How does the lens flatten the cornea?
Dr. Davis: If you’ve ever worn a watch or a ring and take the piece of jewelry off, there’s an impression left by the watch or ring. With the piece of jewelry removed the tissue will return to its normal shape and the impression disappears. This is similar to wearing a contact lens on the eye designed to flatten the cornea. When this contact lens is taken out, the eye very slowly will return to its normal shape and the myopic prescription will begin to appear. It usually takes somewhere between 20 and 36 hours. We have patients who wear these lenses every other day or twice a week because their corneas maintain the fatten shape, but the majority of the patients need to wear the lenses every night. Is it safe to wear the lenses at night while you’re sleeping? Dr. Davis: Yes, it is safe, but there are risks in every procedure we perform. I think of it as a risk-benefit ratio. The risk is the same risk as any extended wear contact lenses – you can get infections, red eyes, abrasions, and
