According to James Atwood, M.D., president of Contact Lens Consulting and Education Worlwide, success with extended-wear lenses depends on the following criteria:

• Careful patient selection.
Choose patients who have good reasons for preferring extended wear, such as long hours at work or very high prescriptions. These patients are more likely to be compliant.
• Regular follow-up.
Require appointments every 6 months. Consider sending a warning letter to patients who don't return for follow-ups.
• Lubricant use.
Extended-wear patients should use a lubricating eyedrop in the morning to help flush the metabolic waste products that get trapped behind the contact lens. These can lead to the development of mid-pheral corneal ulcers.