Continuous Wear (Extended Wear) Contact Lenses

Do you hate wearing glasses – but also hate the thought of being tied to a bottle of cleaning solution just so you can see? Welcome to the world of extended wear contact lenses (also known as continuous wear contact lenses). These lenses are able to be worn for as much as a month at a time – without the need to remove them.

New advances in the materials used to make extended wear contact lenses have reduced the risks of infection that used to be attached to wearing contact lenses for too long. In fact, the risk of infection is less than if you were popping them in and out of your eyes and handling them frequently.

What are extended wear contact lenses made of?

The lenses are made of a gas permeable silicone with a high water content. The flexible silicone easily molds to the shape of your cornea and floats on its surface – but it doesn’t block oxygen from reaching the tissues beneath it.

This was a major reason that conventional contact lenses needed to be removed. Most bacteria are anaerobic – they thrive in the absence of oxygen. With conventional lenses, oxygen doesn’t reach the corneas because the plastic ‘protects’ them, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Extended wear lenses are made of a breathable film that lets the oxygen through so that there’s far less chance of infection in your eyes.

What are the advantages of extended wear contact lenses?

Extended wear contact lenses make your entire life so much easier. You put them in once – and don’t have to think about them for days or even weeks at a time. Imagine waking up without having to grope around for your glasses or contact lens case BEFORE you can see properly. With extended wear lenses, your vision is corrected all the time.

Extended wear contact lenses also reduce the chance of infections because you handle them less, so there is less chance of you inadvertently transferring bacteria to your eyes.

Can anyone wear extended wear contact lenses?

Approximately 90% of all contact lens wearers can wear extended wear contacts. Only your doctor can tell you if you’re one of them. Even if your doctor told you a few years back that soft contact lenses weren’t an option for you, check back with him. Advances in the manufacturing of contact lenses have made more and more options available for everyone.