Category: Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses gives patients the flexibility and freedom to live life to the fullest, without some of the difficulties presented by wearing glasses. Many people who choose contact lenses do so because they don’t like the way that glasses look or feel, or because wearing glasses compromises their ability to perform certain tasks or activities, such as sports or jobs that require the use of safety goggles. 

There are lots of different contact lenses to choose from, with two of the most popular being daily disposables and toric lenses. 
 

Disposable Lenses

As their name suggests, these daily contact lenses are disposable. This means that they can and should be discarded at the end of each day rather than re-worn. Disposable lenses do tend to be a little more expensive than some repeat-wear varieties, but the benefits usually outweigh the cost. 

Some of the advantages of choosing daily disposable contact lenses include:

• You don’t have to clean them, which saves patients a great deal of time and hassle. It also helps save money in terms of the ongoing cost of cleaning solution. 
• Disposable lenses are also great for people with eye allergies. This is because with ordinary lenses, there’s an opportunity for deposits and microorganisms to build up. With daily disposables, allergens have less chance to attach themselves to the lenses and cause irritation and other allergy symptoms. 
• You don’t need to schedule regular replacements either, which makes wearing contact lenses easier on your schedule. 
• Disposable contact lenses are particularly good for people who have busy lives and are likely to cut corners when it comes to caring for their eyes or contacts since there is no cleaning or maintenance required.

Daily disposable contact lenses are available in a wide range of prescriptions, including those for patients with nearsightedness and farsightedness. Your eye doctor will be able to advise you if you are a candidate for disposable contact lenses. 
 

Toric Lenses

Toric contact lenses are recommended for patients who have a refractive eye problem called astigmatism. Patients with astigmatism have corneal abnormalities that cause the refraction of the eye to be different between the vertical and horizontal planes, causing blurred vision and difficulty seeing fine details. Toric contact lenses are shaped in a particular way that creates the different focusing powers needed in each part of the lens to correct your vision. For this reason, it’s essential that Toric lenses are placed into the eyes in the correct position.

Fortunately, manufacturers design Toric lenses with features that help them to stay in place, including:

• Thin/thick zones
• Creating areas of the lens that are thicker or heavier which helps secure it in position 
• An area where the bottom of the lens is slightly cut off 

To keep them stable, Toric lenses are a little firmer than conventional soft lenses. This means that some patients can find them a little less comfortable, but the superior vision they obtain outweighs this. Your eye doctor will be able to advise you if you are a good candidate for Toric contact lenses and which variety would best suit you. 

For many, contact lenses offer the freedom to see clearly without the need for glasses. However, every pair of eyes is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach to contact lens fitting doesn’t work. Advanced contact lens fitting provides personalized vision correction tailored to each patient’s needs. Whether you have a standard prescription or more complex vision challenges, always have your provider find the right lens for you.

Cutting-Edge Technology

Cutting-edge technology ensures a precise and comfortable contact lens fit. Every eye is different, and achieving the best vision and comfort requires a specialized approach. With a wide range of contact lenses available, providers can ensure those with complex prescriptions receive the best possible vision correction.

The advanced fitting process begins with a comprehensive evaluation of your eye shape, prescription, and tear film quality. Using diagnostic lenses and corneal topography, then you assess the ideal fit for your eyes. Follow-up care is also a key part of the approach, allowing for adjustments as needed to ensure long-term comfort and optimal vision.

Contact Lens Options For Every Need

There is a full range of contact lens options, including:

•          Spherical Lenses – Designed for nearsightedness or farsightedness, these are the most commonly prescribed soft contact lenses.

•          Toric Lenses – Specially made for patients with astigmatism, these lenses provide stable, clear vision.

•          Multifocal Lenses – Ideal for presbyopia, these lenses offer multiple prescription powers, reducing the need for reading glasses.

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses

RGP lenses are made from oxygen-permeable material that maintains its shape on the eye, providing sharper vision than traditional soft lenses. These lenses are particularly beneficial for individuals with high astigmatism or irregular corneas. Additionally, RGP lenses promote better oxygen flow to the eye, reducing dryness and irritation. While they may require an initial adjustment period, many patients find that RGP lenses offer superior clarity, durability, and long-term comfort.

Scleral Lenses

Scleral lenses are larger than standard lenses and rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera), creating a fluid-filled layer between the lens and the cornea. These lenses offer unique advantages:

•          Ideal for Irregular Corneas – Patients with keratoconus, corneal scarring, or post-surgical complications often achieve better vision and comfort with scleral lenses compared to traditional options.

