Night & Day Contacts Problems
LASIK is a permanent solution to vision problems, but not all people are good prospects for the surgery due to eye conditions or the expense of the surgery. What are the options for those who need continuous 20/20 vision, but cannot have LASIK? The technology for contacts has improved dramatically in recent years, making contacts a viable option for almost everyone. One of these improvements is in making extended continuous wear contacts both safe and comfortable for a vast majority of wearers. Night and Day brand contact lenses are examples of this new technology.-
Silicone Hydrogel
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Today's extended continuous wear lenses are silicone hydrogel lenses and are a significant improvement over prior attempts at extended wear lenses. The silicone lets in dramatically more oxygen than previous hydrogel formulations. Since corneas need oxygen in order to stay healthy, this improvement helps protect the health of the eye. Silicone hydrogel lenses also contain less water than previous formulations, so they do not dry out as easily when worn for extended periods.
Night and Day Lenses
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Night and Day lenses are made by CIBA Vision and have been FDA approved for continuous wear of up to 30 days. They are no longer available and have been reformulated slightly and are sold under the name AirOptix Night and Day Aqua. There are several AirOptix formulas, most of which are approved for six days of continuous wear, but only AirOptix Night and Day can be worn for 30 days.
Extended Wear Lens Suitability
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However, while extended wear lenses are suitable for most contact lens wearers, they not suitable for all of them. There are some lens designs, curvatures and diameters that are not readily available, and custom lenses may not be suitable for overnight wear. According to CIBA Vision, about 2/3 of wearers are able to reach the maximum 30 days of continuous wear, while 80 percent are able to reach some degree of extended wear. If you have experienced problems with wearing lenses before or you have allergies, you may not be a candidate for extended continuous wear. Your eye doctor will recommend a maximum lens wearing period suitable for you.
Infection Risks
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AirOptix Night and Day lenses also have a higher risk of eye infection than daily wear lenses. From 3 to 5 percent of wearers develop at least one incident of infiltrative keratitis, an infection that causes pain and possible vision loss. Treatment may require up to a week of antibiotic eyedrops. Other side effects include lens discomfort, lid irritation and conjunctivitis.
Serious Side Effects
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A small (0.18 percent) number of users developed a serious corneal infection, with 1/5 of those cases resulting in a permanent reduction in vision. The risk of corneal ulcers in wearers increases for smokers. Left untreated, corneal ulcers can cause scarring and loss of vision.
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