Help Needed: Technical Question about Contact Lenses

[zambo]

I usually wear 'SofLens 66' extended-wear contact lenses. But this time they screwed up my order and I got 'SofLens 38'.

I didn't realize it until I put them on and things were blurry in the distance, especially at night. So I called them up and they said the 66 and 38 are "the same lens" (their exact words) and that they couldn't do an exchange because I already opened the box.

Can someone please explain to me what exactly the 66 and 38 mean? Are they in fact the "same lens" as they put it? If they are then why are things blurry in the distance when I wear the '38' (which they aren't when I wear the '66')?

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[KHE]

I usually wear 'SofLens 66' extended-wear contact lenses. But this time they screwed up my order and I got 'SofLens 38'.

I didn't realize it until I put them on and things were blurry in the distance, especially at night. So I called them up and they said the 66 and 38 are "the same lens" (their exact words) and that they couldn't do an exchange because I already opened the box.

Can someone please explain to me what exactly the 66 and 38 mean? Are they in fact the "same lens" as they put it? If they are then why are things blurry in the distance when I wear the '38' (which they aren't when I wear the '66')?

Those lenses are NOT the same. They are made out of completely different materials, and I believe they come in different base curves as well. The only thing that is the same about them is that they are made by the same company.

The 66 and 38 refer to the percentage water content.

Who is the "they" that is telling you that these are the same lenses because "they" are wrong.

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

I usually wear 'SofLens 66' extended-wear contact lenses. But this time they screwed up my order and I got 'SofLens 38'.

I didn't realize it until I put them on and things were blurry in the distance, especially at night. So I called them up and they said the 66 and 38 are "the same lens" (their exact words) and that they couldn't do an exchange because I already opened the box.

Can someone please explain to me what exactly the 66 and 38 mean? Are they in fact the "same lens" as they put it? If they are then why are things blurry in the distance when I wear the '38' (which they aren't when I wear the '66')?

I've never been aware that the Softlens 66 extended wear, was actually an extended CL. I just assumed it was a two Daily wear contact lens.

 

[S_SEEN2020]

Besides the fact that they told you they are the same lenses, they should do a REFUND or EXCHANGE. If they gave you different lenses than what is on your RX that is their mistake, and usually (I am talking from experience as a Wal-Mart optician now) if the patient only wore one pair they are able to do an exchange. Go get the right lenses so you can see. . .

I usually wear 'SofLens 66' extended-wear contact lenses. But this time they screwed up my order and I got 'SofLens 38'.

I didn't realize it until I put them on and things were blurry in the distance, especially at night. So I called them up and they said the 66 and 38 are "the same lens" (their exact words) and that they couldn't do an exchange because I already opened the box.

Can someone please explain to me what exactly the 66 and 38 mean? Are they in fact the "same lens" as they put it? If they are then why are things blurry in the distance when I wear the '38' (which they aren't when I wear the '66')?

 

[Hines302]

Is giving someone the wrong contact lenses as serious as a problem (in legal terms) as a pharmacy giving you the wrong medication???

 

[jchod]

Dude, yeah, they are different matierials, the 66 is made of alphafilcon A and has a water content of 66.0%. It is classified as an FDA group: 2 and originally approved in 1995. The problem is it was recently discontinued by B&L. The Soflens 38 is made of polymacon and has a water content of 38.0%. It belongs to FDA group: 1 and is used by many companies, originally approved in 1971. For all intents and purposes, they ARE the same. If you see blurry, 99% chance that its not the lenses, it's the prescription. So... go get the Rx checked...

 

[zambo]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've never been aware that the Softlens 66 extended wear, was actually an extended CL. I just assumed it was a two Daily wear contact lens.

Aren't they extended-wear?! The optometrist said I could leave them in for 2 weeks before replacing them. Can someone please verify if this is correct?

the 66 is made of alphafilcon A and has a water content of 66.0%. It is classified as an FDA group: 2 and originally approved in 1995. The problem is it was recently discontinued by B&L.

That's maybe why they gave me the '38' instead!

I'll definetly go in and talk to the optometrist as soon as I can. Thanks for the help.

 

[zambo]

p.s. since the '66' was discontinued by B&L, does anyone know if any other company still makes a '66' extended-wear lens or a lens similar to it?

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

Thanks for the replies everyone.



Aren't they extended-wear?! The optometrist said I could leave them in for 2 weeks before replacing them. Can someone please verify if this is correct?



