All About Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Contact lenses can significantly affect lifestyle choices of those with weak vision. This area of eye-wear has seen technological improvement in terms of materials used and designs of contact lenses, allowing greater flexibility to all the users.

You can choose between daily wear contact lenses and extended wear contact lenses. The difference between these two is that the daily wear contact lenses are designed to be removed each day for cleaning and are to be removed before you sleep or nap, and the extended wear contact lenses can be worn continuously for up to 7 days before they need to be removed for cleaning. The daily wear contact lens should not be worn for extended time as misuse can lead to temporary or permanent damage to the cornea.

The latest favourite is extended wear contact lenses. These are contact lenses that can be worn continuously for six nights and seven days, some even for a month. You can keep these lenses on even while you sleep.

Are Extended Wear Contact lenses Good For Me

If you wear contact lenses regularly or for a long time every day, extended wear contacts will be a good option to consider. The modern day extended wear contact lenses are made with silicone hydrogel lens which allow more oxygen to pass through the lenses to the eyes. It decreases the risk of hypoxia which is responsible for making the cornea more susceptible to inflammation and infection.

Moreover, almost all the extended wear contact lenses are disposable that can be discarded after 2 weeks or a month. This prevents build-up of proteins and other lens deposits that cause eye inflammation and discomfort and create a hospitable environment for the growth of infection-causing microorganisms. All these factors suggest that wearing extended contact lenses is definitely a good idea.

Benefits of Extended Wear Contact lenses

Apart from the obvious benefit of not having to constantly remove the lenses, there are other benefits as well.

• People with highly active or unpredictable lifestyles will benefit the most. It is great for those who are outdoors for long periods of time and aren’t always able to clean or handle the lenses properly. Extended wear contact lenses eliminate the need for regular care. Military personnel, emergency
  workers, pilots etc. would greatly benefit from these lenses.
• Contact lenses are worn by people with weak sight, but some have exceptionally bad vision. Those who suffer from high refractive errors will find it helpful to have a clear vision at all times. The difference can be felt when you wake up in the morning or unexpectedly at night and see
  everything clearly.
• Those with binocular abnormalities, including amblyopia, can be tackled with extended contact lenses and the continuous vision correction it provides.

Risks and Preventive Measures

One of the biggest risks that come with using extended wear contact lenses is eye infections. Most of these infections, especially fungal eye infections can potentially lead to blindness. It might develop a condition where the blood vessels in your eye grow toward your iris in an attempt to address a need for oxygen. This is known as neovascularization. You may experience irritation and inflammation in the eyes as well.

The good news is that these risks can be minimized by taking some precautions like:

• Removing extended lenses, whenever possible, before sleeping
• Avoiding smoke or poorly ventilated conditions
• Always washing hands before handling the lenses
• Removing the lenses before swimming or cleaning them after the swim
• Never wearing the lenses after their expiry date

What Are the Best Extended Wear Contact Lenses for Me

There are a variety of extended contact lenses in the market. Choose the lenses based on two factors: the lens type and eye doctor’s evaluation of your eyes’ tolerance for overnight wear. Consult with your doctor and weigh all the pros and cons before making the final decision. If you experience irritation, redness or inflammation in the eye, or if the lenses hinder with your vision, remove them immediately and visit a doctor. Make an appointment with the eye care in Fresno and welcome the comfort and flexibility that extended wear lens bring.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

When Should I Opt for Blepharoplasty?

Eyelid surgery is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of eyelids by removing the skin from the eyelid or adding/removing fat from them. Also called as blepharoplasty, it can be performed on either the upper and lower lid or both. It is done to either improve the facial appearance or to cater to any functional problems caused by the eyelids. People in good health are good candidates for eyelid surgery. At the same time, it is crucial to have realistic expectations from blepharoplasty.

Prepping for the Surgery

Preparation is an absolute must before any type of eye surgery. Without the right kind of preparation, the number of risks increases and you may not get the desired results.

The first step of preparation is a physical examination. Your surgeon will conduct a thorough examination that may include testing your tear production and measuring parts of your eyelids. Once that is done, you have to take an examination to test your vision, including peripheral vision. Doing this will support an insurance claim. Lastly, the surgeon will take multiple photographs of your eyes from different angles. This helps in planning the surgery and assessing its immediate and long-term effects in addition to supporting an insurance claim. (read more here about the costs: Final Expense Insurance 101: What You Need to Know).

The Procedure

If you are undergoing upper and lower eyelid surgery, the surgeon would generally start with the upper lids first. The doctor will deliver anesthesia and once it is under effect, he/she will cut along the fold of the eyelid. Then the excess skin, fat or muscle is removed. Once the required amount is taken away, the incision is closed.

For lower lid surgery, the surgeon will make a cut just below the lashes on the eye’s natural crease or inside the lower lid. The excess fat, skin or muscles are either removed or redistributed. The final step is to close the cut carefully. A procedure called ptosis can also be performed if your eyelid droops close to your pupil.

The entire procedure takes about two to three hours, depending on the amount and location of the tissue being removed.

Recovery After the Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty has a short recovery period. There will be immediate bruising and swelling after the surgery, and it may worsen the next day. However, it starts subsiding quickly. To reduce the swelling and bruising in the first 48 hours, you can use cool compress around the eyes and on your face. Thin bandages will be placed over the incisions sites and the stitches will remain for almost a week. Some doctors may even use self-absorbing stitches that don’t require removal. You may experience blurred vision, watery eyes, sensitivity to light or even double vision. There will be some redness and pain where the cuts were made. Your eyelids might even feel puffy and numb. All these conditions are temporary, so there is nothing to worry.

While resting is important, you can indulge in light physical activities. However, avoid strenuous activities such as going to the gym, swimming etc. Do not strain your eyes and avoid rubbing them if it itches around the stitches. Avoid contact lenses for 2 weeks if you use them and use sunglasses for a few weeks after the surgery. You can return to normal activities after 7 to 10 days.

At the end of week 2, a majority of the bruising and swelling will be resolved. You should avoid certain medicines; consult with your doctor and avoid using those for a few days. There will be a significant change to the shape of the eyes after the surgery.

Eyelid surgery is a common procedure like LASIK eye surgery in Fresno. So, if you are considering it make an appointment with us soon.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com