I've got great news for all us contact wearers. I recently discovered that there are contacts out there that you can wear all day, all night, for 30 CONSECUTIVE DAYS without removing. That's right. I didn't believe it at first, yet here we are. You can finally wake up like people who don't have vision problems.
Crazy enough, there's actually more than one brand that makes these type of contacts. Air Optix Night & Day Aqua, and PureVision (Bausch and Lomb) are the only two that are FDA approved for 30 days of continuous wear. Personally, I am 3 weeks in with these contacts and they feel great.
I have a hella strong prescription and so far these contacts are a godsend for me. Not only are these contacts great for daily use, they'd be even more useful when you travel or take naps during the day. Coming from a girl who took naps in contacts that were not meant for taking naps, these are a world of a difference. The only downfall? If you're an avid cry-er (aka me) your eyes will feel a bit dry and irritated after your crying sesh. A couple drops of eyedrops in each eye (make sure they're safe to use while your contacts are still in) and you're good as new. I can confidently say that I'm never going back to dailies ever again.
I know you're probably thinking about the bacteria and proteins that can build up if you don't take off your lenses. You're also probably thinking about the lack of oxygen reaching your eyes and the risk of infection. Do extended wear lenses increase the risk of all of this?
Technically, yes. But if you're responsible enough and listen to your eyes, you can avoid these issues. Just because these contacts are approved for 30 days of wear does not mean you have to wear them continuously for the 30 days. If your eyes feel dry or irritated, take those contacts out and give 'em a good cleaning and give your eyes a break.
Still skeptical? Fear not, there are multiple contact brands that create extended wear contacts that are FDA approved for seven days and six nights. So if you're hesitant to try the 30-day lenses, this could be a better option.
At the end of the day, extended wear contacts are not for everyone and you need to do the best thing for your eyes, and maybe that's not wearing extended wear contacts. Always be sure to talk to your optometrist and come to a safe decision for your personal circumstances.
