them is astounding. But they are expensive.

May I ask how much? I'm currently paying £35pm for 2-weeklies incl solutions.

Did it take the brain some time to work them out?

I might give the varifocals trial a go . . .

Cost wise I think it’s about £35 for a months supply Copervision are the brand I buy from specsavers. I try and limit it to 5 days a week to give my eyes a rest though.

In terms of getting use to it. No a few seconds. If you imagine the lens is lots of concentric circles. It effective goes from the middle of the lens outwards.

Far vision, middle vision, close vision repeatedly in tiny little slivers. Somehow the brain takes the in focus bits from all the tiny circles and tricks you in to thinking the whole vision is in focus (this was how my optician explained it to me when I asked how they work).

What I will say is occasionally you will find something at a certain distance out of focus. While everything else is in focus.

Once I was trying to read a sign for car parking and it wasn’t in focus. I stepped back 30cm and hey presto in focus. I asked the optician and he said yes this may happen you have effectively looked at something that doesn’t fall within the far, middle, close rings capabilities in the lens and exactly the wrong distance from it. (It may all be BS but it sort of makes sense. I’m fully aware that the brain can trick your vision. Who here has seen the bloke in a monkey suit running around in a basketball video and not seen someone dressed in a monkey suit waving at you.)

Overall I will say varifocal daily contacts have worked well for me, I do find them a little thicker when Han the Acuvue moist single focus length lens I used to wear but I have only tried the copervision brand of varifocal daily contact lenses.

Edited by MB140 on Friday 12th April 14:05

[Digger]

MB140 said:

Digger said:

MB140 said:

The varifocal contact lenses work in an amazing way and how your brain works with them is astounding. But they are expensive.

May I ask how much? I'm currently paying £35pm for 2-weeklies incl solutions.

Did it take the brain some time to work them out?

I might give the varifocals trial a go . . .

Cost wise I think it’s about £35 for a months supply Copervision are the brand I buy from specsavers. I try and limit it to 5 days a week to give my eyes a rest though.

In terms of getting use to it. No a few seconds. If you imagine the lens is lots of concentric circles. It effective goes from the middle of the lens outwards.

Far vision, middle vision, close vision repeatedly in tiny little slivers. Somehow the brain takes the in focus bits from all the tiny circles and tricks you in to thinking the whole vision is in focus (this was how my optician explained it to me when I asked how they work).

What I will say is occasionally you will find something at a certain distance out of focus. While everything else is in focus.

Once I was trying to read a sign for car parking and it wasn’t in focus. I stepped back 30cm and hey presto in focus. I asked the optician and he said yes this may happen you have effectively looked at something that doesn’t fall within the far, middle, close rings capabilities in the lens and exactly the wrong distance from it. (It may all be BS but it sort of makes sense. I’m fully aware that the brain can trick your vision. Who here has seen the bloke in a monkey suit running around in a basketball video and not seen someone dressed in a monkey suit waving at you.)

Overall I will say varifocal daily contacts have worked well for me, I do find them a little thicker when Han the Acuvue moist single focus length lens I used to wear but I have only tried the copervision brand of varifocal daily contact lenses.

Edited by MB140 on Friday 12th April 14:05

Thank you very much for the detailed reply.

Much appreciated