hi, judy~ what a bummer that your daughter had a bad experience with her contacts!...but you were given some wrong information...acuvue oasys lenses were approved for up to 6 consecutive days of continual wear in 2005~to the doctor's discretion...that's why it's important to have the eye exam/fitting, so the doctor can not only determine the prescription, but also can evaluate the curvature and overall health of the eyes themselves... unfortunately, some patients aren't able to wear extended/flexible wear lenses that way~there are lots of variables like environment (dusty, dry, air conditioning, etc), if the patient secretes more protein in their tear film, the lenses will become coated quicker and uncomfortable to wear, the list goes on...partially for that reason, a lot of doctors do not recommend ANY extended or overnight wear, but mostly because any time you place a contact lens on the eye, you're reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the cornea~that's why the blood vessels in your daughter's eyes became enlarged~the body will try to get oxygen to the deprived area...the condition is actually called neovascularization...the scarring under her eyelids sounds like giant papillary conjunctivitis~better known as GPC (for obvious reasons~lol)...people most prone to this usually are allergy/hay fever sufferers...some folks can overwear their lenses consistantly for years and never have a problem, others ca! n take a 20 minute nap once and have the same type of trouble as your daughter...go figure, huh? when your daughter is able to start wearing contact lenses again, suggest that she spend the additional cost for contacts that are 1 days~have her ask her eye doctor about them...she'll pay more for the lenses, but she'll save on contact lens cleaning supplies...also, if she chooses to stay with lenses for repeated use, please advise her not to buy into the "no rub" idea...a doc i worked for compares it to turning on the faucet, and just kind of waving your hands under the water, but not rubbing them together to get the dirt off... sorry this is so long and didn't mean to get on a soapbox <hangs head sheepishly>...it's just so vitally important to take good care of your eyes, since we only get one set! good luck to y'all~ sue (in damp, getting chilly again NE Florida) -- i believe i'm experiencing amnesia and deja vu at the same time~i think i've forgotten this before... -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Judy" <[email protected]> > I know this is for PA Dutch topics, but I just had an upsetting eye doctor visit > with Bridget. She has been wearing AccuVu Oasis lenses for a year. The last > eye doctor said they were okay to wear continuously for two weeks, just like the > older AccuVu lenses. Today's visit revealed that they are NOT for sleeping, and > should be worn no more than 12 hours at a time. The FDA has never approved that > particular kind for around-the-clock wear, but most eye doctors promote them as > such. The new doctor said her own eyes were permanently damaged from them and > she can never wear lenses again. There were five people who actually lost an > eye because of wearing them that way. > > She said that Bridget has developed more enlarged blood vessels in her eyes in > an effort to get the oxygen flow necessary to the eyes. Her eyelids are scarred > as well on the inside. The good news is that with certain precautions, she will > be able to use contacts, as long as she wears them for no more than 12 hours at > a time, scrubs both sides of the lenses every day, replaces her lens case every > month, and lets it air dry every day when she is wearing the lenses. The trial > pair she got today are for astygmatism, and her 20/200 and 20/400 vision is > crystal clear. We ordered glasses for her too. Dr. Bailey said they will > improve, and that the new lenses will not cause her any harm. > > The poor kid has been the the wringer. Remember her 3rd operation at Shands > last July, on her leg? She may have to have a 4th! We won't know until this > July, but I hope she is fine by then. > > Just thought I'd share that.

Great info Sue! Thanks_passing it onto Lindsey, along with the others. :o) Lynn PS Have another major project to do, so I won't be replying any time soon_IF I CAN stay away, and just lurk :o) LOL!!!!!! Sue wrote: > hi, judy~ > > what a bummer that your daughter had a bad experience with her > contacts!...but you were given some wrong information...acuvue oasys > lenses were approved for up to 6 consecutive days of continual wear in > 2005~to the doctor's discretion...that's why it's important to have the > eye exam/fitting, so the doctor can not only determine the prescription, > but also can evaluate the curvature and overall health of the eyes > themselves... > > unfortunately, some patients aren't able to wear extended/flexible wear > lenses that way~there are lots of variables like environment (dusty, dry, > air conditioning, etc), if the patient secretes more protein in their tear > film, the lenses will become coated quicker and uncomfortable to wear, the > list goes on...partially for that reason, a lot of doctors do not > recommend ANY extended or overnight wear, but mostly because any time you > place a contact lens on the eye, you're reducing the amount of oxygen > reaching the cornea~that's why the blood vessels in your daughter's eyes > became enlarged~the body will try to get oxygen to the deprived area...the > condition is actually called neovascularization...the scarring under her > eyelids sounds like giant papillary conjunctivitis~better known as GPC > (for obvious reasons~lol)...people most prone to this usually are > allergy/hay fever sufferers...some folks can overwear their lenses > consistantly for years and never have a problem, others ca! > n take > a 20 minute nap once and have the same type of trouble as your > daughter...go figure, huh? > > when your daughter is able to start wearing contact lenses again, suggest > that she spend the additional cost for contacts that are 1 days~have her > ask her eye doctor about them...she'll pay more for the lenses, but she'll > save on contact lens cleaning supplies...also, if she chooses to stay with > lenses for repeated use, please advise her not to buy into the "no rub" > idea...a doc i worked for compares it to turning on the faucet, and just > kind of waving your hands under the water, but not rubbing them together > to get the dirt off... > > sorry this is so long and didn't mean to get on a soapbox <hangs head > sheepishly>...it's just so vitally important to take good care of your > eyes, since we only get one set! > > good luck to y'all~