Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Extended wear contact lenses are approved for overnight or continuous wear without daily removal, with most approved for up to 7 nights and some approved for up to 30 nights of continuous wear. Not everyone can tolerate overnight or multi-day wear, and only your eye care professional can determine the appropriate wearing schedule for your eyes.

Most extended wear lenses are made from silicone hydrogel, which allows more oxygen to reach the cornea than standard hydrogel materials, reducing the risk of corneal hypoxia during overnight wear. Ortho-K lenses are a specialized rigid gas-permeable option worn overnight to reshape the cornea, but these require a customized fit and are not available for purchase online.

Features of extended wear contact lenses:

• Approved for overnight or continuous wear without daily removal
• Most approved for up to 7 nights of continuous wear, some approved for up to 30 nights
• Made from silicone hydrogel for high oxygen transmission to reduce corneal hypoxia risk
• Available for standard, toric, and multifocal prescriptions
• Ideal for military personnel, emergency workers, and wearers with unpredictable schedules
• Ortho-K lenses are a specialty RGP option worn overnight to reshape the cornea, not available online

Several leading manufacturers make extended wear lenses for people who need a more flexible schedule. Contact lenses recommended by doctors for overnight use should match your prescription, lens fit, eye health, and approved wearing time.

• Air Optix Night & Day Aqua by Alcon - approved for up to 30 nights of continuous wear, allows more oxygen permeation than any other soft contact lens
• PureVision by Bausch & Lomb - extended wear silicone hydrogel lens for nearsightedness and farsightedness, also available in toric and multifocal versions
• Acuvue 2 by Johnson & Johnson - biweekly hydrogel lens approved for extended wear, available for nearsighted and farsighted prescriptions
• Acuvue Oasys with HydraLuxe Technology by Johnson & Johnson - biweekly silicone hydrogel lens approved for up to 6 nights of extended wear
• Air Optix Aqua by Alcon - monthly silicone hydrogel lens approved for up to 6 nights of extended wear
• ULTRA by Bausch & Lomb - monthly silicone hydrogel lens with MoistureSeal Technology approved for extended wear

Soft extended wear contact lenses typically retail for $30 to $50 per box of six lenses, with each box lasting up to six months. If you replace your contacts every month, your annual lens cost may range from $120 to $200. The final amount can vary depending on your replacement schedule, prescription, and box quantity. At Lens.com, some soft extended wear contact lenses may cost as little as $10 per box of six lenses after a contact lens rebate.

Note: Prices can change and may vary based on prescription type, lens quantity, and current promotions. Check the Rebate Center at Lens.com for the latest savings before ordering.

Most extended wear contact lenses are soft contact lenses designed for scheduled replacement. They follow the standard insertion and removal process for soft lenses rather than the handling process used for rigid gas-permeable lenses.

To insert:

• Wash hands with mild soap and dry with a lint-free towel
• Scoop the lens out of the case with the index finger of your dominant hand
• Rinse with a soft lens cleaning solution and check it is not inside out
• Inspect for tears or debris before placing on your eye
• Pull down your lower eyelid with the middle finger of your dominant hand
• Look upward and place the lens gently on your eye, then blink to center it
• Repeat with the other lens

To remove:

• Hold your eyelids open with one hand
• Gently pinch the lens between your index finger and thumb
• Carefully lift the lens off your eye and repeat with the other lens

Sleeping in contact lenses, even those approved for overnight wear, increases the risk of eye infection because bacteria and other microorganisms can become trapped between the lens and the eye during sleep. The moist, closed environment under the eyelids allows these microbes to thrive, and the reduced oxygen supply to the cornea during overnight wear makes it more susceptible to inflammation. Contact lens-related infections range from minor conditions like pink eye to more serious sight-threatening infections like Acanthamoeba keratitis, and the risk increases significantly with consecutive days of wear.

To reduce infection risk, eye care professionals recommend flexible wear where extended wear lenses are removed before bed most nights and worn overnight only occasionally, such as during travel or short naps. Always remove extended wear lenses before bathing or swimming since contaminants in water can adhere to the lens surface, and wash your hands thoroughly before handling lenses at any time.