ijk@hou5e.UUCP (02/02/84)
Recently I took the plunge and started wearing contacts ( extended wear). After nearly a week of having them in my eyes, I thought I would relate my exeriences. In general, I like the idea of being able to see at any time, day or night. However, my vision is still a bit blurred by the effects of the contact (even though I irrigate my eyes constantly with drops). Is this normal, or am I stuck with a compromise? WARNING: these contacts are not designed for use in swimming. Also, they should not be worn while taking a shower!!!!!!! Since I take a shower daily, and one can keep these lenses in for a week before cleaning (short cleaning, after two weeks, overnight cleaning is recommended), I was faced with a dilemma (actually lost two lenses out of my eyes, but recovered one; after taking a shower). I found that swim goggles seemed to help immensely ( I cut small holes in the bottom to let any water that forced its way in, out), and I recommend this approach. I would appreciate any advice from other wearers on the extended bluriness. Thanx, Ihor Kinal hou5e!ijk
rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen) (02/03/84)
This topic was discussed once before, with a number of people espousing a number of different opinions about these extended wear lenses. I've had them for seven months now, and my own opinions of them have improved greatly. 1) The blurring that you speak of went away for me only recently. I don't have to "irrigate" as much as I used to, and the lenses are more comfortable now. I originally had problems sleeping with the lenses in, but even that problem has subsided. I found that the use of a humidifier in my bedroom vastly increases my closed eyes' tolerance to the lenses, and I've been able to wear them for five days straight with no problem (Thanx, Sharon!). Even before I was able to wear them overnight, I found I was able to wear them for longer daily periods (up to 20 hours). The tolerance problem varies from person to person. Some can where the lenses for two weeks (or four weeks for the newer lenses), but it's recommended that you protein-clean the lenses once a week. Other people have more limited tolerance, and their doctors recommend only three or four days of continuous wearing. Still others, like me, start out in the second category but improve their tolerance as time goes on. 2) I was told by my doctor that showering with the lenses in is O.K., but that one should exercise caution (i.e., don't look straight into the stream with your eyes open!). But swimming is still a definite no-no. The reason: not because they might get lost (which indeed they might), but because the chlorinated water/sea water would get abosrbed by the lenses, and this would not be good for your eyes. I had asked about the idea of using goggles for swimming, but apparently they are still not secure enough to be safe. Anyone know of any swimming goggles specifically for lens wearers?? -- Pardon me for breathing... Rich Rosen pyuxn!rlr
avi@pegasus.UUCP (02/06/84)
I have been getting quite comfortable with my extended wear contacts. My visual acuity is not as good as with my normal lenses, but I hardly notice them when they are in. Rubbing my eyes and showering are no longer a problem -- now that my rubbing & blinking habits have changed. I would never have thought of wearing my lenses while swimming, until some people mentioned it on the net a while ago.I find that swimming a mile with my lenses in is no problem. Goggles can help, but they remove much of my peripheral vision. If you don't open your eyes wide, and don't dive under water, and avoid splashers, there is little danger of losing a lens. However, the chlorine can cause problems. I have experienced conformational changes in one lens that caused diminished vision and discomfort for a few hours -- until my natural tears washed away the chlorine and restored the proper osmotic balance to restore the lens to the proper shape. My optometrist says that this can reduce the useful lifetime of my lens by about a factor of two. However, since I swim at least every other day, there would be little point in having extended wear lenses unless I could keep them in for extended periods. (My longest has been six weeks) A few tips I have been given (for my type of HydroCurve lenses) include: - Only keep the lenses in the enzymatic solution for about two hours -- not ovbernight. - Use a saline solution, not distilled water. These steps help prevent infiltartion of the lens by the enzyme, due to conformational changes in the lens -- while still cleaning off protein deposits. I see no major signs of allergic reaction, although the skin below my eyes gets reddish at times. -- -=> Avi E. Gross @ AT&T Information Systems Laboratories (201) 576-6241 suggested paths: [ihnp4, allegra, cbosg, hogpc, ...]!pegasus!avi
ignatz@ihuxx.UUCP (Dave Ihnat, Chicago, IL) (02/10/84)
Re: Still having blurred vision I would suggest that you probably DON'T have a good fit. Please see your optometrist (or whoever). These things are difficult to fit--trust me, I've been through it!--especially if you've any astigmatism at all. However, it *is* normal to be blurred for a few minutes in the morning right after opening your eyes. This will fade in 5-10 minutes, or faster with a quick saline irrigation. Re: Not to shower/swim with them in Again, this suggests to me that yours are not fitted properly. I've had mine for over a year, and they're impervious to showers. In fact, recently (while, admittedly, a bit under the influence of Uncle Jack Daniels), I *did* swim with them! Kept my eyes closed underwater, and no problem. No, I don't recommend the swimming--but this is an example of how the lenses should fit. (Actually, the danger in the swimming is more the fact that the lenses like to pick up atmospheric--and waterborne--contaminants. Like chlorine. I cleaned mine shortly thereafter.) Dave Ihnat ihuxx!ignatz