I am trying out a single contact for reading (2.0) in my non-dominant eye as I don't need any correction for distance. I'm not too sure I'm pleased with the result. I've worn glasses (progressives) for about 2 years due to presbyopia (got tired of constantly trying to find my readers) and have decided to try contacts.
Anyone else tried this out?
I'm wearing a Ciba Vision Air Optix Night and Day Aqua soft contact lens which is good for a month. Technically, I could wear it for 30 days straight but the optometrist said to take it out every night.
Why can't I safely follow the manufacturer's directions for extended wear (after I get used to it)? There's nothing unusual going on with my eye. Seems like I could cause more of a problem by introducing germs into my eye by handling the contact every day. Also, they are a pain to handle!
I've been using a monovision soft contact for a couple years, but mine are a 14-day variety.
You get better with practice at handling them. Today I can do it even without glasses. I've even put them in without solution during times when the only liquids available are a bathroom sink and (my) saliva.
The optometrist doesn't want to risk the liability of insufficient oxygenation of your eyeball, despite the manufacturer's directions. It's better to have them out at night (more oxygen to your eyeball) than in (less handling). Your eyeball & tear ducts flush away anything your fingers stick into your eyeball, but when you wear the lens constantly then the proteins build up the ridges & valleys that can hold bacteria and other scum. That leads to an infection more dangerous & painful than anything-- other than handling jalapeno peppers just before putting in your contacts.
Besides, I hate that morning dehydrated wake-up call where you have to literally peel the plastic off your eyeball. Assuming you can peel your eyelid away from the other side of the lens in the first place.
I don't wear the contact when I'm at home-- only when I go out. I literally put it in on the way to the car and then take it out when I'm home for the rest of the day. I might put it in for extremely detailed yardwork or microelectronic repair, but otherwise I only wear it outside the house.
When I only wear it for a few hours at a time, it's hard to switch back & forth between distance & reading vision. It takes a conscious effort. But when we're on travel then I'll wear it 8-10 hours/day, and by the second day my brain somehow flips a switch to make it automatic.
Spouse wears gas permeables, and she hardly ever takes them out. She cleans them once in a while but I couldn't tell you how often. It must be the absolute minimum. She's been doing this for 25 years with no problem. I tried gas permeables before I went monovision, and the gas perms drove me nuts. IMHO, monovision is one step better than full-time glasses. Everything else was worse...