June Newsletter: The Pros and Cons of Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Eye Doctor Pembroke Pines

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of essential eye care services and local considerations for residents of Pembroke Pines, Florida. It maps the eye care landscape across different neighborhoods, detailing service availability, including routine exams, specialized pediatric services, and insurance acceptance across Central, West, East, and South Pembroke Pines areas.

This guide provides comprehensive information on family eye care services in Pembroke Pines, FL, emphasizing the crucial link between eye health understanding and proactive local care. It systematically covers foundational concepts, including the detection of common conditions like dry eyes and myopia through comprehensive exams tailored to all ages, from pediatric to adult needs.

Optometrist in Pembroke Pines

This content provides a comprehensive guide to navigating eye care options in Pembroke Pines, FL, with a focus on family-oriented and accessible optometry services. It details the local provider landscape through a comparison table, evaluating clinics like Family Eye Site based on same-day availability, specialties (e.g., pediatric and diabetic exams), and insurance acceptance.

Eye Doctor Pembroke Pines FL

This document provides a comprehensive guide to finding and utilizing Eye Doctor Pembroke Pines FL services, specifically focusing on family-oriented optometry. It begins by mapping the local Eye Care Landscape in Pembroke Pines, comparing providers like The Family Eye Site, Pines Vision, and others based on specialty, accessibility, and pediatric care using an in-depth table.

This content provides a comprehensive guide to finding and utilizing optometry services in Pembroke Pines, FL, focusing on the needs of local families. It begins by mapping the area's eye health landscape, detailing common ocular conditions driven by regional climate and digital strain, and comparing local providers, with a specific table highlighting the comprehensive, family-focused approach of practices like The Family Eye Site.

This detailed guide provides Pembroke Pines residents with essential information about local eye care, focusing on The Family Eye Site. It begins with an 'Overview of Eye Care in Pembroke Pines Area,' including a comparison table detailing accessibility and services across key neighborhoods (Central, West, East, Southwest Pines), ensuring residents find the most convenient location.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of family vision health and optometry services in Pembroke Pines, FL, with a focus on delivering patient-centered, accessible care for local residents. It analyzes the area's eye care landscape, comparing local optometry centers and highlighting the comprehensive, family-focused approach of The Family Eye Site.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of eye care options and services available in Pembroke Pines, Florida, specifically targeting the needs of local families and residents. It begins by exploring the diverse eye care landscape, profiling major providers like The Family Eye Site, LensCrafters, and Pines Vision Center, complete with a comparative analysis of their core services, specialties, and insurance acceptance typical of Broward County.

This content provides a comprehensive guide to eye care services in Pembroke Pines, Florida, specifically targeting the local search intent for an 'Eye Center in Pembroke Pines' and 'Pembroke Pines optometrist.' It maps the local eye health landscape, detailing prevalent conditions influenced by demographics and climate, and compares local providers across key neighborhoods like Chapel Trail and Century Village using a structured table.

This content provides a comprehensive guide to obtaining high-quality and affordable eyewear in Pembroke Pines, FL, focusing on the local market landscape and the personalized services offered by Family Eye Site. It begins by outlining the competitive optical environment, comparing local providers—including major chains—with Family Eye Site to highlight differences in eye exam availability, eyewear options, and pricing for prescription glasses in Pembroke Pines FL.

The Pros and Cons of Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Extended wear contact lenses are definitely a convenient option, but are they the right choice for you? Taking a look at the advantages and drawbacks of these contact lenses will help you make this decision.

What Are Extended Wear Contact Lenses?

Extended wear contact lenses can be worn for seven to thirty days before removing them, depending on their type. They're made of thin, breathable silicone hydrogel, a material that allows more oxygen to pass through the lenses to your cornea. If the cornea doesn't get enough oxygen, you're more likely to develop inflammation or infection. Some rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses are also suitable for extended wear.

Extended Wear Contact Lens Pros

Extended wear contact lenses offer several benefits that may make them a good choice for you, including:

Convenience. Since you rarely remove extended wear contact lenses, they're an excellent option if your job or hobbies make it difficult to remove or clean your lenses. You might prefer to wear these lenses if you enjoy multi-day hikes on mountain trails or work in a job that requires long hours.
Less Cleaning. If you hate cleaning your contacts, you'll love extended wear contact lenses. Since they're designed to be worn continuously, you'll spend much less time cleaning them.
Less Touching. Do you dislike touching your eyes when putting in contact lenses? When you wear extended wear lenses, you'll minimize the time you spend putting in and taking out your contacts.
Clear Vision Day and Night. If you're severely nearsighted or farsighted, wearing extended wear contact lenses means you can see clearly from the moment you wake up until you go to bed. You'll no longer have to pat your nightstand in search of your glasses in the morning.
Cost. Daily contact lenses cost significantly more than extended wear lenses. If cost is a concern for you, you may decide that extended wear contact lenses offer a better value.

Extended Wear Contact Lens Cons

Extended contact lenses also have a few drawbacks, including:

Shorter Actual Wear Schedule. Although extended wear contact lenses can be worn for seven to 30 days, not everyone can tolerate wearing the lenses that long. Your optometrist will tell you how long you should wear the lenses during the fitting process.
Possible Sleep Issues. Some people also find that sleeping in the lenses irritates their eyes. Regardless of how long you wear your extended wear lenses, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration recommends sleeping without the lenses for at least one night after the end of the scheduled removal date. All About Vision notes that a flexible wearing schedule might be a good compromise. If you follow a flexible schedule, you'll remove the lenses at night but can sleep in them occasionally.
Risk of Infection and Eye Issues. Wearing contact lenses increases your risk of eye infections whether you wear daily or extended wear contact lenses, but extended wear lenses carry a higher risk. According to the British Contact Lens Association, wearing contact lenses to sleep increases the risk of an infection by four times, no matter what type of lens is worn.
No Swimming or Showering. Any type of contact lens, including extended wear contact lenses, should not be worn while swimming or showering. The lenses can soak up germs in the water that may cause corneal infections. Bacterial keratitis, a common eye infection among contact lens wearers causes eye pain, redness, tearing, light sensitivity and blurred vision. Prompt treatment is necessary to prevent permanent damage to your vision if you develop keratitis.

Need help finding the perfect type of contact lenses for your lifestyle? We'll help you consider all the options and recommend the ideal lens for you. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the optometrist.

Sources:

U.S. Food & Drug Administration: Focusing on Contact Lens Safety

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/focusing-contact-lens-safety

All About Vision: Extended Wear Contact Lenses: Are They Safe, 2/27/2019

https://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/extended.htm

British Contact Lens Association: Infection and Contact Lenses

https://www.bcla.org.uk/Public/Public/Consumer/Infection_and_contact_lenses.aspx

Review of Cornea and Contact Lenses: Extended Wear: Still an Option?, 11/15/2017

https://www.reviewofcontactlenses.com/article/rccl1117-extended-wear-still-an-option

CDC: Contact Lens Types, 1/11/2022

https://www.cdc.gov/contactlenses/contact-lens-types.html

American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is a Corneal Ulcer (Keratitis)?, 11/21/2023