CONTACT LENSES

CAN I WEAR CONTACT LENSES?
In order to be fitted for contact lenses, your doctor will need to conduct a comprehensive eye exam. It is important to test the health of your eye because lenses are worn directly on the surface of the eye. Once the test is complete, the doctor will have an accurate understanding of the strength of the eye and the level of correction needed. He or she then can recommend the best contact lens for your eyes and visual needs.

HOW DO I GET CONTACT LENSES?
Once your eye doctor determines that you can wear contact lenses a contact lens fitting is needed. During the fitting, the doctor will place several diagnostic or trial lenses on the eye to determine which lens fits the best and provides the best vision. The doctor then will explain how the lenses are to be cleaned and worn. You should follow the schedule for wearing your contacts as instructed by your doctor. The doctor will see you for several follow-up visits over the course of the first few months after the contact lens fitting to make sure the lenses are not harming the eyes. The power and fit of the lens will also be reevaluated during these visits before the final contact lens prescription is determined.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONTACT LENSES?

RIGID GAS-PERMEABLE: These contacts are constructed with a special plastic that allows the eyes to receive oxygen. These lenses allow for high-quality vision but take more time than soft lenses before feeling comfortable. They come in tints and in bifocal form. Patients must wear these lenses frequently in order to maintain a proper fit and to keep them from slipping from the center of the eye.

DAILY-WEAR SOFT LENSES: These lenses are constructed of a soft plastic that enables the eyes to receive oxygen. Most people find the lenses to be very comfortable shortly after being placed on the eye. Unlike rigid lenses, they can be worn on an infrequent basis and almost never fall out. They also are available in tints and bifocals and are ideal for an active lifestyle. Daily wear soft lenses may not offer the same quality of vision as rigid lenses and require more work to care for the lenses. Daily-wear lenses should be replaced annually.

EXTENDED-WEAR: These lenses may be worn overnight and are available in either soft or RGP lenses. The main advantage of this lens is that it can be worn continuously.

PLANNED REPLACEMENT: These are soft contact lenses that are worn daily and are replaced on either a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. They are easy to clean and maintain, and are available in many prescriptions.

DISPOSABLE: These are soft contact lenses that can be worn up to one month and then discarded. They generally do not need to be cleaned and are available in tints and bifocals. They are also available in many prescriptions. These lenses can also be worn on a daily basis.

ARE THERE BIFOCAL CONTACT LENSES?
Yes. Bifocal contact lenses are available in both rigid and soft designs. The soft lenses come in daily wear and disposable. Most of the bifocal lenses have a concentric design meaning the center has the far prescription and outer portion has the near prescription. Bifocal contact lenses do not work for everyone and your eye care provider can let you know if you would be a good candidate.

I NEED BIFOCALS TO SEE, CAN I WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes. There are several options available for people over 40 who need both a distance and reading correction.

DISTANCE LENSES Contacts can be fit to correct the distance vision and reading glasses can be used over the contacts.

MONOVISON LENSES In this situation, a distance contact lens is fit to the dominant eye and a reading contact lens is fit to the other eye. This is the most common way of correcting near vision needs with contact lenses.

BIFOCAL LENSES This is the one of the fastest growing segments of the contact lens market. New designs are being developed continually and depending on the prescription, this may be an ideal way to correct the vision.

CAN CONTACT LENSES HARM THE EYE?
A contact lens is a medical device and changes the physiology of the front surface of the eye. As such, if abused, it has the ability to lead to serious complications that can cause vision loss and in rare cases, blindness. It is important to always follow your eye doctor's instructions and have regular exams if you wear contact lenses. If redness or pain occurs, remove the contact lens and contact your eye doctor immediately.

WHAT IS THE PROPER AGE FOR KIDS TO BEGIN WEARING CONTACT LENSES?
The answer is that even infants can and do wear contact lenses. Practically speaking, most kids are mature enough by age10-12 to care for contacts because they realize that it is a privilege to have their parents trust them with such an adult responsibility. For many kids, their self-esteem may change when they begin wearing contact lenses. They feel more confidence and may become less shy which can aid in the development of improved social skills.