Eye Contacts

I have been practicing Optometry for over 20 years now and have seen much advancement in contact lenses. Now these days almost anyone can wear contacts. I remember the days of hard lenses to gas permeable to soft contact lenses. Many people choose contacts over glasses for better clarity and peripheral vision. Glasses can cause peripheral distortion and depending on prescription vision may be off somewhat.

Have you ever played sports with glasses? Imagine playing basketball or soccer and the ball hits you in the face! Of course OUCH but then you see your glasses flying off your face. With contact lenses you just get hit in the face and your glasses don't get broken. Mom and dad are happy about that because they don't have to buy new glasses.  YOU GET THE POINT!

Contact lenses, like eyeglasses can correct your nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and even presbyopia for us over the 40 patients. We are tending to fit the over 40's patients more these days because of bifocal contact lenses.

Ok now tell me how to get started with contact lenses! You must first visit your Optometrist (eye doctor)  and be fitted with the proper contacts for your needs. He/She will fit you with what is best for you based on your visual needs. If you have no need for vision correction you must still have your eyes evaluated to wear contacts. The doctor will give you a prescription for contacts at the end of the exam

A Word From Our Sponsor! 

It's Almost HALLOWEEN! Do you have your New Eyes!

Contact lens pictures 

My eye: after midnig...

My halloween birthda...

IMG_1525

IMG_1526

comic con couple

automatically generated by Flickr

There are Essentially Three Categories of Contact Lenses 

Normally contact lenses are categorized by material:

* Hard lenses are made from PMMA - also known as Plexiglas or Lucite. These lenses are virtually obsolete and rarely used. However, I still refit some of my patients with these.

* Gas Permeable lenses, also known as RGP or "oxygen permeable" lenses, are made from rigid, waterless plastics and are especially good for high myopia, high hyperopia and high astigmatism patients. These lenses are smaller than soft contacts.

* Soft lenses are made from gel-like, water-containing plastics, and are most common. Newer generations lenses are made from silicon. This material is the most comfortable of the three.

Contact Lens Wear Schedule 

There is two classification of contacts:

*Daily Wear: These are lenses that you take out on a nightly basis and do not wear overnight.

*Extended Wear: These are lenses that you can actually wear overnight. Most of the contacts on the market allows you to wear them continuously for 1-2 weeks. There is only one brand that allows you to wear them for up to 30 days.

Please remember that not everybody can wear contact lenses overnight. Some individuals do not produce enough tears at night or just in general to keep them in for a prolong period of time. Make sure you consult with your eye care provider if you can wear them overnight.

Contact Lens Types 

When contact lenses first came out on the market they were considered Annual Lenses. You bought one pair of lenses and basically replaced them every year or two. The biggest problem with this type of lens was that protein tended to deposit on the contacts and made them feel uncomfortable to wear. This led to many problems. Now today I personally don't fit them as much. I still do but maybe less than 5% are fitted with annual lenses.

I am glad they came out with disposable contact lenses. These are the types available

* Daily disposable - replaced every day

* Disposable (daily wear) - replaced every two weeks or so.

* Disposable (extended wear) - replaced every week or two. Patient normally keeps them in for 0ne or Two weeks without taking them out.

* Continuous wear (extended wear for 30-day wear) - replaced monthly. Patients doesn't take them out for 30 days.

* Planned replacement - replaced quarterly


Click here to see examples of Types of Lenses described

Change Your Eye Color 

If you ever get tired of seeing the same old eye color they have come up with colored lenses. Change your dark brown eyes to green! Or whatever colors your mood desires. Also there are awesome theatrical lenses for you Halloween crazed fans. The image to your right are neon contact lenses that glow in the dark


Click here to get more info!

Contact Lens Care 

With the advent of disposable contact lenses taking care of your lenses have become easier. A few years back, you needed several bottles of cleaning products, and perhaps enzyme tablets, for proper care. Today, I recommend the use of "multipurpose" solutions - meaning that one product both cleans and disinfects, and also is used for storage.

Please remember to replace your solution on a daily basis. Once you place the contacts on your eyes dump out the solution and rinse the case. NEVER use the same solution to store your contacts. I had a few patients that reused their saline solutions for over five days. No wonder they came in with a red eye!

Can I still wear contacts if I have DRY EYES 

It all depends how severe your eyes are dry. For most moderate cases you still can wear contacts. I have had great luck with Acuvue Oasys