Contact lenses are an excellent option for vision correction in many patients. When used and cared for properly, contact lenses are a healthy and convenient way to enhance your vision and your lifestyle.

Your doctor will discuss the option that is best for you. Many patients choose contact lenses for their primary vision correction and glasses as a backup option while others wear contact lenses part-time for specific activities, such as social events or sports.

Contact Lens Types

There are contact lenses available for most any type of prescription – myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia. Your doctor is an expert in contact lens fitting and will present the many options to you based on your eyes, your prescription, and your lifestyle. There are many contact lens options including:

Soft Disposable Lenses

We have learned through research and decades of experience that it is most healthyyou’re your eyes to disposing of your contact lenses on a regular basis, rather than wearing the same pair of lenses for a year as with conventional lenses of the past. Your doctor may prescribe a lens that is replaced every two weeks or monthly, or even daily disposable if it is of benefit to you.

A soft spherical lens contains just one power, while a toric lens corrects for astigmatism and a multifocal lens gives patients the ability to see both distance and near when presbyopia (the need for reading glasses) is a factor.

Soft colored lenses are available to change eye color and are also available as a disposable lens option.

Extended Wear Soft Lenses

Extended wear lenses, the result of new technology in lens materials, transmit more oxygen to the cornea of the eye and are approved by the FDA for overnight wear. Your doctor may present this as an option to some patients and will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of overnight wear. Only special lenses specifically intended for overnight wear should be worn overnight. Lenses with lower oxygen transmisability are not approved for overnight wear and wearing these lenses overnight may cause damage to the eyes, possibly even permanent damage.

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses

Rigid gas permeable lenses are small, rigid lenses made of highly oxygen permeable materials. Because the lens is rigid, light passes through the lens more cleanly and efficiently than through a soft lens, and often with better vision. RGP lenses are often used for patients with more complicated prescription needs. Our doctors have years of experience fitting gas permeable lenses. If you’ve been told you cannot wear soft lenses, RGP lenses may be a great alternative. RGP lenses are available in specialized designs to correct many types of vision disorders.

Solutions

There are a variety of solutions available from many different manufacturers, including brand name and generics. It is important to remember that not every solution is right for every type of contact lens and not every solution is right for every contact lens wearer. Use only the contact lens solutions that are recommended by your doctor. If you are considering changing brands, check with our office first.

Contact Lens Care Made Easy!

Contact lenses are prescription medical devices. When worn as directed and when properly cared for, contact lens wear can be safe and convenient for decades. To make sure your eyes and vision stay healthy while wearing contact lenses, please follow these few simple guidelines.

Warning: Ocular complications and/or long-term corneal damage are the consequences of contact lenses that are worn longer than recommended. Oftentimes, your lenses will still feel good even when you are over-wearing them. Do not wear your lenses overnight unless they are approved for extended wear and your doctor has discussed this with you. Overnight wear increases the risk of infection and other complications.

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All About Vision: Contact Lenses