Contact lenses that can be inserted and worn continuously for many days are the dream of many contact lens wearers. Don’t worry about cleaning, storing, inserting or removing them. Sounds convenient, right? But it’s sure? Find out if extended wear contact lenses are right for you.

How do extended wear contact lenses work?

Most contact lenses are daily wear: you wear them during the day and take them out at night. The lenses must be removed because they partially block the flow of oxygen to the cornea. In other words, your eyes need a break without contact lenses.

However, many contact lens wearers wish they didn’t have to remove their lenses every night. Knowing this, contact lens manufacturers have worked very hard to develop a contact lens material that doesn’t block oxygen and allows you to wear your lenses for days, or even weeks, without risk to your health.

Modern technology allows the production of contact lenses that let through approximately six times more oxygen than ordinary soft contact lenses. The lenses designed for extended wear are made of extra-permeable silicone hydrogel materials and “breathe” so well that oxygen deprivation is no longer a problem, even if you wear the lenses for several days.

Are extended wear contact lenses safe?

FDA-approved extended-wear lenses, such as Focus Night and Day or Acuvue 2, are safe if you follow your doctor’s instructions. They are quite comfortable for many days, unless you have very sensitive eyes.

The only problem with extended wear contacts is that since you don’t clean them every day, small dust particles can collect on them.

To avoid this, follow the following rules:

• Avoid dusty rooms
• Stay away from cigarette smoke.
• Try to keep water out of your eyes when showering and wear tight-fitting goggles while swimming.
• Never wear your contact lenses for longer than recommended by your doctor. Remember that weekly disposable extended wear lenses need to be disposed of once a week and 30-day wear lenses can only last a month, not a day longer.

Also, to minimize the risk of eye infection, it is very important to pay attention to how your eyes feel and not ignore any unpleasant symptoms. If your eyes feel irritated or just uncomfortable, remove the lens immediately and let your eye rest for 6-8 hours. Rinse the lens well before putting it back on. And if the discomfort continues, do not ignore it, go to your doctor. Maybe extended wear lenses aren’t for you after all.

What extended wear contacts are available on the market?

Two brands of extended-wear contact lenses are FDA-approved for 30-day continuous wear: Ciba Vision’s Focus Night and Day and Bausch & Lomb’s PureVision. Other lenses can be worn for a week without removing them. The most popular of these is Acuvue from Johnson and Johnson.

Are extended wear contact lenses more expensive than regular contact lenses?

Surprisingly, the price difference is not that big. Extended wear contact lenses are slightly more expensive than regular weekly or monthly disposable contact lenses, and are cheaper than daily disposables. Plus, since you’ll be wearing your contacts for a week or a month and then throwing them away, you’ll save on cleaning solution and storage. Therefore, cost is not an issue when it comes to long-wear contacts.

If the idea of ​​wearing contact lenses continuously for several days appeals to you, ask your doctor if extended wear contacts will work for you.