Warning to contact lense wearers....

[Lippitt]

I've been wearing the all day all night contact lenses for 7 years now - have had regular checks as advised, slept without them 1 night a week as advised... basically followed all the rules I was told about.
Last week my eye started to really hurt, so I took them out - that night I had to put a cold flannel over it to get to sleep as it hurt so much, went to the doctors the next day and he sent me straight to the hospital, where my eye was inspected, and it turns out I have corneal neovascularization along with a severe conreal infection. I'm on drops every hour I'm awake, with ointment before bed and they sting like hell, I've got to do this for 2 weeks and may not be able to wear lenses again! The consultant I saw, said that in her opinion nobody should EVER sleep in their contacts no matter what the opticians tell you.

[eightseventhree]

I was always told never to sleep in lenses. The day night ones never seemed a good idea!

The only times i have slept in mine are after heavy nights out

[Lippitt]

That's why I originally got them

[shakotan]

I've been wearing 30-day, 'all-day all night' contact lenses for 16 years without major issue.

The only times I've had a problem is twice I've scratched the surface of my eyeball whilst taking out lenses, because a bit of dirt had gotten under them.

[blueg33]

I gave up with lenses after a new extended wear lens disinegrated in my eye. The optical surgeon had to reove each small particle using a pointed tweezers, its scary when you have to keep your head still and eye open whilst a pair of sharp points make for your eyeball.

[MrLou]

I had laser surgery because I got hacked off with contacts. I had a couple of daily disposables tear and leave pieces behind, very annoying.

If you're able to have the surgery just do it, I wish I'd had it done years earlier.

[Digger]

Never understood why anyone would want these type of lenses. Totally illogical to cover one of the most sensitive parts of your body 24/7!? Eyes surely need to breathe properly.

Quite happy with my monthly disposables.

[BliarOut]

Digger said:

Never understood why anyone would want these type of lenses. Totally illogical to cover one of the most sensitive parts of your body 24/7!? Eyes surely need to breathe properly.

Quite happy with my monthly disposables.

Mine were left in for six days when I was in a coma, can't wear lenses ever again

[blueg33]

Digger said:

Never understood why anyone would want these type of lenses. Totally illogical to cover one of the most sensitive parts of your body 24/7!? Eyes surely need to breathe properly.

Quite happy with my monthly disposables.

I didnt wear mine overnight, but had extended wear because I was working long days

[Lippitt]

I understand what some of you are saying, but when someone who you would generally trust to give good advice (an optician!) tells you that it's perfectly fine, and your eyes are in perfect health then you generally don't have a reason to disbelieve them. I had my last contact lense check only two months ago, and was told all was fine.

Edited by Lippitt on Friday 24th June 15:51

[Lippitt]

blueg33 said:

I gave up with lenses after a new extended wear lens disinegrated in my eye. The optical surgeon had to reove each small particle using a pointed tweezers, its scary when you have to keep your head still and eye open whilst a pair of sharp points make for your eyeball.

[shakotan]

Digger said:

Never understood why anyone would want these type of lenses. Totally illogical to cover one of the most sensitive parts of your body 24/7!? Eyes surely need to breathe properly.

Quite happy with my monthly disposables.

My lenses have a high silicon content, which I'm told by my optician allow my eyes to 'breathe' through.

Edited by shakotan on Friday 24th June 16:14

[blueg33]

Lippitt said:

I understand what some of you are saying, but when someone who you would generally trust to give good advice (an optician!) tells you that it's perfectly fine, and your eyes are in perfect health then you generally don't have a reason to disbelieve them.

Agreed, you should be able to trust the advice of a professional.

[Lemmonie]

Urgh how awful for you. However one would imagine that you could have deleoped this infection for simply wearing contact lenses. Regardless of how long you wear them. You said yourself you did 7 years with no problems.....

[crackthatoff]

shakotan said:

I've been wearing 30-day, 'all-day all night' contact lenses for 16 years without major issue.

The only times I've had a problem is twice I've scratched the surface of my eyeball whilst taking out lenses, because a bit of dirt had gotten under them.

I'm on my 7th year mow with them and all is still fine here !

[blindswelledrat]

Digger said:

Never understood why anyone would want these type of lenses. Totally illogical to cover one of the most sensitive parts of your body 24/7!? Eyes surely need to breathe properly.

Quite happy with my monthly disposables.

I do far more damage putting lenses in and taking htem out than the negatives ever could be keeping htem in all the time.

[Lippitt]

crackthatoff said:

I'm on my 7th year mow with them and all is still fine here !

That's exactly what I would have said even 2 weeks ago - the point was that all was clearly not fine, I just wasn't aware of it! I'm not trying to scaremonger or slate opticians but just do be aware and if you ever have any problems get to docs!

[MrLou]

As I said up top, after the laser surgery I don't miss my contacts one bit

[T84]

Lippitt said:

blueg33 said:

I gave up with lenses after a new extended wear lens disinegrated in my eye. The optical surgeon had to reove each small particle using a pointed tweezers, its scary when you have to keep your head still and eye open whilst a pair of sharp points make for your eyeball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o1x62WANWQ

[bint]

Professional yes, but as a lense wearer for coming up to 19 years, I would never contemplate sleeping in them.

I've always worn lenses for about 14/15 hours a day (started on gas permeable changed to monthly soft 5yrs ago) and that's plenty long enough in my opinion. I do try to have 2 days off a week too.

Out of all my body parts, I think eyes should be in the top 5 for looking after.