Daily wear contact lens wearers take note!

I've been wearing them for the last 2 years and few months.  Nobody told me that you aren't supposed to wear them ALL day (morning to late night).

Apparently, they aren't gas permeable and block oxygen from getting into the eye.  As a result, oxygen starved capillaries start growing into your cornea.

The doc today told me that I this has happened in one of my eyes to a mild extent.  It's not reversible, but if they eye stops being oxygen-starved, the capillaries will just sort of fade.  If it doesn't stop, your sight will eventually be compromised.

I'm switching to silicon based monthly wear which will allow O2 exchange.

So if you didn't already know, be aware!   

Are the silicon based ones more expensive?

I just got my first pair of daily-wear last month on the contact lens scheme. The eye doc warned me not to wear them more than 10 hours a day...but sometimes this is impossible as I leave my house before 7am and sometimes don't get home from work until after 6 or 7pm...so unless I switch in the car, I have no choice but to wear them longer.

*plots how to pay for laser-eye-surgery*

No, they are not more expensive than daily wear, but they didn't work out for me in the end.  They were really stiff and became uncomfortable in short order.  Over the years I have had recurring dreams about trying to put huge saucer size contacts in my eyes and these reminded me vividly of that. 

I'm using a middle of the road type (between silicone and whatever the daily wear material is) but it's the same deal - I guess I'm stuck with having to limit my wear-time.

I'm not sure what the answer is when you are away from your house for more than 10 hours.  Probably it's not so much of an issue if it is a rare occurance.  It sounds like a right bother to have to tote around solution and glasses. 

You guys never heard of monthly wear?

I wore weekly contacts for about 12 years, then when monthlies came out I have been wearing them for the last 8 years.

You put a pair in & a month later you take them out. Go to to bed, wake up, put a new pair in for another month. awesome!

They are protein resistant (made of similar material to synthetic arteries) & super gas permeable. My eyes get more O2 with them in!

Because you throw them away you don't need any cleaning solutions. You don't need insurance because if you lose one/both just put a new pair in!

I wore monthly contacts for, ooh, about eight years - but I still had to take them out every night.  I can't sleep in contacts - or rather, I can, but I can't see properly when I wake up the next day!  I wear daily contacts now, and just toss them at the end of the day.  My best friend wears the same pair of dailies for a week at a stretch, 24/7.  Different strokes for different folks.

As someone who's Rx is so bad, she can't get monthly or daily lenses (quarterly is the best they can do), nor can she get silicone, I can assure you that it will take many years for serious damange to occur.

I've been wearing contacts since I was 12. Yes, 12 (I'm almost 39 now). Mom took pity on me when my glasses got so thick.

My last UK doc was somewhat worried but not overly. My current US doc is not worried and expressed no concern over wearing contacts for 12 hours.

You need to be aware of the problem, but unless your doc is really bent out of shape about it, I don't think you need to get too worried.

I dunno.  In my situation it happened fairly quickly.  In fact it was just about a year and a half since my last appointment, when I didn't have the problem.

After a few weeks the blood vessels have retreated and I'm going to make sure it stays that way.    

I've worn glasses since I was about 10 and contacts starting at 14.  It was just something that I had never known could happen, so I thought I'd pass on the info.   

I think it all depends on the person and the brand of lenses, the prescription, etc...
I wore a different brand (monthly) then the ones I wear now and within a few months of wearing them all day, everyday, I had corneal ulcers.

Changed brands, change the lenses every 2 months, take them out and clean with a hydrogen peroxide based solution every single night, use a very good re-wetting drop, and let my eyes rest 1 day a week from contacts and I have no issues whatsoever.  If I don't follow these instructions to a tee, I have issues again. 

Jealous of those who can leave theirs in forever and not have issues!

It happened to me, too, a few years ago. Must be over seven years ago now. I had to stop wearing them for a while. They told me (then) that the new capillaries will always be there but that the blood will eventually drain out of them. (ick) I've had contacts since then, twice I think, but I can never get used to them again or get the right eye to see correctly.

I'm giving them another try because we're going to Mexico and I want to see while I'm snorkeling and it's cheaper than prescription goggles.

Amy

My last eye doc got a bit snippy when I had admitted how long I kept my lenses in before. He threatened that if I ever came in for a checkup and it appeared as though I wasn't following his strict instructions to only wear my lenses 10 hours, he would discontinue supplying me with lenses.

Pretty hard core, I guess.

Guess no one here has been to boot camp and seen the posters in the bathroom showing what can happen if you wear contacts too long.   

I haven't taken my contacts out in 2 months! I do this regularly and my opthalmologist has no problems with it...my eyes are perfectly healthy except for the fact I can't see with out my contacts!

Also an FYI for Acuvue wearers (like myself), they've discontinued the original acuvue so you'll have to find a new brand...bummer.