soft contact lens what can you tell me about the new stuff?

[opticalstudent]

The use of silcone in soft contact lens has generated renewed interest in extented wear lens. What's your opinion of extended wear lenses.

[chip anderson]

Rule number 1 with any type of contact lens. If what you got is working fine, don't change. New ain't often better. New, Improved often means a new gimmick with an advertizing campaign behind it.

Rule number 2 with contact lenses.
If what you got ain't working go see your fitter (expert) and tell him the problem and let him decide what may be best to correct your problem.

The next patient I see that comes in wanting a "TV commercial re-fitting" will be shot. The only thing stupider is calling you doctor and asking if you can take a certian (Purple maybe) pill because you saw it on TV, you don't know what it's for but want to know if you can take it. Doctors love this.

Back to your origional question: In most circumstances exteended wear is profitable and foolish. The problem with this modum is everything that is under the lens stays there until the lens is removed. Dirt, dust, bacteria, sloughed off epithelium, etc. Unless you are in combat or haveing a very interesting romantic weekend why take the risk. You wouldn't leave anything else in or on your body for extended periods for obvious hygenic reasons. And an eye is a terrible thing to waste. Just ask any of the thousands of artificial eye patients I see.

[opticalstudent]

Chip

I love your posting and nice to see the experts come out on the real contact problems. I really do appreciate your help. I don't wear contacts myself.
All you ever here in school is the glamour of contacts.
But I will have to post something on the new contact lens stuff (research some of the new stuff).

[chip anderson]

All new contacts have either:

1) more water
2) dispense more water to the eye.
3) allow more oxygen to get to the eye.
4) A thinner more wonderful edge design.
5) A new miracle material that will not allow deposits to adhere.
6) Less water.


That's all the miracles I can think of that the advertising people have come up in the last 10-15 years, but it's good for a re-run every couple of years.