Aa
Stupid friend that wears 2 week disposable lenses for 6 months!!!!!
Somebody help my stupid naive friend. He's 23 years old and thinks that he can wear his 2 week disposable contact lenses for 6 months (24 weeks) Can a doctor or someone who knows about eye infections please explain to him what can happen if he keeps this up. What kind of eye infections, or even total sight loss can occur. He says he's been doing this for about 4 years, but I dont buy that at all. Please somebody help my misguided friend. He says he will keep doing this until something bad happens to his eyes. Sounds like a stupid idea to me. Can somebody direct me to some websites that have pictures of infected eyes due to overwearing contact leneses? hope someone can help.
Geno
Geno
I have to comment on this. I was was your stupid friend. I have worn both extended wear soft contacts & disposible soft contacts for 15 years. I got lazy and didn't take them out when I was supposed to. I would get calcium deposits on them and wear them even if they were cloudy. I did not use eye drops that much either. I used to be able to make a box of disposibles last 4 to 6 months before buying a new box. Used to bragg about it! lol. About two months ago I started getting eye infections every couple of weeks. I'd take them out and wait till they healed up enough to put them back in. And surprise, I'd get another infection. So I decided to check out Lasik. I'm 35 years old, single and did not want to be in glasses full time yet. As I'm writting this now I am about 29 hours post op. During my initial exam they told me that because of my laziness, my left cornea had thined to the point they didn't know if they could cut the flap for the lazer AND tiny blood vessels had started growing into the corneal layer because of the lack of oxygen. They flat out told me if I continued to wear my contacts, I would be looking at a possible corneal transpant. Was it a scare tactic? Yes it was. Did it work? Yes it did. I did go for a 2nd opinion, and was told same thing. Thinning corneal tissue. I had to quit wearing my contacts completely and had 3 measurement exams before they were confident enough that they could make the flap. I was lucky. Please tell your friend, problems can happen. Even if they don't notice it now, the damage can happen and they not even know.
Thanks for listening
Thanks for listening
plus you lose O2 transfer over the life of the lens, which IMO is possibly as important or even more important than how "dirty" the lens gets.
and i DISAGREE that 3 mo contacts are "the same" as 2 weeks and the only difference is "marketing". usually 2 week lenses are higher water content and thinner center, making them flimsier.
and i DISAGREE that 3 mo contacts are "the same" as 2 weeks and the only difference is "marketing". usually 2 week lenses are higher water content and thinner center, making them flimsier.
Christie, what you say is correct. The only bad thing about disposable lenses is that they are thinner and not as tough as the longer lasting lenses. They tear easier when being cleaned. They were developed to be worn for short periods of time, so they would require little or no maintainence. Many people however get eye infections because they wear them for extended periods of time without cleaning them. Calcium deposits, protein, and lipids like i mentioned earlier, form on the lenses making them uncomfortable and can form bacterias to infect and irritate the eye.
My eye doc said that actually there is little to no difference between 2 week disposables and other types that can last for 3-6 months. It's just all in the marketing, and what the FDA approves them for. There is obviously more profit for the companies to market the 2 week lens, so that is the approval they apply for.
He said it is fine (off the record, of course) to wear them until they tear or become uncomfortable. It is necessary to care for them (as it is for any contact lens) meticulously. Always wash hands before inserting or removing, rub to clean (don't just let them soak), change lens cases and solutions as recommended, etc. I routinely wear my 2 week disposables for months without problems. If they start to bother me or feel gritty I pitch em. I've never had an eye infection, but if I did I would throw out that pair right away, too.
He said it is fine (off the record, of course) to wear them until they tear or become uncomfortable. It is necessary to care for them (as it is for any contact lens) meticulously. Always wash hands before inserting or removing, rub to clean (don't just let them soak), change lens cases and solutions as recommended, etc. I routinely wear my 2 week disposables for months without problems. If they start to bother me or feel gritty I pitch em. I've never had an eye infection, but if I did I would throw out that pair right away, too.
And of course, take them out every night.
I probably average about 2-3 months per pair before they feel gritty from deposits. Some people deposit heavier than others, too and have to replace more frequently.
I probably average about 2-3 months per pair before they feel gritty from deposits. Some people deposit heavier than others, too and have to replace more frequently.
Many people wear these disposable contacts beyond recommended use periods. However, wearing these lenses for extended periods of time increases the risk of eye injury as well as eye irritation.
Most disposable lenses can last anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months. The reason for the recommended 2 week period for wear is because substances can form on the lenses, (from your tears such as calcium, protein, lipids, and other bacteria), making them less comfortable to wear as well as making one's eyes more susceptible to infection.
The good thing about the disposable 2-week use contact lenses is they are more convenient than normal wear lenses because they require less maintenance and cleaning. Depending on how you care for the lenses is the determining factor of how long they can be worn. I would say 6 months of daily wear for at least 8 hours a day is probably a bit much. However, I
Most disposable lenses can last anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months. The reason for the recommended 2 week period for wear is because substances can form on the lenses, (from your tears such as calcium, protein, lipids, and other bacteria), making them less comfortable to wear as well as making one's eyes more susceptible to infection.
The good thing about the disposable 2-week use contact lenses is they are more convenient than normal wear lenses because they require less maintenance and cleaning. Depending on how you care for the lenses is the determining factor of how long they can be worn. I would say 6 months of daily wear for at least 8 hours a day is probably a bit much. However, I
In addition, my smart friend says that everybodies body reacts different, and that's why nothing has happen to him. Just wanted to add this. My friend has turned from smart to dumb :(
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