That's maybe why they gave me the '38' instead!

I'll definetly go in and talk to the optometrist as soon as I can. Thanks for the help.

Ooops I meant to say two week replacement, Daily wear contact lens.

 

[drgregory]

if some OD is still Rx'ing B&L SL 66 sphere, and for EW use, they should have their lic taken away. i bet the OD is the type that scurries back to the office to look over some old notes on prescribing sulfacetamide 10% circa 1971 whenever they see a red eye. dusting off the old rx pad. when you go back for the recheck please tell this OD to retire or hire a contact lens technician.

 

[zambo]

if some OD is still Rx'ing B&L SL 66 sphere, and for EW use, they should have their lic taken away. i bet the OD is the type that scurries back to the office to look over some old notes on prescribing sulfacetamide 10% circa 1971 whenever they see a red eye. dusting off the old rx pad. when you go back for the recheck please tell this OD to retire or hire a contact lens technician.

😕

Can someone please elaborate on this. Are you saying these types of contacts shouldn't be used as extended-wear?!

 

[sco1styear]

if some OD is still Rx'ing B&L SL 66 sphere, and for EW use, they should have their lic taken away. i bet the OD is the type that scurries back to the office to look over some old notes on prescribing sulfacetamide 10% circa 1971 whenever they see a red eye. dusting off the old rx pad. when you go back for the recheck please tell this OD to retire or hire a contact lens technician.

Since the OD did NOT give you SL 66 I don't think this comment applies to this doctor. From this comment, if you had been given the lenses you normally wear then that would be a problem.
Curiosity - did you have a CL appointment and then were given these lenses?

 

[zambo]

Since the OD did NOT give you SL 66 I don't think this comment applies to this doctor. From this comment, if you had been given the lenses you normally wear then that would be a problem.
Curiosity - did you have a CL appointment and then were given these lenses?

He did originally give me SL 66 and I did wear them as extended-wear for quite a while until this time they gave me SL 38 because apparently B&L discontinued the SL 66.

Does this mean the SL 38 are better for extended-wear?

 

[xmattODx]

if some OD is still Rx'ing B&L SL 66 sphere, and for EW use, they should have their lic taken away. i bet the OD is the type that scurries back to the office to look over some old notes on prescribing sulfacetamide 10% circa 1971 whenever they see a red eye. dusting off the old rx pad. when you go back for the recheck please tell this OD to retire or hire a contact lens technician.

Because we know that we can trust what a patient says on an internet forum. Lose some of your ego drgregory it will do you some good.

 

[zambo]

Because we know that we can trust what a patient says on an internet forum.

i did get prescribed the SL 66 for extended-wear! he said i could wear them for up to 2 weeks before replacing them. why is that hard to believe?

 

[xmattODx]

i did get prescribed the SL 66 for extended-wear! he said i could wear them for up to 2 weeks before replacing them. why is that hard to believe?

Do you mean to sleep in? That is what extended wear is. The people on this forum should not be giving you advice. Go and see your doctor.

 

[zambo]

Do you mean to sleep in? That is what extended wear is.

yeah to wear continuously, including sleep, for up to 2 weeks before replacing. is that not recommended with either SL 66 or 38?

The people on this forum should not be giving you advice. Go and see your doctor.

i will when i get the chance, but in the meantime the advice given here has been very good. for example now i know why i got SL 38 instead of 66.....because SL 66 has been discontinued by B&L.

 

[KHE]

Dude, yeah, they are different matierials, the 66 is made of alphafilcon A and has a water content of 66.0%. It is classified as an FDA group: 2 and originally approved in 1995. The problem is it was recently discontinued by B&L. The Soflens 38 is made of polymacon and has a water content of 38.0%. It belongs to FDA group: 1 and is used by many companies, originally approved in 1971. For all intents and purposes, they ARE the same. If you see blurry, 99% chance that its not the lenses, it's the prescription. So... go get the Rx checked...

Am I missing something here?

How can you list off all those differences and then say "for all intents and purposes, they ARE the same??"

They're not even close. That's like saying Timoptic is the same thing as Xalatan because they both treat glaucoma.

