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From: ignatz@ihuxx.UUCP (Dave Ihnat, Chicago, IL)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: 3-week contact lenses
Message-ID: <557@ihuxx.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Oct-83 00:11:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxx.557
Posted: Thu Oct 13 00:11:36 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Oct-83 02:36:16 EDT
References: <213@hlexa.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, Il
Lines: 47

I have extended-wear lenses; my lenses are provided by Hyrdo-Curve.
My lenses are stated as good for two+ weeks without removal, but I tend to
remove them for cleaning once a week, and enzyme cleaning every two.

Basically, the wear is trivial; break-in isn't.  You put them on, and
you wear them.  No break-in schedule, no grief.  IF...they fit.  You have
two problems with extended-wear lenses.  First, they're going to remain on
your cornea for extended periods of time, so you had best get a good fit.
Secondly, while they seem to have no trouble with extreme refractive error,
they have limited ability to correct astigmatism.  About 18 months
ago, I tried extended wear lenses and abandoned them because they couldn't
correct my modest astigmatism.  The current set reflect the technology of last
January, and are toric lenses capable of correcting mild to moderate
astigmatism; but remember, as with any lens that corrects astigmatism, that
they will tend to rotate somewhat during wear.  I haven't found this annoying
enough to offset the comfort, natural feeling, and clarity of vision provided.

These lenses haven't been without problems, however.  First, it's difficult to
find optometrists or opthalmologists who have enough training or experience
with these lenses to properly fit them.  And, there tends to be some quality
control problems.  As far as my discussions with the Hydro-Curve rep have
informed me, there are basically two approaches to producing extended-wear
soft lenses.  The Hydro-Curve type are made by dripping the goo onto a 
spinning form, then modifying it slightly with external tools for toric
shapes (needed only for astigmatic correction).  This provides a greater yield,
but more quality control problems; I've gone through about 3 lenses on each eye,
and will probably insist on a minor change for the last one.  Bausch and Lomb
mold blanks, then freeze them and turn them down on lathes; this precludes
effective astigmatism correction.  (WARNING:  This is from either the Hydro-
Curve rep, or my optometrist--who buys from the HC rep.  Proverbial quantum of
salt...)  Oh, yes; remember.  DO NOT USE HEAT DISINFECTING METHODS with extended
wear lenses!!!  I was told to by my optometrist; this the reason for at least
two of my lens changes.  It seems that the plastic browns and hardens when
heated...

The overall vote?  It's worth all the time, effort, grief, and frustration.
I paid $300, and will do it every year, if I have to.  (You have to have very
bad vision to understand what it means to be able to see, naturally, when you
wake up in the morning; to participate in sports events without glasses, or
fragile hard lenses, etc.; and not to have to worry about dozing off on the
couch, and so forth...)

				Hope I helped,

				Dave Ihnat
				ihuxx!ignatz