Q1. Does the one day lens material differ from 2-weekly or monthly lens material? Is it OK to wear 1 day lens for a few days if we take care of the lens?
Daily disposable lenses should be discarded after one day of use. Although contact lens materials may seem similar, they do differ from one lens brand to the next, whether they are recommended for daily disposal, or 2 weeks and monthly replacement. Daily disposable lenses are designed for no more than one day of use. The primary reason why repeated use should be avoided is because the lenses can easily become contaminated with deposits, especially as no disinfecting solutions or storage cases are prescribed or provided. Build-up of bacteria and other microbes on the lens without cleaning or disinfection can cause serious eye complications.
Q2. Is disposable lens quality as good as the conventional?
Disposable lenses, including daily disposable lenses, are manufactured to the same high standards and are subject to the same quality control as any conventional lenses.
Q3. After expiration, can the lens still be used?
No. Contact lenses which have passed their expiration date should not be worn. Changes may have occurred in the lens material and dimensions which make the lenses unsuitable to be worn.
Q4. Can I store my contact lens in the freezer to extend the expiry date?
No. Freezing or refrigeration of contact lenses will not extend the expiry date.
Q5. Can a frozen contact lens still be used?
No. Contact lenses should not be frozen for any reason. There is no guarantee that the lens will return to its original shape or parameters after it has defrosted. If your lenses have accidentally been frozen, check with your eye care practitioner about getting replacement lenses.
Q6. At what age can I start wearing contact lenses?
There is no age restriction on contact lens wear and prior to trying contact lenses an appointment should be made with your eye care practitioner. The most important thing to ensure is that the wearer follows the correct instructions and knows how to handle and care for their contact lenses.
Q7. Is there any ideal period of wearing contact lenses?
There is no standard or ideal wearing time, and it is very patient dependent. Most patients would like to wear lenses during their waking hours, and that is possible for many. Patients should follow their eye care practitioners’ recommendations on how long their lenses should be worn.
Q8. Should I clean my lens again after dropping it on the floor?
Contact lenses (Non-daily disposable) definitely need to be cleaned, disinfected, and rinsed if they are dropped on the floor or any other place. This is done to remove dust, debris or micro organisms that have accumulated on the lens. If that is not done, there is potential of an eye infection or the eye may be scratched from the accumulation.
Q9. Can I wear contact lenses during child birth?
Contact lenses should not be worn during child birth. If there are complications during or after delivery, which result in the mother keeping her eyes closed or sleeping, then the lenses would be on the eyes for an extended period. This may lead to eye complications.
Q10. Which is better to clean my contact lens, solution or saliva?
Never use water or saliva on your contact lenses to moisten or clean them. Saliva contains micro-organisms which are foreign to the eye. If these are transferred via the lens, it may have the potential of causing eye infection or inflammation. Always use a contact lens cleaning and disinfecting solution.
Q11. Is the diameter of the lens bigger, better?
A larger lens (diameter) does not necessarily improve the fit or comfort of the lens. In some cases it might make it worse. Lens diameter is constant for the type of lens that is being fitted or prescribed.
Q12. Can a dehydrated lens still be used?
A lens that has dehydrated in the patient’s carrying case, and has been in this dehydrated state for any length of time, should be disposed of and replaced with a new lens.
Q13. Can I wear contact lenses after undergoing Lasik?
Consult your eye care practitioner. It is certainly possible to wear contact lenses after LASIK, but special design lenses may be required depending on the shape of the cornea and the resultant post-LASIK refractive error.
Q14. Can microbes or bugs get into the blister pack of the contact lens?
Lenses in blister packs are sterile, and there is no risk of contamination as long as the blister pack remains sealed. If a blister pack becomes accidentally unsealed, it should be discarded and the lens should not be worn.
Q15. I have slightly different power between the two eyes, is it OK to wear the same power for both eyes?
No. You should wear lenses in the powers your eye care practitioner has prescribed.
Appendix
1. 2007 CooperVision studies; data on file.
2. Comparative clinical evaluation of two silicone hydrogel lenses for daily wear. Optician 02.05.08:22-27 print.
3. Fan CS, Chong T. Clinical performance of comfilcon A toric contact lens. Poster Presentation, Asia Pacific Optometric Congress, 2011.
4. Results of a clinical study evaluating CooperVision Biofinity® toric contact lenses and AIR OPTIX for Astigmatism lenses. 60 subjects participated in a randomised, subject-masked, bilateral, crossover dispensing study.
5. Patients rated Biofinity toric 65%, AIR OPTIX for Astigmatism 22%, p<0.001.
6. Patients rated Biofinity toric 47%, AIR OPTIX for Astigmatism 13%, p<0.001.
7. 2010 CooperVision study; result on file.
AIR OPTIX for Astigmatism and AIR OPTIX AQUA Multifocal are registered trademarks of Novartis AG.
PureVision®2 for Astigmatism and PureVision Multifocal are registered trademarks of Bausch + Lomb.