Contact Lens | Contacts | Contact Lenses

This is a list of the most common questions received by doctors and staff.

1. Can I wear soft contact lenses if I have astigmatism?
   
   Yes, you can wear a special type of soft contact lens called a toric
   lens which will correct your astigmatism. However, these lenses are typically more expensive and there are fewer types and colors available than
   there are with regular (spherical) lenses. Recently, Wesley-Jessen introduced a 2-week disposable toric lens, the Freshlook Toric. Several manufacturers including Ciba (Focus) and Coopervision (Preference) produce 1-3 month frequent replacement toric lenses.

    
   

2. Is a contact lens prescription different than a glasses prescription?
   
   Yes. When you order contact lenses, you must have a current contact lens prescription which specifies the power of the lenses, the size of the
   lens, the type and brand of lens.
   

    
   

3. If my 2 week disposable lenses are still comfortable and in good condition beyond 2 weeks, can I continue to wear the same pair?
   
   In order to maintain optimal eye health and comfort, it is important to adhere to the wearing schedule prescribed by your doctor. The main
   advantage of wearing disposable lenses is that you are putting a fresh new pair of lenses in your eyes every 2 weeks. Also, the convenient cleaning
   regimen of a disposable lens is only adequate for a 2 week wearing schedule.
   

    
   

4. If I only wear my 2 week disposable contacts part time, do I still have to replace them every 2 weeks?
   
   No, the 2 weeks refers to the actual amount of wearing time so they can last longer than 2 weeks if you are not wearing them full time.
   

    
   

5. What's the difference between rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses and soft lenses?
   
   RGPs are smaller and made out of a harder, less pliable material than soft lenses which makes them less comfortable initially. RGPs correct astigmatism
   whereas soft spherical lenses do not.
   

    
   

6. Can I swim with my contact lenses in?
   
   It is best if you don't because there are bacteria in the water that can adhere to your lenses and cause infections. If you do swim in your lenses,
   you should wear goggles over them and you should disinfect them immediately afterwards.
   

    
   

7. Why is it necessary for contact lens wearers to have regular eye exams even if their prescription hasn't changed?
   
   Regular eye exams are important not only to check your prescription but also to evaluate the health of your eyes. This is especially important for
   contact lens wearers because the contacts could be causing damage to your eyes without necessarily causing any obvious symptoms.
   

    
   
   

8. I wear contact lenses and in order for me to read, I have to wear reading glasses over them. Are there any other alternatives whereby I don't have to wear glasses at all?
   
   Yes, the most common option is called monovision where one eye is corrected for viewing distant objects and the other eye is corrected for reading and close work. Monovision is a good solution for some people, but not everbody can successfully adapt to the arrangement. Another alternative is bifocal contact lenses which are available in both rigid gas permeable or soft lens designs. However, these are typically very expensive. Recently, however, Johnson and Johnson released the Acuvue Bifocal which is a two-week disposable lens and is more reasonably priced.
   

    
   

9. Do colored contact lenses work on dark eyes?
   
   Yes, they are called opaque contacts as opposed to enhancer tints which work only on light colored eyes. Year-long (daily wear and
   extended wear) opaque contacts are available in many different colors and shades but there is currently only one brand that offers a 2 week disposable
   opaque lens. These are Freshlook Opaques by Wesley-Jessen.
   
   

    
   

10. Do I still need a prescription if I just want contacts to change my eye
    color?
    
    Yes, you still need to be fitted for the lenses even if you don't
    need vision correction. This is because contact lenses are medical devices
    and wearing them can affect the health of your eyes.
    

     
    
    

11. How does the Federal Law "Fairness To Contact Lens Consumers" Act affect me?
    
    On February 4th, 2004, a Federal Law
    called the "Fairness To Contact Lens Consumers" act went into effect.
    This law made it much easier for you to
    enjoy the savings and convenience of ordering on-line.
    

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Ever since disposable contact lenses became available, they have been my contact lenses of choice. Protein deposits built up on the conventional soft contact lenses, which made them uncomfortable after a few weeks, and virtually unusable before the year was over.

The drawbacks of disposable lenses are the recurring cost. If you have an established brand that you know and trust then I suggest you buy your contacts online. Often, there are great discounts or coupon savings when you buy larger quantities.

The following online retailers offer a full range of contact lens brands and solutions. It pays to shop around for the best deal on your brand of contact lenses. Their special offers change from time to time so it's best to check again every time you order.


1-800-Contacts has been around since time began, it seems. They have very competitive prices and usually have specials available.


Lens.com has great specials, like Free Shipping, or Cash Back on certain lens orders. Their products include 1-Day Acuvue, Acuvue 2,Acuvue Advance, Acuvue Oasys, Biomedics 38, Biomedics 55, Focus 1-2 Week, Visitint, Focus Dailies, Focus Night & Day, Focus Monthly, FreshLook One Day, FreshLook ColorBlends, O2 Optix, PureVision, PureVision Multifocal, PureVision Toric, Proclear Compatibles, SofLens 38, SofLens 66 Toric, Vertex Toric


Lensmart is powered by drugstore.com. Lensmart claims to meet or beat any reputable online competitor's price. Plus, save more when you buy more with available rebates and volume discounts.

Did you know...?

Contact Lenses are health-related items that are most likely to be eligible for reimbursement using Health Savings Accounts, FSAs, or Flex Benefits. In many cases these benefits do not roll over and are gone if you do not use them by the end of the year. Stock up now on these items using your remaining FSA or Flex Benefits.

