Contact Lenses
What are contact lenses?
Recent advances in contact lens technology have been incredible. People who could not wear contact lenses are experiencing more comfort and better vision with the new generations of contact lenses.
Contact lenses are clear discs placed on the eye to correct various vision problems. When placed on the cornea (the front of the eye), they help focus light entering the eye onto the retina, thus replacing glasses and giving clear vision. The advantages of contact lenses are that they can replace glasses, possibly give you better vision when you look at odd angles (because there are no frames to block side vision) and improve peripheral vision for people who wear strong glasses. It also can improve your self-image and provide a better cosmetic look for those who do not like glasses. There are additional advantages for people who participate in activities such as athletics, photography, etc.
Contact lenses can correct myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and presbyopia. They can help give clear vision after cataract operations, cornea transplants and various problems with the cornea – keratoconus, for example.Types of contact lenses
Contact lenses come in many different sizes, shapes and materials. Basically, there are two types of lenses: the hard, or gas permeable, lens and the soft lens. These lenses can be subdivided into lenses you can wear for an extended period of time, daily or disposable lenses. You can also get bifocal contact lenses, toric lenses, which correct astigmatism, and tinted lenses, which can change the color of your eyes.
Soft lenses are soft, flexible and comfortable contact lenses. These lenses are easy to adapt to and can be worn for long periods of time, usually with very little discomfort. The disadvantages with soft lenses are that they are not as durable as hard lenses and their life expectancy is about one year. Soft lenses require more delicate handling and cleaning.
Extended wear lenses can be left in the eye for longer periods of time, possibly one to two weeks or longer. The new disposable soft lenses can be worn between one to two weeks. When you are through wearing them, you throw them away and put a new lens in. This eliminates the need for cleaning the lenses and the use of chemicals, which can irritate your eyes.
Some recent advances have created higher water content contact lenses, which are super-thin. These are considerably more comfortable and can be left in for longer periods of time. However, with a "dry" eye problem, the lower water content lenses may afford more comfort than the higher water content lenses.
The hard, or gas permeable, lenses are made of a material that allows the cornea to "breathe." They do not need to be exchanged as often as soft lenses, but they are more difficult to get used to wearing. These lenses provide sharper, clearer vision than soft lenses for some patients.
After 40 years of age, most of us begin to require "bifocals" to see clearly. Our options have been bifocal eyeglasses or contact lenses for distance vision with reading glasses for near vision, or "monovision." Monovision entails being fit with one contact lens for near vision and one contact lens for distance vision. Confusing as this may sound, it is successful in about 50 percent of the people. Now with the advent of the soft bifocal contact lenses, we have an exciting new option. This new contact lens has eliminated many of the problems the old bifocal contact lenses presented. Patient satisfaction is high with this lens.
Which lens is best?
No one lens is right for all people, thus comes the art of contact lens fitting. Contact lens fitting starts with a comprehensive eye exam. After assessing the various factors, including the health of your eye, the shape of your cornea, the power of your prescription, the condition of your eyelids and your tear film quality, the decision of which lens would be most appropriate for you can be made.
After attempting one type of lens, it is frequently necessary to change and try a different type of lens to give you maximum comfort and vision. This is where the art of contact lens fitting comes into play - knowing which lens will work best and to know when to change to another type of lens.
After being "fitted," the next decision will be what cleaning procedure and wearing schedule will be best for you to follow. Again, this needs to be adapted and tailored to your individual needs. This will all be monitored on routine follow-up examinations and altered and changed as needed. The lenses need to be handled carefully when applying, removing and cleaning. Soft lenses need to be taken out and cleaned immediately upon removal, keeping them free of any bacteria. The soft lenses must be stored overnight in a disinfectant solution to remove any bacteria, which can compromise the integrity of the eye.Are there risks?
Putting a foreign material on the surface of the eye can, of course, present additional risks. Close follow-up can eliminate many of the more serious problems.
Who should wear contact lenses?
Contact lenses are not for everyone. Those who have a history of repeated eye infections, allergic reactions, dry eyes or work in dry or dusty areas are likely to have more problems.
Over 10 million people in the United States alone are successfully wearing contact lenses. With newer types of contact lenses and advanced technology, this number increases every year.
Before embarking on the road for a contact lens fitting, you should be aware of the cost of services, need for follow-up care, what insurance policies are available to keep the cost down and what accessories you will need.
The newest developments in designs, such as disposable contact lenses, lenses that filter ultraviolet light and lenses that can totally change the color of your eyes as well as provide clarity of vision, have revolutionized the industry.
As with all things, you must understand the risks, benefits and alternatives before being fitted and maintain good follow-up care.Contact Lens Fees
| Ciba Focus Dailies | 90 Pack - $44.50 |
| Cooper Vextex Toric Disposable | 6 Pack - $34.95 |
| Acuvue Advance Disposable w/ Hydraclear | 6 Pack - $22.95 |
| Ciba Focus 1-2 Week | 6 Pack - $18.95 |
| B&L Soflens 66 Toric For Astigmatism | 6 Pack - $34.00 |
| Freshlook Colors Disposable | 6 Pack - $39.50 |