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Original poster

Extended wear contact lenses, anyone use them?

34 replies

InvisibleToEveryone · 19/05/2019 21:23

Going back to contacts, ( haven't worn them for a couple of years??!) and have been looking at the various options available now.

Saw extended wear , wear all day and night for 30 days and then swap out for a fresh set.

I've done a quick Mumsnet search and the threads are all fairly old, so was wondering if anyone has any newer experience?
Assuming quality etc will be more improved now?

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 19/05/2019 21:24

I used to, but my optician moved me to dailies because they're better for your eyes and I didn't want to risk any scarring.

Original poster
InvisibleToEveryone · 19/05/2019 21:27

Hmm, I was on dailies, just like the idea of being able to actually see first thing!!!

Would love laser but too many ££

OP posts:
Ragwort · 19/05/2019 21:29

I used to as well, fab when I had a baby & could see first thing in the morning but I changed back to dailies after a few years and sadly I can no longer manage contacts at all now so back so back to glasses all the time (no idea if it related to the extended wear lenses or not).

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General health
SpoonBlender · 19/05/2019 21:32

I used them for six or eight years. I was on dailies originally. The monthlies were great, so lazy - I'd rarely even bother taking them out for cleaning (obviously stupid of me, being a dumb 20something) so I could see all the time. Later they started to get a bit sticky/dry in the evenings which is when I get my best reading time in, and I went to my opticians to ask about lasering since my prescription hadn't moved for a decade. They suggested ortho-k, and I've been using those for ten years now instead.

Original poster
InvisibleToEveryone · 19/05/2019 21:35

spoonblender

From what I've skim read, there's no cleaning involved?? Wear for 30 days then bin and replace.
Is that not accurate then?

How do you find the ortho k's? They're something else I've looked at but appear expensive?

OP posts:
amaretto83 · 19/05/2019 21:36

I did a few years ago. It was the being able to see first thing in the morning that convinced me, but I just woke with really dry eyes and had to put drops in first thing. An optician acquaintance said they weren't good for the eyes so I switched back to dailies. They could be better these days though.

BeyondOverTheMoon · 19/05/2019 21:38

I've used them for about ten years now, still using atm. I love them, not had (touch wood!) any issues at all

BeyondOverTheMoon · 19/05/2019 21:39

And yes, I put them in, leave them for ages, bin and wear my glasses for a day or two and then put the next pair in. No cleaning.

BettysMom · 19/05/2019 21:45

I used to use the until I developed ulcers on my cornea - the most painful thing ever. And potentially very serious. Consultant said long wear contacts are to blame in 75% of cases as hygiene is reduced (no cleaning) and the eye can't "breathe" as normal. Have now swapped to daily lenses for an extra £5 per month and will never go back to monthlies (although I totally agree with the practicality point).

Original poster
InvisibleToEveryone · 19/05/2019 21:49

Ok thanks everyone, a mixed bag of thoughts, I wonder if they'll do a trial?
I'm not averse to dailies, just like the idea of no faffing in a morning and evening.

OP posts:
TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 19/05/2019 21:52

I tried them but couldn't get used to the idea of having them in all the time, to the extent I couldn't bring myself to go to sleep with them in! So I went back to dailies. Now I just wear glasses because I can't be bothered with them at all.

Bobbiepin · 19/05/2019 21:55

Used them for 10 years with next to no problems and almost over night I couldn't tolerate them any more. My optician recommends giving yourself one evening a week without wearing them and give them a quick clean. I also used to get my eyes checked every 3-4 months to pre-empt any problems.

There is an increased risk of ulcers which can be serious so ag the slightest sign or redness or discomfort take them out and throw that pair away. Give your eyes a few days to recover before wearing any type of contacts again.

bettybyebye · 19/05/2019 21:56

Every optician I have spoken to says they shouldn’t be worn like that. They are fine to wear overnight for the odd night or two but not on a daily basis. I had them several years ago and was sleeping in them every night and my optician took me off them at a check up as they were causing issues with my eyes (note I couldn’t see/feel anything wrong but she could). I am hugely grateful to her for that as not long afterwards my step sister ended up with a horrendous infection in her eyes from doing the same thing, and she couldn’t wear lenses again for about 6 months!

