I have been reading your articles on contact lenses and from it have learned that the lower the content of water in the contacts, the more comfortable they are. I would like to know if there are colored gas permeable lenses with color that can be used for more than 2 weeks? My doctor told me that I am allergic to contact lenses and that if I wear them for long I will develop “scales” inside my lids. What is your take on this? Thanks!
For starters, thank you for reading. I would like to address a couple of the things you have mentioned in your question.
Regarding the statement that lower water content lenses are more comfortable is too wide of blanket statement to be true. There are more factors that will make a lens comfortable than simply water content. For extremely dry eyes, a lower water content lens may perform better and in turn be more comfortable. There are many exceptions to that, such as the Proclear Compatibles lenses from CooperVision. They have a water content of 62%, which is pretty high, and are the only lens the FDA has approved to state they “may improve comfort on dry eyes”. So low water content lenses being more comfortable can be a rule of thumb in some situations, but not all. (if only it were that easy…
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On to the part of the question about Colored Gas Permeable lenses. Gas permeable contacts come in tints, but not colors. The tints are mainly so you can see the lens in the case or if it displaces to the white of the eye. They will enhance a light colored eye. For example if you have a green eye and use a green tinted gas permeable contact lens, your eyes will appear a little brighter green. And that is all. Gas permeable contacts can not be used to turn green eyes blue or visa versa.
So regarding the main question at hand. Those “Scales” inside your lid, I am sure your eye care provider is referring to a condition known as Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis. GPC is often referred to as “scales” or “cobblestones” inside your eyelids.
Severe GPC means no contact lenses for at least a number of months. Once your GPC is under control, you can usually wear lenses again, you just need to be more cautious. The recommended practice when fitting contact lenses after a case like yours is either one day/single use lenses or gas permeable contact lenses.
Ciba freshlook colors are available in a one day lens, however when GPC is present I am more incline to take care of the medical aspect of getting you to see in a healthy manner.
Your eye care provider may suggest single use contact lenses and regular follow-up visits to monitor how your lids and eyes react to being re-introduced to contact lenses. Above all, when you have GPC, listen to the advice of your eye care provider. The last thing you want is a GPC flare up (it’s very uncomfortable…)
