I have a question concerning the longevity of contacnt lenses

HuyNguyen · #1 (**permalink**) 08-15-2010, 04:43 AM

If i wear my contact lenses only 2 times during the 2 week period.. does that mean I have about 12 more days left AFTER the 2 week period?

Also do i need to change the MPS every 2 days or so even during the week that I am not wearing the contact lenses?

thanks

Knotlob · #2 (**permalink**) 08-15-2010, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuyNguyen

If i wear my contact lenses only 2 times during the 2 week period.. does that mean I have about 12 more days left AFTER the 2 week period?

Also do i need to change the MPS every 2 days or so even during the week that I am not wearing the contact lenses?

thanks

Hello HuyNguyen and welcome to Lens101 forum

The official (manufacturer's and some opticians) answer to wearing disposable lenses for a set number of days wear, rather than the actual elapsed time since you opened the contact lens pack, is that you should discard the lenses after the calendar time period. i.e. if they are two week lenses, then you should bin them after two weeks, even if you only wore them once or twice in that period.

Unofficially, some manufacturers will say you can (up to a point and within reason) wear the lenses a set number of times, even if you don't wear them on consecutive days. i.e. wear two week lenses 14 times, even if only wearing them every second or third day.

Personally, I don't see a logical reason why the unofficial line should not be followed, but for peace of mind, you should discuss it with your own optician who knows your eyes and any particular conditions that may dictate how many days you can wear the lenses safely in your particular case.

As regards MPS, I would suggest that if the lens case is not opened during the days you don't wear the lenses, the MPS solution will remain active enough to remain sterile. But personally, if I had not worn the lenses for 5 days or so, I would change the solution and soak the lenses for a couple of hours or so with fresh MPS solution immediately before I wanted to wear the lenses.

knotlob

MaryTamm2 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-16-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

Hello HuyNguyen and welcome to Lens101 forum

The official (manufacturer's and some opticians) answer to wearing disposable lenses for a set number of days wear, rather than the actual elapsed time since you opened the contact lens pack, is that you should discard the lenses after the calendar time period. i.e. if they are two week lenses, then you should bin them after two weeks, even if you only wore them once or twice in that period.

Unofficially, some manufacturers will say you can (up to a point and within reason) wear the lenses a set number of times, even if you don't wear them on consecutive days. i.e. wear two week lenses 14 times, even if only wearing them every second or third day.

Personally, I don't see a logical reason why the unofficial line should not be followed, but for peace of mind, you should discuss it with your own optician who knows your eyes and any particular conditions that may dictate how many days you can wear the lenses safely in your particular case.

As regards MPS, I would suggest that if the lens case is not opened during the days you don't wear the lenses, the MPS solution will remain active enough to remain sterile. But personally, if I had not worn the lenses for 5 days or so, I would change the solution and soak the lenses for a couple of hours or so with fresh MPS solution immediately before I wanted to wear the lenses.

knotlob

Good answer, knotlob, as usual. I have one question though. How long can you safely keep contact in the solution with the case closed? You said "5 days or so." Would 5 days be the recommended maximum time to soak your Acuvue Advance contacts?

Knotlob · #4 (**permalink**) 08-16-2010, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaryTamm2

Good answer, knotlob, as usual. I have one question though. How long can you safely keep contact in the solution with the case closed? You said "5 days or so." Would 5 days be the recommended maximum time to soak your Acuvue Advance contacts?

I used to use a 2 step hydrogen peroxide system and if I had decided to stop wearing the lenses (e.g. annual) then I could leave the lenses in (unneutralised) peroxide solution for weeks, but I would, for peace of mind, change the solution and resterilise overnight.

Single step peroxide systems are not so secure, because they are designed to be neutralised after 6 hours. So in effect, you are storing the lenses in a saline solution, which should be sterile, but over time (non air tight lens case, etc.) could become non-sterile and develop a bacterial culture. So resterilisation in these circumstances would be a must for me.

