[net.med] Perma-lenses

sarno@hogpc.UUCP (06/24/83)

 I am thinking of getting perma lenses and would like the
opinions of others who have them or know a lot about them.

Can people with astigmatism use them?

Do they come out of your eye as easily as other types of lenses
if , for example, you are swimming and water gets in your eyes?

Do they ever fog up or get cloudy from eye deposits?

Do you like them?


Thanks

Marianne Sarno ...hogpc!sarno

ignatz@ihuxx.UUCP (06/26/83)

I have the "perma-lenses", more properly called 'extended wear contacts'.  They're great!
I tried them about a year ago, but they couldn't correct my astigmatism then.  Now, I get
perfect correction.  They're not cheap...here in the Chicago area, they're about $300 if
you have astigmatism, a bit less if not.  One *very* important item is to make *certain*
that they're fitted properly, with a lot of follow-up visits to the optometrist or
opthalmologist.  DON'T be tempted to go to a cheap discount house; my last optometrist diidn't
fit me properly, and I got an eye infection.  No fun, believe me.

You tend to be a little fuzzy for the first hour or so in the morning; this clears nicely,
but near the end of the wearing period, you do get some clouding; this is my sign to clean up.
Although the manufacturer claims you can wear them for two weeks at a time, I like to keep
it down to a week.  It's strongly recommended to do the enzyme thing with them, but
the new enzymatic cleaners get rid of many of the objections that existed to the older
product. (Foul odor, hard to dissolve.)  Also, boiling is the most effective disinfectant
method, even though it's supposed to slightly shorten the life of the lenses.  You are, after
all, keeping these things in your eyes for days on end; it's only wise to get and keep
them sterile as possible.

But the overall answer is--they're great, and they're worth it!

						Davee Ihnat
						ihuxx!ignatz