Annual contact lenses

Over the last ten years, the sale of contact lenses has grown steadily.

You may want to wear contact lenses for just a few hours a week, when you're playing sport, for example, or for 10 hours a day at work!

Annual lenses

Annual lenses are less frequently prescribed by ophthalmologists than daily disposable lenses, because they are designed for users who are very vigilant about hygiene and care.

These lenses are recommended for people who need strong correction of hyperopia, astigmatism or myopia, and who wish to avoid wearing glasses. Like other contact lenses, they can be rigid or flexible. In the case of dry eyes, rigid lenses are recommended.

Leading manufacturers on Mymonture

There are fewer manufacturers of annual lenses than for other types. The best-known brands are Bausch & Lomb, with their flagship models: the Optima Toric soft lens, or the Quantum 1 rigid spherical annual lens. Other brands market this type of lens: Cooper Vision, Menicon, Easylens, Ophtalmic or Johnson & Johnson, for example. Some brands offer UV-filtering lenses, while others are ideal for dry eyes. In most cases, they offer optimum comfort and hydration. Whether soft or rigid, lenses should be replaced after a maximum of 12, 18 or 24 months.

Careful lens care

Contact lens wearers suffer from a wide range of ailments. They affect around 4% of contact lens wearers, especially in the case of continuous wear lenses, which can be worn overnight. The care of these lenses is drastic, and requires the utmost care. Otherwise, they can lead to severe complications. For example, we strongly advise against putting your lenses under running water, or wearing them while swimming in a pool, as this increases the risk of infection tenfold.

As with other types of contact lenses, annual lens care is extremely important. A single product is generally sufficient to degrease, disinfect and remove any impurities that may have settled on the surface. Soaking lenses overnight not only lubricates them, making them easier to insert, but also increases their shelf life.

The composition of lens care products is not the same for rigid and soft lenses. Never use a product for soft lenses to care for rigid lenses, and vice versa. You must also respect the use-by dates: two to three years when the bottle is closed, and between three months and one year after opening.

In all cases, it's imperative to wash your hands thoroughly before touching the lenses, to respect the renewal dates, and to keep a close eye on the condition of the eye. Any discomfort or redness of the eye should prompt you to remove your lenses as soon as possible, and a visit to an ophthalmologist is essential if it lasts more than 24 hours.