Contact Lenses

Over 30 million Americans wear contact lenses, according to the American Optometric Association. New advances in contact lens technology now allow some children with refractive errors to wear contact lenses at a young age, under the supervision of an experienced doctor. Multifocal contact lenses are also available to help baby boomers achieve clear and convenient vision correction at all distances. Ask one of our experienced doctors about whether or not contact lenses are right for you or your child! We offer contact lenses from the following companies:

Benefits of Contact Lenses

Unlike glasses, contact lenses move with your eyes so you can enjoy a larger field of vision with fewer distortions. You also don’t have to deal with frames hovering in your peripheral vision or external lenses that fog up on cold days or get wet in the rain.

How Often Should Contact Lenses Be Replaced?

For optimal vision and safety, contact lenses should be worn only for a designated amount of time before they need to be replaced with a new pair. Your doctor will likely provide you with a sufficient supply of lenses so that you can conveniently replace them when required for continued clear vision.

With continued wear, protein and lipid deposits begin to accumulate on the surface of the lens, which weakens its corrective powers and eventually leaves patients with poor vision if worn for too long. Following the designated replacement schedule ensures safe and effective vision results.

Depending on the type of lenses selected, replacements may be needed quarterly, monthly, every 1-2 weeks or daily. In between replacements, the lenses will need to be cleaned and disinfected after each use (except for daily wear lenses). Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions for the replacement of your lenses.

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Types of Contact Lenses

There are several different types of contact lenses available to correct a wide range of refractive errors. The most common types include:

• Spherical lenses – for correction of nearsightedness and farsightedness
• Toric lenses – for correction of astigmatism
• Bifocal lenses – for correction of presbyopia (age-related loss of focusing ability)

In addition to the type of refractive error they correct, lenses may also be clear or tinted for convenience, therapeutic or cosmetic purposes. The different tints available include:

• Cosmetic enhancements – designed to enhance the natural eye color and ideal for light-colored eyes, which will appear as a blend of the natural color and lens tint
• Opaque or “cosmetic” tints – change the color of dark or light eyes by overlying the colored part of the eye for a noticeable yet natural-looking result
• Visibility tints – very pale colorings that help make the lens more visible during handling, while having no affect on eye color

How do I choose the right Contact Lens Solution?

After being fitted for contact lenses, your doctor will recommend a lens care system to clean and disinfect the lenses and make them as safe and comfortable as possible. It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions for care and avoid mixing different solutions, which may lead to discolored lenses, eye discomfort or eye injury. Most solutions for soft contact lenses perform the following functions:

• • Daily cleaning – first step to remove debris that accumulates on the lens
  • Disinfecting – kills any bacteria or fungus on the lens
  • Rinsing and storing – often combined with disinfecting to keep lenses clean and safe
  • Comfort or lubricating drops – relieve dry eyes for long days
  • Protein removal – removes protein deposits and restores a clean lens surface

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