Acuvue 2 contact lenses are disposable prescription lenses made by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. Made from a soft silicon material called etafilcon A, Acuvue 2 contacts allow oxygen to pass through the lens and to the cornea of the eye. This oxygen permeability coupled with high water content makes the Acuvue 2 a comfortable lens that can be prescribed for daily or extended wear. Acuvue 2 contact lenses require a minimal amount of cleaning and care.
Time Frame
The wear time and replacement schedule for all contact lenses, including Acuvue 2 lenses, should be determined by an eye care professional for each individual patient. Acuvue 2 lenses are approved for wear as a lens that gets taken out on a daily basis or as an extended wear lens that can be slept in overnight. If prescribed for extended wear the lenses may be worn for one to six nights continuously, depending on the patient.
Care
Acuvue 2 contact lenses should be removed and disposed of according to the schedule provided by an eye care professional. The lenses should be cleaned and disinfected after each use with a cleaning solution meant for the cleaning of soft contact lenses. When not in use, Acuvue 2 contact lenses should always be stored in a storage solution. Water should never be used to clean or store soft contact lenses as the lenses can become contaminated and cause severe eye injury or infection.
Risks
Individuals who wear their contact lenses overnight are 10 to 15 times more likely than those who take their contacts out daily to develop a condition called ulcerative keratitis. Ulcerative keratitis is a painful condition that can quickly lead to irreversible blindness. Over wear of soft contact lenses may also result in a complication called giant papillary conjunctivitis. GPC causes discomfort, blurred vision and discharge, sometimes resulting in the inability to tolerate contact lenses in the future.
Misconceptions
Many contact lens users over wear their lenses from time to time, believing if there is no visible damage or excessive discomfort there is no risk to their vision. The practice of wearing any contact lenses longer than prescribed or not disposing of lenses regularly can and does have harmful consequences. Contact lens wearers who wear their lenses longer than prescribed or sleep in lenses prescribed only for daily wear, for example, are at a significantly higher risk of developing ulcerative keratitis.
Warnings
Acuvue 2 lenses should not be worn while swimming, showering or using aerosol products such as hairspray. If redness, discomfort, pain, sensitivity to light, discharge or abnormal vision develop while wearing any contact lens, remove the lens immediately and seek the advice of an eye care professional. Following the manufacturer's and prescriber's cleaning and handling instructions will reduce the risk of complications, such as discomfort, infection or GPC, that may arise while wearing contact lenses.