Use your FSA at Lens.com and get $25 off all orders of $199 or more use Coupon Code: FSA-LI08. Offer Expires 2/29/08

There are a lot of great discounts available if you want to buy contact lenses online. Here are some of the best deals on contacts right now:

$60 Rebate on 8 boxes or more for First Time Wearers. Expires 12/31/08


$15 off any $150 order of contact lenses. Use code DC15 in the instructions field of our order form. Expires 2/14/08.


Save up to $240 a year when you order an annual supply of contact lenses from Acuvue, Focus, and more. Free shipping with every order.


Save up to 70% on Acuvue brand contact lenses at 1-800-GET-LENS


$30 Rebate on 8 boxes or more ACUVUE® OASYS. Expires 12/31/08

Top 10 Selling Contacts

1. 1-Day Acuvue


2. Acuvue


3. Acuvue 2


4. Acuvue Advance


5. Acuvue Oasys


6. Biomedics 55


7. Focus Dailies 90PK


8. Focus Night & Day


9. FreshLook ColorBlends


10. SofLens 66 Toric

The effect of special effects contacts is amazing. I admit I haven't tried those colored or funky lenses yet but now that you can get them with corrective power I might just spice up my Halloween costume with these theatrical lenses next Halloween season.

Aside from completing your costume, these lenses are also used for Film and Theater, to create eerie monsters and frightful demons.

Here are just a few examples:


Soft Lens Technology Anime Expressionless Fighter (Sclera) Custom, Diameter 22

Soft Lens Technology Anime Expressionless Fighter (White) Custom

Soft Lens Technology Anime Expressionless Fighter Custom

Wild Eyes - These fun lenses are made in various dramatic designs to create a striking effect on light or dark eyes. They are great for Halloween or any time you feel a little WILD!

Disguise your eyes with funky WildEyes designs like zebra, black-out, cat eye, alien, white-out, hypnotica, zoomin', wildfire, icefire, knockout, and red hot.

The following online contact lens stores carry WildEyes novelty lenses:

Lens.com: Use your FSA at Lens.com and get $25 off all orders of $199 or more use Coupon Code: FSA-LI08. Offer Expires 2/29/08


AC Lens: $30 to $100 rebate on Ciba Vision brand contact lenses. - Order online and save up to $100. Offer expires 2/28/08. See site for details.


Lenscatalogue.co.uk: Order contact lenses online and save £3 on orders over £30 with free delivery. Enter voucher code LC5 at checkout. Expires 12/31/08.

Dry eye is a very common disorder of the tear film that is due to a deficiency of tear volume or excessive tear evaporation. This condition causes damage to the surface of the eye leading to discomfort and irritation. Dry eyes can be associated with systemic diseases, chemicals, drugs, inflammation, allergic reactions, and contact lens wear.

The symptoms of dry eye typically include burning, stinging, redness, foreign body sensation, excess tearing, and intermittent blurred vision. The estimated number of people affected ranges from 10 to 14 million in the United States.

Contact lens intolerance is often a consequence of dry eye. Studies show that up to 50% of soft contact lens wearers complain of dryness. A person with mild dry eye may not experience symptoms until they attempt to wear contacts. Contacts can disrupt the delicate balance of tear film production and can bring about dry eye symptoms.

Some dry eye patients can only wear lenses comfortably for short periods of time and others are unable to tolerate contacts at all. Dryness is the primary reason why people permanently discontinue contact lens wear.

Some clinical studies have indicated that preservatives used in multipurpose solutions can contribute to discomfort and dryness in contact lens wearers. One study specifically evaluated dry eye contact lens wearers who compared AOSept, which has no added preservatives, to OptiFree, Renu, Solocare, and Complete. It was found that the majority of the subjects experienced increased comfort and reduced symptoms of dryness with the AOSept as compared to the multipurpose solutions.

There are ways for contact lens wearers to combat dry eyes and feel comfortable in their lenses for longer periods of wearing time. Possible remedies of contact lens related dryness include:

• Contact lens rewetting drops: This is usually a temporary solution but does offer some relief.
  
  Some examples are Refresh Contacts, Clerz Plus, or Clear Eyes Contact Lens Relief. For those with sensitive eyes, it is best to use a preservative-free drop.


• Re-soak lenses during the day: People who have dryness symptoms after a few hours of wearing time often experience much relief by removing and soaking their lenses for a few minutes. Upon reinsertion, most are able to wear their lenses comfortably for many more hours.
  


• Take good care of lenses: Inserting fresh new lenses as often as prescribed, as well as cleaning lenses properly, greatly contributes to contact lens comfort. Protein deposits and other types of buildup on the lens surface contribute to increased lens dryness. Sometimes, switching to a more disposable lens or switching to a different or stronger lens cleaning system also helps.
  


• More complete and frequent blinking: Blinking completely and often is necessary to re wet the
  lenses and maintain comfort. It is often the case that when a person is concentrating, they do not blink as often as they should. This is why computer
  users often complain of lens dryness. It is important to consciously be aware of blinking frequently and completely under these circumstances.
  


• Switching to a different lens material: There are lens brands designed specifically to provide more comfort for those who have problems with dryness. Some examples are Proclear Compatibles and Acuvue Oasys. The newer, more oxygen permeable silicone hydrogel materials such as Focus Night & Day, Ciba O2 Optix, and Acuvue Advance have proven to be more comfortable for patients with moderate dry eye issues.
  


• Prescription eye drops: Restasis is an anti-inflammatory eye drop prescribed for moderate to severe dry eyes and has proven to be very effective in cases where inflammation is the underlying cause of the dryness symptoms. Contact lenses should be removed before using these drops.
  

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