Lipids and Proteins and Acuvue Advance Contacts

Ynot · #1 (**permalink**) 12-27-2007, 10:49 AM

I just read something about lipid deposits on Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism contacts. It almost sounded as if this type of contact lens was particularly prone to lipid deposits. Has anyone found this to be true? Where do these lipids come from?
Another thing I read about were protein deposits that also form on contact lenses. Can you tell by looking at your gunky contacts if you've got a lipid or protein build up? Can you use multipurpose solution for both of these or do you have to buy some kind of special cleaning solution for one or both of them?

Metsman · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008, 12:05 PM

Protein deposits have been a problem pretty much since contact lenses became popular. Lipid deposits are something fairly new, and some say that the material that soft contacts are made of ("galyfilcon") are the cause.
Some people also say that Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism is particularly prone to lipid deposits, but others say otherwise.
As far as where lipids and proteins come from, they are a natural component of your tears. And I don't know of any way you can look at your contact lens and tell if the deposits you see there are proteins or lipids. Maybe someone else reading this thread can help with that.

Ynot · #3 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metsman

Protein deposits have been a problem pretty much since contact lenses became popular. Lipid deposits are something fairly new, and some say that the material that soft contacts are made of ("galyfilcon") are the cause.
Some people also say that Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism is particularly prone to lipid deposits, but others say otherwise.
As far as where lipids and proteins come from, they are a natural component of your tears. And I don't know of any way you can look at your contact lens and tell if the deposits you see there are proteins or lipids. Maybe someone else reading this thread can help with that.

Thanks for your help, Metsman. It's not the clearest answer I've ever gotten, but thanks for trying. You seem to be the only one to even make an attempt.

luminae · #4 (**permalink**) 06-18-2009, 03:46 PM

From what I understand, lipid is the oily film in your eye that coats it and prevents the natural moisture from evaporating. You definitely DO NOT want to get rid of lipids because no oily film in your eye means moisture evaporates easily, which then means dry eyes. However, I would think you DO want contact lenses that don't easily attract lipids to their surface.