Acuvue protein deposit war

I use Acuvue Advance for astigmatism soft contacts for one eye, and
Acuvue 2 for the other eye. The Acuvue 2 is fine, but the Advance
accumulates protein deposits like crazy. After about 1 week, it's
fairly noticeable. If I would continue to wear them 2 weeks, it starts
obstructing my vision and irritating the eye. This all started when my
optometrist changed my prescription slightly for the eye with
astigmatism, which wasn't available in the Acuvue 2 anymore.
Apparently the Advance is a different type of plastic. Previously,
both contacts were Acuvue 2 and lasted for months with no problems.

So, I got a box of AMO Ultrazyme (subtilisin A) enzyme tablets, all
excited, thinking this would clear it up. Nope. They were practically
the
same after cleaning. I use hydrogen peroxide disinfection every day,
and
the contacts were in the peroxide with Ultrazyme for at least 12
hours. I
used another enzyme tablet in the next day's peroxide but that didn't
do
much either. I cleaned the contact with Miraflow first then tried the
enzyme again. I didn't see any improvement. (In case you're wondering
why
I haven't been using Miraflow all along: I was told to use it everyday
when I first got contacts. Eventually, I was told I don't need it and
just
need to use multipurpose solution. This was fine for a long time until
I
started using Acuvue Advance. I pulled out my old bottle of Miraflow
as a
last resort, which expired in 2003.)

The deposits are white colored, and in random places on the lens. I
rub
them with my fingers before and after cleaning/enzyme. Now, based upon
a
new contact I've opened that has had Miraflow on it every day, I'm
thinking
that using Miraflow daily might prevent the problem. But what bothers
me
is the inability to clean this other heavily soiled contact despite
what
I've thrown at it. Does nothing take this stuff off?

On Mar 29, 10:54*am, hon...@yahoo.com wrote:
> I use Acuvue Advance for astigmatism soft contacts for one eye, and
> Acuvue 2 for the other eye. *The Acuvue 2 is fine, but the Advance
> accumulates protein deposits like crazy. After about 1 week, it's
> fairly noticeable. If I would continue to wear them 2 weeks, it starts
> obstructing my vision and irritating the eye. This all started when my
> optometrist changed my prescription slightly for the eye with
> astigmatism, which wasn't available in the Acuvue 2 anymore.
> Apparently the Advance is a different type of plastic. Previously,
> both contacts were Acuvue 2 and lasted for months with no problems.
>
> So, I got a box of AMO Ultrazyme (subtilisin A) enzyme tablets, all
> excited, thinking this would clear it up. Nope. They were practically
> the
> same after cleaning. I use hydrogen peroxide disinfection every day,
> and
> the contacts were in the peroxide with Ultrazyme for at least 12
> hours. I
> used another enzyme tablet in the next day's peroxide but that didn't
> do
> much either. I cleaned the contact with Miraflow first then tried the
> enzyme again. I didn't see any improvement. (In case you're wondering
> why
> I haven't been using Miraflow all along: I was told to use it everyday
> when I first got contacts. Eventually, I was told I don't need it and
> just
> need to use multipurpose solution. This was fine for a long time until
> I
> started using Acuvue Advance. I pulled out my old bottle of Miraflow
> as a
> last resort, which expired in 2003.)
>
> The deposits are white colored, and in random places on the lens. I
> rub
> them with my fingers before and after cleaning/enzyme. Now, based upon
> a
> new contact I've opened that has had Miraflow on it every day, I'm
> thinking
> that using Miraflow daily might prevent the problem. But what bothers
> me
> is the inability to clean this other heavily soiled contact despite
> what
> I've thrown at it. Does nothing take this stuff off?

Acuvue Advance is one of the silicon hydrogels. It doesn't pick up
protein but will attract lipids which are very difficult, if not
impossible, to remove.

Return to your fitter for assessment. You may need to do something
about the amount of lipid your eyes produce or you may need a
different lens.

Dr Judy

On Mar 29, 5:24*pm, "Mike Tyner" <mty...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> <hon...@yahoo.com> wrote
>
> > obstructing my vision and irritating the eye. This all started when my
> > optometrist changed my prescription slightly for the eye with
> > astigmatism, which wasn't available in the Acuvue 2 anymore.
>
> Your optometrist switched you to a lens for astigmatism, and both Acuvue
> torics are made from silicone hydrogels. *Some people have a problem with
> Acuvue Advance and not the other silicone hydrogels. There are plenty of
> other torics you could try, or you could ask for a revised Acuvue 2 and just
> tolerate a little blur in that eye.
>
> > is the inability to clean this other heavily soiled contact despite
> > what I've thrown at it. Does nothing take this stuff off?
>
> Some people respond strangely to one silicone hydrogel, but not to others..
> Your individual reaction suggests that cleaning is futile. You need a
> different lens - either a different toric, or a slightly blurry Acuvue 2.
>
> -MT, OD

Thank you both for your responses. The info about it being lipids and
not protein, and trying other silicone hydrogels gives me something to
start from.