A New Generation of Eye Contacts

In the past, eye contacts didn't really pass the test of overnight wear. Eyecare specialists advised against sleeping in your contact lenses. They warned that continuously wearing your eye contacts could result in bacterial eye infections, which could possibly lead to corneal ulcers or permanent loss of vision.

Old Contacts

The problem with the old types of contact lenses is that they tend to block air from reaching the eye. Eyes need oxygen to stay healthy! Sleeping in the old contact lenses can create eye discomfort and irritation, as well as bacterial infections. This is because the old, conventional lenses disturb the cornea, making it possible for pathogenic bacteria to bind to the surface cells, thus, potentially causing an eye infection.

New Generation of Contacts

New silicone hydro-gel lenses and hyper-oxygen transmissable lenses have recently been approved for 30-day continuous wear by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These new eye contacts offer a higher comfort level than the conventional lenses. They also have been found to reduce the possibility of contracting a bacterial infection.

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas conducted a study using the Bausch & Lomb hyper-oxygen transmissable eye lens against the old, conventional soft contact lenses. The results of the study concluded that the new lens produced less bacterial binding to the surface cells. No consequential difference was found between wearing the new lenses for 6 nights or 30 nights.

It was also discovered that the new, harder lens may be healthier because it promotes tear exchange, which washes out debris from the eye and allows more oxygen to reach the eye. Consequently, according to Dwight Cavanagh, M.D., Vice Chairman of Opthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, the new generation of eye contacts is a breatnhrough in reducing the risk of eye infections among contact lens wearers. And, these contacts CAN be worn safely overnight.

Regardless of which type of contacts you may choose to wear, always practice good hygiene! Clean your contacts regularly and replace them as recommended by the manufacturer and your eyecare specialist.