Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Features of Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Extended wear contacts, also known as overnight contacts or continuous wear contacts, are contacts that can be worn overnight or for many days in a row. 

Most extended wear contacts are approved for up to seven days of continuous wear, while some extended wear contacts are approved for up to 30 days of continuous wear. It’s important to note that these are the maximum recommended wearing schedules and that every person’s eyes are different. Many people can’t tolerate wearing extended wear contacts for several days at a time, while some can’t tolerate any overnight wear of contacts. Only your eye care professional (ECP) can determine whether you can wear extended wear contacts and how many days of continuous wear your eyes can tolerate.

That aside, extended wear contacts can be really helpful for people with unpredictable schedules or highly active lifestyles. For example, military personnel or emergency workers, who aren’t always able to remove, clean, and store their contacts diligently, benefit greatly from extended wear contacts that can be left in for long periods. Extended wear contacts are also really helpful for people with especially bad vision, who need to be able to see clearly at all times.

Most extended wear contacts are made of silicone hydrogel, an advanced lens material that allows plenty of nourishing oxygen to pass through to the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye). This decreases the risk of corneal hypoxia (a lack of oxygen supply to the cornea), which makes the cornea more susceptible to inflammation and infection. This is largely why silicone hydrogel is suitable for overnight or extended wear.

Having said that, special extended wear contacts made of RGP lens materials are also available. Known as orthokeratology or ortho-K lenses, these RGP contacts are designed to correct your vision while you sleep. They are worn nightly or every other night and removed in the morning. Since they’re highly customized according to each patient's needs, these contacts are not available for purchase online.

Popular Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Leading contact lens manufacturers offer extended wear contacts for contact lens wearers who need a flexible wearing schedule. 

Alcon, for instance, has Air Optix® Night & Day® AQUA. The most doctor-recommended brand for people who sleep in their contacts, Air Optix Night & Day AQUA allow more oxygen permeation than any other soft contacts. They can be worn continuously for up to 30 nights. 

Bausch + Lomb, on the other hand, has PureVision® for people who are looking for clear vision and lasting comfort in an extended wear contact lens. These contacts are indicated for the correction of nearsightedness and farsightedness, but Bausch + Lomb also offers toric and multifocal versions of these contacts for those with astigmatism and presbyopia, respectively.

Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson, a trusted name in eye care products, offers Acuvue 2® — a versatile, bi-weekly lens that’s available with correction for near- and farsighted prescriptions. Made of an exceptionally comfortable hydrogel material, Acuvue 2 lenses are ideal for those seeking comfort and clear vision in an extended wear contact lens.

Other popular brands of extended wear contact lenses include Air Optix® AQUA by Alcon, Acuvue Oasys with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS Technology by Johnson & Johnson, and ULTRA by Bausch + Lomb.

Schedule a visit with your ECP to discuss your options.

How Much Are Extended Wear Contact Lenses?

Soft extended wear contact lenses retail for $30 to $50 per box of six lenses, with each box lasting six months. If you replace your contacts every month, expect an annual lens cost of $120 to $200. The actual figure may be lower or higher depending on how often you replace your contacts.

On Lens.com, soft extended wear contact lenses can cost as low as $10 per box of six lenses after rebates. Take advantage of our discount prices by shopping Lens.com today!

How to Insert and Remove Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Most extended wear contacts are soft disposable lenses and as such, you should follow the standard procedure for that type of lens. Start by washing and drying your hands with mild soap and water, then dry them with a lint-free towel. Scoop your first lens out of the case with your index finger of your dominant hand and rinse it with a cleaning solution that’s specially formulated for soft contacts. Inspect the lens for any tears or debris and make sure it’s not inside-out. Using the middle finger of your dominant hand, pull down your lower eyelid. If necessary, use the middle finger of your non-dominant hand to pull your upper eyelid. Look upward and gently put the lens on your eye. Blink a few times to center the lens. Repeat this with the other lens.

To remove extended wear contacts, hold your eyelids open and gently pinch the lens between your index finger and thumb. Carefully lift the lens off of your eye. Repeat with the other lens.

What Are the Risks to Using Wearing Extended Wear Contact Lenses?

Previous studies have shown that the risk for eye infections is higher among people who sleep while wearing contacts, even those approved for overnight or extended wear. Sleeping while wearing contacts increases this risk because bacteria and other potentially harmful microorganisms can stick to the contacts and get trapped between the contacts and your eyes. These microbes can thrive in the moist environment under the contacts, especially when the eyelids are closed during sleep.

Sleeping while wearing contacts, even those approved for overnight or extended wear, also reduces the oxygen supply to your eyes to some degree. This can make the cornea more susceptible to inflammation and infection. Contact lens-related infections can range from minor ones like pink eye to more serious, sight-threatening ones like Acanthamoeba keratitis. If you wear your contacts for several days at a time, your risk of getting these infections increases significantly.

To reduce your risk of getting a contact lens-related infection, ECPs recommend flexible wear of extended wear contacts. In flexible wear, extended wear contacts are removed before bed. They are worn overnight only occasionally, such as during a camping trip or for daytime naps.

Another way you can reduce your risk of getting a contact lens-related infection is by removing even extended wear contacts before sleeping. Doing so gives your eyes a chance to “breathe.” You should also remove extended wear contacts before bathing or swimming, as contaminants in water can stick to your contacts if you bathe or swim in them. Additionally, you should always wash your hands before handling your contacts.

About Lens.com

Lens.com has been proudly offering high-quality contact lenses at discount prices since 1995. Choose from a variety of our extended wear contact lenses and enjoy hassle-free returns, quick shipping, and a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee.