How It's Made: Contact Lenses
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6. Thanny commented 13 years ago
This shows how soft non-disposable lenses are made. You wear them for around a year, and they require more maintenance (such as removing protein periodically).
Disposable lenses are probably made in a similar fashion, but with a preset range of optical properties, which would allow more automation in the process.
Disposable lenses are probably made in a similar fashion, but with a preset range of optical properties, which would allow more automation in the process.
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9. JaeMarie commented 13 years ago
#3 & #6
Many years ago one of the prime time news programs did a show where they talked to eye doctors and manufacturers of contacts about the differences between disposables and regular contacts. There were only a couple doc's willing to say it, but I think they got one of the manufacturers to fess up that there's really no difference. The biggest differences are when it comes to extended wear (that you're supposed to be able to leave in for like a week at a time, then toss) as those are more gas permeable.
Since I saw that show... probably almost 10 years ago, I've purchased the much cheaper disposables and worn them and cared for them like daily wear lenses. If you take care of them, they last just fine, and I don't feel bad tossing them after several months or a year if I do start getting deposits on them. It's also quite convenient having spare sets around in case I loose one.
The ones I have come 6 to a box (one box for each eye, as my prescriptions are different) and after about 4years, I still have one pair left. I'll be going in this spring to get my eyes checked for health, even though the scripts don't seem to have changed. I'll order some more then.
Just for comparison, I have an astigmatism, so the lenses were more expensive than the regular ones at that time. When I got these I paid about $27 per box for the disposables, whereas they wanted in the $70 range for the SINGLE pair.
Easy math.
Many years ago one of the prime time news programs did a show where they talked to eye doctors and manufacturers of contacts about the differences between disposables and regular contacts. There were only a couple doc's willing to say it, but I think they got one of the manufacturers to fess up that there's really no difference. The biggest differences are when it comes to extended wear (that you're supposed to be able to leave in for like a week at a time, then toss) as those are more gas permeable.
Since I saw that show... probably almost 10 years ago, I've purchased the much cheaper disposables and worn them and cared for them like daily wear lenses. If you take care of them, they last just fine, and I don't feel bad tossing them after several months or a year if I do start getting deposits on them. It's also quite convenient having spare sets around in case I loose one.
The ones I have come 6 to a box (one box for each eye, as my prescriptions are different) and after about 4years, I still have one pair left. I'll be going in this spring to get my eyes checked for health, even though the scripts don't seem to have changed. I'll order some more then.
Just for comparison, I have an astigmatism, so the lenses were more expensive than the regular ones at that time. When I got these I paid about $27 per box for the disposables, whereas they wanted in the $70 range for the SINGLE pair.
Easy math.
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11. Thanny commented 13 years ago
#9 Daily disposables are a much thinner lens, and would not last months, no matter how well you cared for them.
Longer-lasting lenses (called "frequent replacement", as "disposables" technically applies to the dailies) are thicker and more durable, though I can't say how they actually compare to the non-disposable ones. I don't know how well frequent replacement lenses would hold up to protein removal. I do know that after three or four weeks, I can tell that my lenses need to be replaced, which would translate into an enzyme soak otherwise. I can't imagine using a single pair for months on end.
One notable difference between the disposable or frequent replacement lenses would be customization. As shown in this video, you can have a pair cut to your exact eye measurements. The others come in one or a few base curve sizes and 0.25 diopter increments. Those designed for astigmatism don't start until 0.75 diopters of cylinder, and the angles come in ten degree increments.
Longer-lasting lenses (called "frequent replacement", as "disposables" technically applies to the dailies) are thicker and more durable, though I can't say how they actually compare to the non-disposable ones. I don't know how well frequent replacement lenses would hold up to protein removal. I do know that after three or four weeks, I can tell that my lenses need to be replaced, which would translate into an enzyme soak otherwise. I can't imagine using a single pair for months on end.
One notable difference between the disposable or frequent replacement lenses would be customization. As shown in this video, you can have a pair cut to your exact eye measurements. The others come in one or a few base curve sizes and 0.25 diopter increments. Those designed for astigmatism don't start until 0.75 diopters of cylinder, and the angles come in ten degree increments.
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12. JaeMarie commented 13 years ago
#11 Thanks for the extra info.
I'd almost forgotten how many versions of "disposables" there are lol. Thinking back on it, I believe the specific ones I have are weekly use disposables... or something like that. In any case, I've just taken care of them the same as I took care of the other more expensive contacts, and they've held up just fine and feel great.
I'd almost forgotten how many versions of "disposables" there are lol. Thinking back on it, I believe the specific ones I have are weekly use disposables... or something like that. In any case, I've just taken care of them the same as I took care of the other more expensive contacts, and they've held up just fine and feel great.
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13. mxmbulat commented 13 years ago
This video is really welcomed as I never knew what was the process. As I am really short-sighted I depend highly either on glasses (which I hate) or contacts (which make me forget that I have eye-sight problem). It was interesting to see and it turns that production is almost done manually (put the lenses there and here) - made me value more the contacts.
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14. slayer_x911 commented 13 years ago
Very informative
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15. makbeth commented 13 years ago
This presenter was better than the wacky woman, but he was still a bit of a goofball at the end...
Also #9, if you have aestigmatism you should be using torics and changing them daily or using permanent lenses. the daily disposables dry out quicker and are not made to a very high degree of quality.
Also #9, if you have aestigmatism you should be using torics and changing them daily or using permanent lenses. the daily disposables dry out quicker and are not made to a very high degree of quality.
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18. Neococo commented 13 years ago
#16 It's not so bad, I have worn soft lenses for years, I use 2-week disposables, but I use them for one month.
You don't leave them in for weeks/months straight, you remove them every night and allow them to soak in solution.
Although, I know someone who would leave them in for a month straight, it seems like that could damage your cornea after a long period of time... has anyone seen any such studies?
You don't leave them in for weeks/months straight, you remove them every night and allow them to soak in solution.
Although, I know someone who would leave them in for a month straight, it seems like that could damage your cornea after a long period of time... has anyone seen any such studies?
+21 1. seldomseen77 commented 13 years ago