 

[UABopt]

It really depends on who you ask, but in general for either EW or CW most practitioners today are RXing silicon hydrogel lenses because of their vastly improved Dk/t over traditional hydrogel soft contact lenses. Certainly if you have been wearing soflens 66 successfully as EW, the optometrist (as many would) could be working under the if its not broke don’t fix it rule. In any case you should not be wearing the soflens 38 as an EW lens (ie. You should not be sleeping in this lens) as a hydrogel lens with only 38% water would not have an adequate Dk/t for this purpose. In any case the market is really quite rapidly moving toward silicone hydrogel lenses even for daily wear.

In either case, please go back to get the lenses that were RXd to you, and see an eye doctor for real advice.

 

[sco1styear]

Softlens 38 is approved for FW so occasional overnight wear is acceptable....

 

[jchod]

Am I missing something here?

How can you list off all those differences and then say "for all intents and purposes, they ARE the same??"

They're not even close. That's like saying Timoptic is the same thing as Xalatan because they both treat glaucoma.

Are you kidding me? Holy Crap! Yeah, it's EXACTLY the same as that. Are you even practicing yet?? My point is that home-slice here, ought to be able to just fine through either one of these lenes, and that it's not due to the fact that it's a 38 and not a 66 that things are blurry.

 

[xmattODx]

Are you kidding me? Holy Crap! Yeah, it's EXACTLY the same as that. Are you even practicing yet?? My point is that home-slice here, ought to be able to just fine through either one of these lenes, and that it's not due to the fact that it's a 38 and not a 66 that things are blurry.

I disagree with your assessment. Are you saying that the design/material/water content etc. of a lens has no bearing on the vision one can achieve with it? This is besides the fact that if it is poorly fitting it can be causing corneal issues.

 

[UABopt]

Softlens 38 is approved for FW so occasional overnight wear is acceptable....

Certainly that does not mean there are not better choices out there. After all Ocuflox and Ciloxin are both FDA approved for treatment of bacterial keratitis, while neither Vigamox nor Zymar are. I am sure there are many practitioners out there Rxing the 4th generation fluroquinilones for that very purpose.
I don’t think I would willingly put a hydrogel lens with only 38% H20 and a Dk/t of 14.0 onto my eye and sleep in them, especially when there are lenses out there with a Dk/t 170+… would you?

 

[sco1styear]

Certainly that does not mean there are not better choices out there. After all Ocuflox and Ciloxin are both FDA approved for treatment of bacterial keratitis, while neither Vigamox nor Zymar are. I am sure there are many practitioners out there Rxing the 4th generation fluroquinilones for that very purpose.
I don’t think I would willingly put a hydrogel lens with only 38% H20 and a Dk/t of 14.0 onto my eye and sleep in them, especially when there are lenses out there with a Dk/t 170+… would you?

I agree completely, I was just stating a fact 🙂

 

[KHE]

Are you kidding me? Holy Crap! Yeah, it's EXACTLY the same as that. Are you even practicing yet?? My point is that home-slice here, ought to be able to just fine through either one of these lenes, and that it's not due to the fact that it's a 38 and not a 66 that things are blurry.

I've been practicing for 6 years. Thank you for asking.

It was you who posted that long list of differences and then made the assertion that "for all intents and purposes they are exactly the same." If you were referring to prescription power, you should have said that.

I will disagree however that someone who wears a -4.00 in a SL 66 will automatically need a -4.00 in a SL 38.

And what, in the name of Christ is a "home-slice?"

 

[sco1styear]

yeah to wear continuously, including sleep, for up to 2 weeks before replacing. is that not recommended with either SL 66 or 38?




i will when i get the chance, but in the meantime the advice given here has been very good. for example now i know why i got SL 38 instead of 66.....because SL 66 has been discontinued by B&L.

Just curiosity - did you see your optometrist for a contact lens appointment and were then given these lenses or were you out and called and they ordered you some more? When was the last time you had your eyes examined by this doctor?

 

[jchod]

I've been practicing for 6 years. Thank you for asking.

It was you who posted that long list of differences and then made the assertion that "for all intents and purposes they are exactly the same." If you were referring to prescription power, you should have said that.

I will disagree however that someone who wears a -4.00 in a SL 66 will automatically need a -4.00 in a SL 38.

And what, in the name of Christ is a "home-slice?"

Thats fine you can disagree, you can be the winner, whatever....

 

[drgregory]

Go and see your doctor.

yeah. go see the brainiac doctor who gave you those particular lenses for EW. maybe he'll switch you out for some PMMA lenses and tell you to sleep in those.

 

[sco1styear]

Let's not bicker, guys! We should all be in a fantastic mood - after-all, I just finished my last final of my second year!!!! 🙂

 

[xmattODx]

Edit to say: ummmm... nevermind...