•          Relief for Severe Dry Eye – The fluid layer beneath the lens provides constant hydration, making scleral lenses an excellent choice for individuals with chronic dry eye who struggle with conventional soft lenses.

In the evolving world of vision correction, multifocal contact lenses have emerged for individuals seeking a seamless solution to address their presbyopia. Throughout life, our eyes may undergo changes that can impact your ability to focus clearly on objects at different distances. Multifocal contact lenses offer a convenient and effective way to combat this challenge, providing you with a versatile and comfortable option for correcting your vision.
 

What Are Multifocal Contact Lenses?

Multifocal contact lenses are specialized lenses designed to correct presbyopia, a condition that typically occurs as you age, making it difficult to focus on near objects. Unlike traditional single-vision lenses that correct either near or distance vision, multifocal contact lenses incorporate multiple prescriptions into a single lens. This innovative design allows you to enjoy clear vision at various distances, eliminating the need for separate reading glasses or bifocals.
 

How Do Multifocal Contact Lenses Work?

Multifocal contact lenses employ advanced optical technologies to provide seamless vision correction. These lenses feature distinct zones or concentric rings that correspond to different prescriptions for near, intermediate, and distance vision. As your eyes move and focus on objects at varying distances, the appropriate zone of the lens comes into play, ensuring a clear and comfortable visual experience.

There are two main types of multifocal contact lens designs:

• Simultaneous Vision Design: In this design, the lens incorporates multiple prescriptions simultaneously, allowing your eyes to utilize the appropriate zone based on the viewing distance. This design can take some time to adjust to, as your brain learns to interpret the different visual inputs.
• Alternating Vision Design: Also known as “segmented” or “translating” lenses, these lenses have distinct zones for near and distance vision. As you move your eyes or shift your gaze, the appropriate zone is positioned in front of your pupil, providing the necessary correction.

Eye Conditions That Multifocal Contact Lenses Can Treat

Multifocal contact lenses are primarily designed to address the following vision-related conditions:
 

• Presbyopia: As you age, the natural lenses in your eyes lose flexibility, making it challenging to focus on nearby objects. Multifocal contact lenses can correct this age-related farsightedness, allowing you to see clearly at all distances.
• Myopia (Nearsightedness): If you struggle to see distant objects clearly, multifocal contact lenses can incorporate a prescription to correct myopia, while also providing near and intermediate vision correction.
• Hyperopia (Farsightedness): For individuals with farsightedness, multifocal contact lenses can offer a solution by incorporating a prescription to improve distance vision, along with near and intermediate vision correction.
• Astigmatism: Some multifocal contact lenses are designed to correct astigmatism, a condition caused by an irregularly shaped cornea or lens, resulting in blurred or distorted vision.

Benefits Of Using Multifocal Contact Lenses

Choosing multifocal contact lenses can offer numerous advantages, including:
 

• Clear Vision at All Distances: With their innovative design, multifocal contact lenses provide you with clear vision for near, intermediate, and distance tasks, eliminating the need for multiple pairs of glasses or constantly switching between them.
• Convenience and Versatility: By combining multiple prescriptions into a single lens, multifocal contact lenses offer unparalleled convenience and versatility, allowing you to seamlessly transition between various activities without compromising your visual clarity.
• Natural Appearance: Unlike traditional bifocal or progressive lenses, multifocal contact lenses provide a more natural-looking solution, as the corrective zones are integrated directly into the lens, eliminating the visible lines or segments found in eyeglasses.
• Improved Depth Perception: With multifocal contact lenses, you can enjoy improved depth perception and spatial awareness, as both eyes receive consistent visual input, enhancing your overall visual experience.
• Reduced Eye Strain: By eliminating the need to constantly switch between different pairs of glasses or squint to see clearly, multifocal contact lenses can help reduce eye strain and fatigue, promoting better overall eye health and comfort.

If you’re interested in exploring the benefits of multifocal contact lenses, schedule an appointment with an experienced optometrist today. They will conduct a comprehensive eye exam, evaluate your vision needs, and recommend the best multifocal contact lens solution tailored to your unique requirements.

Contact lenses come in a variety of shapes and styles to suit the range of needs for individual patients. What this means is that there is almost certainly a type of contact lens that will both feel comfortable for you and improve your vision. 
 

Some types of contact lenses are known as speciality lenses. This is because they are designed specifically to overcome some eye issues which may prevent a patient from wearing the most common and generic styles of contact lenses. In fact, speciality contact lenses have transformed the vision options of many patients who would otherwise have only had the choice between wearing glasses or undergoing laser vision correction. There are numerous types of speciality contact lens, including scleral lenses.
 

