$Unique_ID{BRK02395}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{What About Disposable Contact Lenses?}
$Subject{contact lenses eye disposable contacts deposits buildup correction
corrective sense senses eyes lens see sight vision }
$Volume{F-21}
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Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What About Disposable Contact Lenses?


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QUESTION:  I have been wearing contact lenses for many years now, but
periodically check back with my eye doctor to see how I am doing.  Though I
have had no problems in caring for my present lenses, my doctor suggested I
consider getting the new "disposable" lenses.  I don't like to fix something
that isn't broken, but am considering this new purchase.  What can you tell me
about these lenses and do they have any advantages?

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ANSWER:  Disposable contact lenses are the latest development available to
many of the more than 19.5 million Americans who wear this type of vision
correction.  While daily wear lenses were made from a hard plastic material
and had to be removed after about 10 to 14 hours, extended wear lenses of
softer materials allowed patients to keep them in place for as long as four
weeks.  Though this was most convenient, it also led to a new problem.
Deposits of protein, lipids and calcium coated these lenses, making them
uncomfortable, and provoking giant papillary conjunctivitis, thought to be a
chronic allergic response to the deposits.
     Proper cleaning of these extended lenses is difficult, requiring time, a
number of sterile solutions, and proper techniques.  It is an expensive and
time consuming process, and often not fully understood or performed regularly
enough by the contact lens wearers.  In some cases patients developed allergic
or toxic reactions to the preservatives used in some solutions.  Then came the
development of these new lenses, recently approved for use by the Food and
Drug Administration.
     These lenses are worn for one to two weeks, after which they are thrown
away, and another fresh set is used.  There is no time for any substantial
buildup of deposits, and no need spend either the time or money required to
clean the extended wear lenses, a clear advantage.  However the cost of lenses
and office visits may exceed $500 a year, enough to tempt many people to keep
the disposable lenses in place for longer periods than are safe.  Not all
visual problems can be corrected by these new lenses, but they can afford a
care free correction for those who will play by the rules.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.