 

[KHE]

Thats fine you can disagree, you can be the winner, whatever....

Ummmmm, ok. 😕

But would you mind filling me in on what a "home-slice" is?

 

[zambo]

i called them up and talked to another optometrist than the one i previously had and explained the situation and he said i should NOT be sleeping in either the SL 66 or 38! wtf! this is after MONTHS of being told i could sleep in the SL 66 lenses i originally had, and also being told i could sleep in the SL 38 lenses i got this time around. he said he would exchange the lenses for a brand called Pure Vision. apparently you can sleep in those. can anyone confirm if this is right, cuz i don't know who to believe after this fiasco?

 

[POJO]

i called them up and talked to another optometrist than the one i previously had and explained the situation and he said i should NOT be sleeping in either the SL 66 or 38! wtf! this is after MONTHS of being told i could sleep in the SL 66 lenses i originally had, and also being told i could sleep in the SL 38 lenses i got this time around. he said he would exchange the lenses for a brand called Pure Vision. apparently you can sleep in those. can anyone confirm if this is right, cuz i don't know who to believe after this fiasco?

Dear zambo,

The clinical use of a labeled FDA device is often in the purview of the optometrist' judement. How one optometerist may recommend the use of one kind of lens will differ with another's advice. Generally, though, you have two different camps of practitioners, like in any discipline. There are those who are a bit more cautious and conservative and there are others who are a bit more venturesome.

In the case of continuous (ratrher than extended) wear, there is still a significant amount of controversy amongst practitioners. Whether a medical device is approved or not approved does not mean that everyone is guaranteed a particular result.

Therefore, you may go ahead and try the Pureview (B&L), but your success cannot be guaranteed by any means by anyone.

 

[zambo]

Dear zambo,

The clinical use of a labeled FDA device is often in the purview of the optometrist' judement. How one optometerist may recommend the use of one kind of lens will differ with another's advice. Generally, though, you have two different camps of practitioners, like in any discipline. There are those who are a bit more cautious and conservative and there are others who are a bit more venturesome.

In the case of continuous (ratrher than extended) wear, there is still a significant amount of controversy amongst practitioners. Whether a medical device is approved or not approved does not mean that everyone is guaranteed a particular result.

Therefore, you may go ahead and try the Pureview (B&L), but your success cannot be guaranteed by any means by anyone.

thanks POJO. is Pureview the same thing as Pure Vision? because he said Pure Vision over the phone.

by the way, is there a "gold standard" brand of extended-wear lenses (that you can sleep in) that are known to be better than the rest?

 

[POJO]

thanks POJO. is Pureview the same thing as Pure Vision? because he said Pure Vision over the phone.

by the way, is there a "gold standard" brand of extended-wear lenses (that you can sleep in) that are known to be better than the rest?

My apologies, it should have been Purevision. As to your second question, I don't think there is a gold standard.

 

[blazenmadison]

My apologies, it should have been Purevision. As to your second question, I don't think there is a gold standard.

What about CIBA Night and Day?

 

[POJO]

What about CIBA Night and Day?

Thanks blazenmadison,

I believe that the gold standard that contacts of any kind should aspire to is spectacle wear.

1. Inobtrusive like spectacle wear with little maintenance or comfort concerns
2. As safe as spectacle wear with no signs of physiologic or morphologic changes of the eye during or after lens wear
3. Seeing as well as a spectacle which in many cases only a spectacle can accomplish.

 

[UABopt]

What about CIBA Night and Day?

The Night and Day lenses have the highest Dk/T on the market as of today. These lenses also have a relatively low water content, so may require some getting used to. I have never worn these lenses personally, but I have heard mixed reviews from both people in my class and patients. Some people love them, some people hate them, very few seem to be indifferent. These lenses are approved for 30 days of continuous wear but like others on this thread have said some practitioners are conservative.

It is always best to follow your doctor's replacement and care regimen that was prescribed to you by the doctor as this can all be very individualized. What is appropriate for one patient may be totally contraindicated in another patient.

 

[66Lenses]

Just curiosity - did you see your optometrist for a contact lens appointment and were then given these lenses or were you out and called and they ordered you some more? When was the last time you had your eyes examined by this doctor?

Great question.
For lenses, getting checked yearly is recommended.
Slight changes in eyesight can be overly magnified with contact lenses.