Letter: Extended wear lenses sail through ocean test

Ron Hamilton (June 8) in response to an extended wear contact lens manufacturer’s suggestion – ‘when possible, remove even extended wear contacts before sleeping’ –comments: ‘It does not say under what circumstances removal might not be possible?’

Ron Hamilton is, perhaps, no clinician and I wish to proffer an example of circumstances when it may be inappropriate to remove extended wear lenses prior to sleep.

A number of years ago, when SiH extended wear lenses were being introduced, a patient attended my practice and announced that she was entering the Chay Blyth Round the World Yacht Race and that she would like to be fitted with One Day disposable contact lenses for use during this event. After two seconds thought, or less, I replied ‘Ah, you wish to poke your finger in your eye whilst being thrown around in an Atlantic storm’. ‘You don’t think contact lenses are a good idea for this do you?’ she replied. ‘Not so,’ I stated. ‘A couple of companies have launched a new product, Silicone Hydrogel Extended Wear contact lenses, which may be retained on the eye for up to 30 days at a time, and these products show great promise’.