How are continuous wear contact lenses worn?

How are continuous wear contact lenses worn?

• A. 24 hours daily without removal
• B. Up to 7 days and nights
• C. Up to 30 days and nights
• D. One month and one week

Answer: (C)

Continuous wear, or extended wear, means a lens can be worn for a continuous stretch, including overnight, up to a defined maximum. With modern lenses designed for extended wear, that maximum is typically up to 30 days and nights. This reflects advances in material that give the eye enough oxygen during long wear, including sleep, while keeping deposits and irritation at manageable levels. You would wear them for as long as your eye care professional approves and then remove, clean, or replace as directed. The other options don’t reflect current practice: wearing lenses for a full 24 hours every day isn’t the standard maximum and isn’t guaranteed safe over long periods; seven days and nights is more restrictive than what many extended wear lenses allow today; and thirty-seven days isn’t a recognized maximum period.

Continuous wear, or extended wear, means a lens can be worn for a continuous stretch, including overnight, up to a defined maximum. With modern lenses designed for extended wear, that maximum is typically up to 30 days and nights. This reflects advances in material that give the eye enough oxygen during long wear, including sleep, while keeping deposits and irritation at manageable levels. You would wear them for as long as your eye care professional approves and then remove, clean, or replace as directed. The other options don’t reflect current practice: wearing lenses for a full 24 hours every day isn’t the standard maximum and isn’t guaranteed safe over long periods; seven days and nights is more restrictive than what many extended wear lenses allow today; and thirty-seven days isn’t a recognized maximum period.