What Are Scleral Lenses?

Scleral contact lenses get their name from the fact that, unlike regular contacts, they vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the white part of the eye, which is called the sclera. This makes them larger than standard contacts, which in turn provides a variety of benefits. Their size makes them easier to handle and more stable when on the eye, which in turn provides the patient with sharper and more reliable vision. They are also less likely to become dislodged and come out. 

Scleral contact lenses are also gas permeable, which means that oxygen can pass right through them and reach the surface of the eyes. This is important for comfort, particularly for patients who experience dry eyes. The gap that is created between the back of the contact lens and the front surface of the eye can also trap tear film, acting as a fluid reservoir which will keep the eyes moist and healthy. 
 

Types Of Scleral Lenses

Within scleral lenses there are several different sizes to choose between. These are based on where the lenses meet the surface of the eye and are as follows:

Full scleral lenses: the largest type, they provide the greatest amount of clearance between the cornea and lens and rest on the outer sclera. 

Mini scleral lenses: the mid-size variety, make contact with the eye on the anterior sclera. 

Semi-scleral lenses: although larger than conventional lenses, they are not huge, and the edge of the contact lens rests on the junction between the cornea and the sclera. 

Your scleral lens provider will be able to make a recommendation as to the correct size for you, which will be based on your individual requirements. 
 

Who Are Scleral Lenses Recommended For?

Although technically anyone can wear and benefit from scleral lenses, they are a particularly good option for patients who have eye conditions or irregularities that for which regular contacts are not suitable. This includes patients with:

Dye eye syndrome. Contact lenses float on a fine layer of tear film, which keeps them comfortable and in position. Patients with dry eye syndrome either do not have enough natural tear film, or what they do have drains away too quickly. This can
make wearing regular contact lenses difficult and uncomfortable. However, the design of scleral lenses keeps moisture on the surface of the eyes, eliminating some of the effects of dry eyes. This makes scleral lenses a great choice for patients with dry eyes. 

Irregular corneas. The cornea is the clear dome that covers the front part of the eye and many people have a cornea that is a slightly, or significantly, irregular shape. This causes light to be refracted incorrectly when it enters our eyes, triggering vision problems. Issues arising from irregularly shaped corneas cannot be completely corrected using glasses or conventional contact lenses. Therefore, scleral lenses, which provide sharper and more accurate vision, are recommended. 

Colored contacts have become increasingly popular over the years as a way to enhance your look and experiment with different eye colors. Whether you want to change your eye color for a special occasion or simply for everyday wear, colored contacts offer a fun and versatile option.
 

Different Types Of Colored Contacts

When it comes to colored contacts, there are various types to choose from, depending on your preferences and needs. The three main categories are cosmetic, enhancement, and opaque lenses.
 

Cosmetic lenses are designed to completely change the color of your eyes. These lenses come in a wide range of shades, from natural hues such as blue, green, and brown, to more vibrant colors like purple, gray, and even red. Cosmetic lenses can create a dramatic transformation and give you the eye color you desire.
 

Enhancement lenses, on the other hand, are designed to enhance your natural eye color rather than change it completely. They add depth and intensity to your eyes, making them appear brighter and more vibrant. Enhancement lenses are ideal if you want a subtle change that enhances your natural beauty.
 

Opaque lenses are specifically designed to cover dark-colored eyes. They are ideal for individuals with naturally dark eyes who want to achieve a lighter or more vibrant eye color. Opaque lenses are often used in theatrical or costume applications as they can create a striking and captivating look.

The Importance Of A Contact Lens Exam

A contact lens exam is essential to ensure that your eyes are healthy and suitable for wearing colored contacts. During the exam, an optometrist will evaluate your eye health, measure your eye curvature, and determine the appropriate contact lens prescription for you.
 

The contact lens exam also involves a fitting process to ensure that the lenses fit properly on your eyes. Ill-fitting contacts can cause discomfort, irritation, and even damage to your eyes. By having an optometrist conduct a contact lens exam, you can ensure that your lenses fit correctly and are safe to wear.
 

Additionally, a contact lens exam allows the optometrist to provide you with proper instructions on how to insert, remove, and care for your colored contacts. They will educate you on the correct cleaning and disinfection methods to maintain the health and longevity of your lenses. Following these guidelines will help prevent eye infections and other complications associated with wearing contacts.
 

If you’re ready to enhance your look with colored contacts, schedule a contact lens exam with your optometrist today. We will guide you through the process and help you find the perfect colored contacts to suit your style and vision needs.