throwaway

Hi,

I have been wearing non-disposable soft contact lenses for almost
10 years now (changing it every year or so).

I went to a doctor recently to get new lenses. He persuaded me to try
daily disposables. I tried two premier brands each for a period of a couple
of weeks. But neither was as comfortable as my original non disposables.
My non-disposables are so comfortable that I practically don't feel them at all.

However with the daily disposables, I felt they were pinching my eyes.
The doctor examined my eyes with me wearing the disposables & said it looks
fine from his end - but I wasn't very comfortable with them.

My non-disposable's have a B.C. of 8.9
The disposables had B.C.'s of 8.6 (or 8.6 & 8.7),
I think. The doctor didn't have any disposables with a higher B.C.
I checked websites etc & saw that no disposables aren't made with
B.C. 8.9

I feel this is the main reason for my discomfort.
When doctors examine my eyes they always prescribe 8.6 or 8.7 but
it never works for me - not even in non-disposables - I have tried
non-disposables with B.C. 8.7 & they weren't comfortable either.

So finally, the doctor represcribed my old non-disposables & I am
again very comfortable.

However, the doctor was very unfortable with me going back to
non-disposables - he said that they aren't as healthy as disposables.
He said that protein deposits build up & also they dehydrate & cause
damage to the eyes for most people. However, he did examine my eyes
& say that there is no damage at all to my eyes even after 10 years
of wearing them & said that maybe next year when I come back, I could
try 2week disposables to see if they work for me.

Now, I am worried - are non-disposables really so bad.
I wear contact lens for maybe a total of 15 hours in a week
(not continuously). Sometimes it's more 25-30 hours, but mostly
it never crosses 15 hours in any week.

What is the best way of caring for the lens so that problems
don't happen ?

I usually, put it back in Kirkland Signature Multipurpose Solution
when I am not wearing them - sometimes when I don't wear the lens
for 2-3 days, they just lie there in the solution.

Once in a month or once in 6 weeks,I use the enzyme tablets to
deproteinize (once a month, not once a week, because, mine isn't heavy use and
also because the Kirkland solution says "no separate protein removal
neccessary")

Any suggestions etc ?

rm

If you want to broadly generalize, then I agree with your doc that
disposable lenses are overall best for most people. However, if you like
standard annual replacement lenses and you can keep them clean and not
overwear them, they are probably fine for you. Do not worry. Enzyme them
as you are doing (I would recommend weekly enzyming though).

-------------

dr. leukoma

There are many, many brands of disposable lenses. I know of at least one
brand that is available in an 8.9 base curve. Disposables were invented
for a reason. Since the advent of disposable lenses, I have seen far fewer
contact lens related problems, especially those related to dirty lenses
with deposits. A soft lens is porous, much like a sponge. And, much like a
sponge, it will attract and retain soil from the tear lipids and proteins.
And, much as a sponge cannot be cleaned after awhile, a soft contact lens
cannot be completely cleaned. Then there is the matter of torn lenses,
unit replacement costs, convenience, etc., etc., etc. To top it off, any
new lens technology is introduced in the disposable modality. Any of the
new silicone-hydrogel lenses are disposables.

Ask your practitioner about the Biomedics 55 2-week disposable lens in the
8.9 base curve. The old Acuvue is available in an 8.8 base, and the One
Day Acuvue in the 9.0 base. Also, don't sell the 8.6 Focus N&D short, as
its smaller diameter makes it fit much flatter than most 8.6's.

DrG

dr judy

In general, disposables are healthier than non disposables as your doctor
said. However, some individuals have very good quality tears and are
successful with non disposables. If your vision is clear and your corneas
and lids are healthy, then, for your individual case, there is not a problem
in continuing with your original type of lens and care system.

Dr Judy

kramer

In article <H9RCb.16990$ea%.981@news01.bloor.is.net.cable.rog ers.com>,
mpace99nospam@rogers.com says...

This discussion is kind of worrisome to me. I wear toric lenses called
Optifit D2 and I have kept some for up to 8 years without replacement.
They seem clear enough, but I must admit that my eyes are getting a
touch drier as I get older. I'm 36. Also in the last several years,
they tend to be red quite often. I attributed that at first to
sometimes leaving them in at night and developing that habit, along with
also sitting in front of a pc for 10 hours a day. My ophthalmologist
always says they look perfectly clean and he advocates I get glasses.
However, I have not owned a pair of glasses since age 16. It's a hangup
of mine.
I made some calls and found out that any disposable lens would not be
able to give me the degree of astigmatic correction that I need, and I
briefly considered a couple other newer brands of torics with slightly
more than the 38% oxygen permeability that these have, but I never made
the decision yet. That was about 6 months ago.
Am I ruining my eyes and making them permanently red in places? They
don't *entirely* clear up when I have the lenses out and am not looking
at a computer monitor.

Thanks

kramer

Btw, it's true that I've only once torn a lens in my life. I handle
them very well apparently and can keep each pair of lens for several
years minimum.
I rarely ever try to take up the protein enzyming routine, so they don't
get that either.
One thing that did change things was this business of moving to No Rub
solutions. That really pissed me off because I realized after a couple
years that they were hurting more because the little finger cleaning
action I gave them after getting No Rub was not doing what daily cleaner
and saline seemed to do for me before. Well, I guess that means I was
used to denying discomfort regularly.

dr. leukoma

If I were your doctor, I would be nagging you considerably to change your
habits, which I consider poor. These lenses aren't so costly that you need
to preserve them for 8 years. Not only are these lenses made of a low Dk
polymer, they are further compromised in terms of their O2 permeability by
their thickness if they are torics. They should not be worn overnight.
One of the potential side-effects of a lack of oxygen to the cornea is
something called "pannus," or "neo-vascularization," which is the
appearance of blood vessels growing into the clear cornea in a vain attempt
to supply more oxygen from the blood. I would like to assume that this
would be noted by your ophthalmologist during your ANNUAL examination, that
is if you are going regularly.

Incidentally, the Durasoft lens material was widely known "in the day" as
being extremely "durable." It is, however, classified as an ionic
material, and therefore tends to attract protein deposits more.

DrG

kramer

In article <Xns945152336C583drgleukomacom@63.240.76.16>,
drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com says...


DrG,

Thanks for your feedback. I really have been taking care of them
extremely well after the lapse of a few months where I kept leaving them
in overnight. I read up on the subject and realized what I already knew
and that I didn't want to take any more chances, so for the last year
and a half, I've been cleaning them well, though not enzyming them much
because I don't seem to be one of those who builds up stuff.

I do see the ophthalmologist about once every year. He is pretty casual
about my *extended* wear, yes, but he is conscientious. However, he
probably should indeed have pushed me to upgrade them more. This was
never a money issue though. For now, I am going to follow your
recommendation and get more permeable lenses and see how they feel for
me.

I know I don't have neovascularization, yet. But the corneas have for
many years had some redness which bothers me because sometimes people
ask about it. I occasionally bring up the subject of neovascularization
(into the clear part), but my doc says the eyes look healthy. But it is
time to take advantage of some newer technology. I wish I could get
disposables but my moderate astigmatism is apparently beyond what those
lenses are good enough for. Right now I get 20/15, btw. Of course, I
haven't talked about the "technology" for five months but I doubt
anything changed.

Regards.