Eye Care Fun

Leaving contact lenses in overnight may not seem like a big deal, but understanding the problems which this bad habit may cause will make the effort of removing them and cleaning them seem well worthwhile. Almost two thirds of wearers said they would prefer to keep contact lenses in overnight if they could, so it is a common and convenient preference. Of course sleeping in contact lenses is a different matter to dozing in a chair for a nap, which is not a problem.

The tissue of your eye needs oxygen, otherwise it will begin to swell up and your vision may become blurred. If your eye tissue continues to be deprived of the oxygen it needs, then in extreme cases some small blood vessels may develop into the cornea in order to supply the tissue with the required oxygen. Left unchecked these blood vessels may grow long enough to block the vision permanently.

Keeping contact lenses in is like keeping the eye underwater without any oxygen for days at a time. You can imagine that would not be at all healthy or good for the eyes, and keeping contact lenses in longer than they are designed for will have the same detrimental effect.

Secondly, sleeping with the contact lenses in does not give the eyes a break and therefore the eyes are more likely to suffer an infection, inflammation and abrasions. When you are awake your eyes continually produce tears to wash away germs, but during sleep this does not happen and bacteria and debris can collect and cause problems. If your eyes become red, teary, swollen and painful or are more sensitive than usual, you need to see an eye doctor immediately.

The Simple Answer
Extended wear contact lenses have now been developed for those who want or need to sleep in contact lenses. They are made of a special silicone hydrogel which allows more oxygen to pass through the lens to the cornea. This avoids many of the problems associated with wearing ordinary contact lenses overnight.

Extended Wear lenses are intended for multiple day use and may be worn continuously for the prescribed wearing period before being discarded. These lenses are designed to last from 7 days up to 30 days, depending upon the intended use period, which will be clearly stated. Currently 'Focus Night and Day' are the only contact lenses approved for 30-day wear. 7-day extended wear contact lenses are offered by most other companies. For those who want to wear contact lenses overnight, these are the best choice as they are designed with that in mind. They require little or no cleaning and are available in tints and bifocals. If the instructions are followed, there is little risk of infection.

The 30-day contact lenses certainly take the hassle out of wearing contact lenses, and wearers almost forget that they actually need them. Although initially eye infections were common, these longer-lasting lenses have now largely overcome the initial problems. However, 30 days continuous wear is not suitable for some people. Those who have a history of problems with wearing contact lenses or whose eyes need a break from time to time are not advised to consider long time spans for wearing these extended wear lenses.