SingingMyOwnSpecialSong · 19/05/2019 21:58

I’ve used them for about 17 years. My optician says my eyes are really healthy, I take them out and clean them if they are at all uncomfortable and try to give myself a day or two in glasses when I change them. I have a strong prescription and love being able to see first thing. They can be dry in the morning (especially if i’ve slept in eye makeup) but soon feel comfy again.

SilverGiraffe7 · 19/05/2019 22:00

I've had monthly contacts for many years. At my last appointment, my optician recommended having a night off on week 2, putting the lenses in solution, then a night off once thrown away on week 4. I've never had problems with them and have many fewer eye problems than when I was poking about with daily ones!

SpoonBlender · 19/05/2019 22:02

Back when I had my monthlies I was supposed to take them out every Sunday and wear glasses while they bubbled away in a cleaning solution. This was a decade ago, they may be lower maintenance now - I have no idea.

Ortho-k are great - magical even - as long as you can cope with wearing hard lenses at all, and the few downsides: They can't correct longsighted, and for short they won't handle a prescription past about -5 with any reliability, and even when it's all good you'll never get perfect night vision. The "correctly reshaped" part of your cornea is only 6mm or so diameter, so when your pupil is wider than that you'll get overlaid repeats/blurs over the nice in-focus bits. Which is basically fine, until you skip wearing them for a night. Your eyes relax back to their true prescription by about half to one diopter a day, so you may not be safe driving on the second night. I always wear mine if I expect any night driving next evening, otherwise I'll often skip a night and still be able to see fine (at about -0.5 to -1) next day.

ExpletiveDelighted · 19/05/2019 22:02

I have been for about 14 years but very rarely sleep in them now. They were brilliant when my DCs were babies and waking in the night (I'm blind as a bat and can't get out of bed without glasses). However I decided to stop because of the higher infection risks, not just the lack of cleaning but if you wear them overnight you are then wearing them in the shower which is a really bad idea. I have kept with them because they give me great correction and I can nap in them during the day, or during travel.

Likethebattle · 19/05/2019 22:03

I use them and use blink eye drops for contacts. At my last appointment the optician said my lenses and eyes were really clean. I like them on holiday as less chance of taking them out and getting germs on them, also being able to see in the morning.

SpoonBlender · 19/05/2019 22:03

They are a bit spendy, I pay £45 a month which includes all checkups and lenses but not fluids which are about £5/month.

SpoonBlender · 19/05/2019 22:04

^^ ortho-k I mean

Likethebattle · 19/05/2019 22:04

@spoonblender I get all that for £15 a month! £45???

SpoonBlender · 19/05/2019 22:07

Hmm! I should review my costs. It's probably grandfathered in expensive as I've been doing them for a decade, from when they were quite new. Thanks!

Redcrayons · 19/05/2019 22:08

I’ve used them for about 10 years with no problems. I go about 3 weeks continuous wear them take them out and chuck them away. I have a week or so off then put my next pair in. I have compulsory aftercare every 12 months and never had a problem.

However I am considering moving to dailies for no reason other than they Work out cheaper.

Waking up and being able to see is pretty cool though

SpoonBlender · 19/05/2019 22:09

@likethebattle Or did you mean monthlies at £15 rather than ortho-k?

Mari50 · 19/05/2019 22:29

Extended wear lenses aren’t typically recommended these days, they were really popular about 20 years ago but it’s been proven that extended wear has the highest infection risk so most people are advised to use daily lenses if they want hassle free wear (daily lenses have the lowest infection risk)
A lot of lenses these days are amenable to extended wear modality but that wearing pattern is very unhealthy. So its ok to go away for a weekend and not remove your lenses but cleaning and removing on a daily basis is the ideal. Personally I would never sleep in my lenses unless it was an accident and I’d never shower or wash my face with lenses in. As for swimming- no chance, not even with goggles.