Why do you need flexible wear lenses

Don't like the extra hassle with care? Is it not always possible to remove the lenses in time and put them into the solution? Try flexible-wear contact lenses: you can sometimes sleep in them and wear them longer than usual, even without removing them from your eyes at night.

What flex mode is for

There are three modes of wearing scheduled replacement lenses: 1) daily, 2) flexible 3) continuous. In what mode it is allowed to wear lenses, indicated on the package.

In day mode they must be removed at night and placed in a container with a solution in which they are cleaned and restored to moisture content. But not everyone loves this: every now and then they wear it longer, do not take it off at night, sleep in lenses. Gradually, over and over again, this leads to problems with the eyes. Inflammation, irritation begin to pursue, vision decreases and fatigue increases. And it is no coincidence, because the material is not designed for such a long period and it simply cannot withstand the load, accumulates protein deposits and dirt.

In addition, daily lenses breathe worse, so they have a limited duration of continuous wear – after 6 – 8 hours the eye should rest. If you ignore this limitation and sleep in them, it reflects poorly on the eyes. The most dangerous consequence is an organic visual impairment, when blood vessels begin to grow to the surface of the cornea.

Continuous wearing mode removes these issues – you can not remove the lenses for a whole month, including at night. It looks very convenient for those who do not want to do care every morning and evening. But although this regime is offered by the manufacturer and the risk factors are minimal, it may not be suitable for everyone. Possible irritation, complications due to the individual sensitivity of the eyes to excessively long contact with a foreign body.

The best way out is to choose flexible wear contact lenses. They are usually removed at night and placed in a container with a solution, just like daytime ones, but in principle, the properties sometimes allow you to sleep in them: they have a high level of breathability, the eye “breathes” in them. The fact that the lenses can be worn in a flexible mode and how exactly is written on the packaging and in the instructions.

Benefits

Properties of contact lenses that allow you to wear them in a flexible mode:

• High oxygen permeability;
• High moisture content;
• High resistance to deposits and dirt.

They last longer on the eyes. They can be removed not for 6 – 8 hours, like daytime, but for 16 – 18 hours a day.

It is desirable that the material is silicone hydrogel, that have the necessary properties.

How lenses are worn in flexible mode

Usually, in flexible, or "prolonged" mode, you can use some brands of daily lenses with two-week and month wearing period. They are made from a more breathable and durable material. Usually they are worn in the daytime and replaced after two weeks or a month, but if necessary, they can be worn up to 6 days without removing or left on the eyes overnight for 1 – 3 days. See instructions for details.

Contact lenses designed for continuous wear can also be used in flex mode. It is not forbidden to sometimes remove them and store them in solution at night in the same way as daytime ones.

Brands

Acuvue from Johnson & Johnson:

• Two-week Acuvue Oasys silicone hydrogel contact lenses – daily wear, which can be used in extended mode up to 6 days;

Air Optix by Alcon – Ciba Vision:

• Air Optix Aqua monthly silicone hydrogel contact lenses – daily, flexible and extended wear up to 6 days;
• Air Optix Night&Day Aqua extended and flexible wear monthly contact lenses – daily, flexible and extended wear up to 30 days;

Biofinity by Cooper Vision:

• Biofinity Monthly Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses can be worn daily or up to 7 days without removal.

Recommended to

• Those who regularly fall asleep in contact lenses.
  
• Those who wear them for more than 8 – 10 hours a day.
  
• Those who can't take them off, for example, during the trip.