With an MPS system, the solution will presumably become less strong after it's initial overnight cleaning and disinfecting, but I guess it remains somewhat active. These solutions are relatively cheap for the few mls you are going to use to resterilise the lenses, I think it is worthwhile. I feel peroxide systems are a lot stronger at sterilising unpleasant microbiological cultures that may be on your lenses (it stings badly if you mess up or forget the neutralisation) but MPS systems will protect against most of the likely infections.

knotlob

Guinness · #5 (**permalink**) 08-16-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

I used to use a 2 step hydrogen peroxide system and if I had decided to stop wearing the lenses (e.g. annual) then I could leave the lenses in (unneutralised) peroxide solution for weeks, but I would, for peace of mind, change the solution and resterilise overnight.

Single step peroxide systems are not so secure, because they are designed to be neutralised after 6 hours. So in effect, you are storing the lenses in a saline solution, which should be sterile, but over time (non air tight lens case, etc.) could become non-sterile and develop a bacterial culture. So resterilisation in these circumstances would be a must for me.

With an MPS system, the solution will presumably become less strong after it's initial overnight cleaning and disinfecting, but I guess it remains somewhat active. These solutions are relatively cheap for the few mls you are going to use to resterilise the lenses, I think it is worthwhile. I feel peroxide systems are a lot stronger at sterilising unpleasant microbiological cultures that may be on your lenses (it stings badly if you mess up or forget the neutralisation) but MPS systems will protect against most of the likely infections.

knotlob

Thanks for that information, knotlob. I hope it helps a lot of people.

MaryTamm2 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-29-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

I used to use a 2 step hydrogen peroxide system and if I had decided to stop wearing the lenses (e.g. annual) then I could leave the lenses in (unneutralised) peroxide solution for weeks, but I would, for peace of mind, change the solution and resterilise overnight.

Single step peroxide systems are not so secure, because they are designed to be neutralised after 6 hours. So in effect, you are storing the lenses in a saline solution, which should be sterile, but over time (non air tight lens case, etc.) could become non-sterile and develop a bacterial culture. So resterilisation in these circumstances would be a must for me.

With an MPS system, the solution will presumably become less strong after it's initial overnight cleaning and disinfecting, but I guess it remains somewhat active. These solutions are relatively cheap for the few mls you are going to use to resterilise the lenses, I think it is worthwhile. I feel peroxide systems are a lot stronger at sterilising unpleasant microbiological cultures that may be on your lenses (it stings badly if you mess up or forget the neutralisation) but MPS systems will protect against most of the likely infections.

knotlob

Thank you for your answer, knotlob.

mountain · #7 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 02:04 AM

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Jesterhester · #8 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

Hello HuyNguyen and welcome to Lens101 forum

The official (manufacturer's and some opticians) answer to wearing disposable lenses for a set number of days wear, rather than the actual elapsed time since you opened the contact lens pack, is that you should discard the lenses after the calendar time period. i.e. if they are two week lenses, then you should bin them after two weeks, even if you only wore them once or twice in that period.

Unofficially, some manufacturers will say you can (up to a point and within reason) wear the lenses a set number of times, even if you don't wear them on consecutive days. i.e. wear two week lenses 14 times, even if only wearing them every second or third day.

Personally, I don't see a logical reason why the unofficial line should not be followed, but for peace of mind, you should discuss it with your own optician who knows your eyes and any particular conditions that may dictate how many days you can wear the lenses safely in your particular case.

As regards MPS, I would suggest that if the lens case is not opened during the days you don't wear the lenses, the MPS solution will remain active enough to remain sterile. But personally, if I had not worn the lenses for 5 days or so, I would change the solution and soak the lenses for a couple of hours or so with fresh MPS solution immediately before I wanted to wear the lenses.

knotlob

Looking around this site, typically the answer is that 1-2 week lenses can be worn 14 times if they're not slept in. If you sleep in them some nights but not others that kind of complicates things a bit, though.

MaryTamm2 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-09-2010, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountain

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Yes, that's exactly why we're here, mountain.

Jesterhester · #10 (**permalink**) 11-12-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuyNguyen

If i wear my contact lenses only 2 times during the 2 week period.. does that mean I have about 12 more days left AFTER the 2 week period?

Also do i need to change the MPS every 2 days or so even during the week that I am not wearing the contact lenses?

thanks

Did you find the answer to your question, HuyNguyen?