Dailies Contact Lenses

What happens if I wear the same contact lens too often?

I just got disposable prescription contact lenses and I was told to wear a pair for roughly 12 hours or I could use them briefly, store them, and wear again briefly, and then throw them away. I might have bent this rule a little bit by storing them and using the same pair about 3 days in a row. Does this damage my eyes? What happens?

Public Comments

1. I have the same kind and I wear a pair of mine for like months at a time. Usually when they start to feel uncomfortable - probably too dry from too much wear, then I toss them and grab a new pair. Sorry I can't answer your question exactly.
2. The cornea — the clear tissue that overlays the pupil and iris — needs a steady supply of oxygen to stay healthy and function properly. Problems related to the use of contacts can stem from reduced oxygen to the cornea. Although the vast majority of people who try contact lenses have good results, problems — some of them potentially sight-threatening — can develop: Overuse. Wearing contacts for too long a continuous period deprives your cornea of oxygen. You may experience blurry vision, pain, excessive tearing, redness and light sensitivity. If this occurs, remove your lenses immediately. Corneal vascularization. Oxygen deprivation causes tiny blood vessels to grow into the clear tissue of your cornea. This is an indication of corneal stress and, in extreme cases, may cause scarring of the cornea and potentially clouded vision, and may necessitate switching to another type of lens or discontinuing the use of contacts altogether. Corneal warping. Prolonged contact lens wear may produce gradual and unpredictable changes in the contour of the cornea, resulting in uneven or fluctuating vision. This is most common among wearers of standard hard lenses, but also can occur with soft contact lens wear. The cornea usually regains a stable and regular shape after discontinuation of contact lens use, but this may take weeks or even months. Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC). This is a fairly common allergic disorder among soft lens wearers. Your eyes may itch and emit a discharge, and your contact lenses may be subject to excessive movement. Blurred vision may result. This condition is more common among people whose lenses are old or have developed a protein layer on the surface. You may have to replace your lenses or stop wearing them for awhile. This is less likely to occur with disposable soft or RGP lenses. Bacterial or fungal infection. A corneal infection that results in a corneal ulcer is rare but extremely serious. In some cases, even if the infection is appropriately treated, permanent scarring of the cornea can develop, resulting in a blurred vision or even loss of the eye. Such infections are sometimes the result of improper cleaning or disinfecting of contact lenses.