- Can I wear contact lenses?
- Are contact lenses for me?
- Can I use my prescription for glasses to order a pair of contact lenses?
- What types of contact lenses are available?
- Can lenses change the color of my eyes?
- What are disposable lenses?
- Can I wear contact lenses if I have astigmatism?
- I wear bifocals. Can I wear contacts?
- How often must I wear my lenses and how long can I leave the lenses in my eyes?
- I’m apprehensive about putting a lens on my eye. Can I still wear contacts?
- Am I too old for contact lenses?
- Can I wear contact lenses while playinig sports?
- What if I lose or damage a contact lens?
- If my 2 week disposable lenses are still comfortable and in good condition beyond 2 weeks, can I continue to wear the same pair?
- If I only wear my 2 week disposable contacts part time, do I still have to replace them every 2 weeks?
- What’s the difference between rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses and soft lenses?
- Can I swim with my contact lenses in?
- Why is it necessary for contact lens wearers to have regular eye exams even if their prescription hasn’t changed?
- 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?
- Do colored contact lenses work on dark eyes?
- Do I still need a prescription if I just want contacts to change my eye color?
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Most people with healthy eyes are able to wear contact lenses. How successful you are with your lenses depends a great deal on your motivation, caring for the lenses properly and following the instructions you receive during your training with our contact lens specialist.
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There are many types of contact lenses available today. Most people can successfully wear lenses. Your contact lens specialist can help you decide if you are a good candidate for contacts and which lens type is best suited for you.
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Can I use my prescription for glasses to order a pair of contact lenses?
Your glass prescription is only a fraction of your contact lens prescription. A contact lens requires a number of separately designed measurements and specifications, such as your individual lens power, lens curvature, diameter, polymer, thickness and edge design.
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What types of contact lenses are available?
Contact lenses are classified into three basic types: soft, rigid gas permeable and hard. Soft contact lenses are made of a highly flexible material that contains water. Oxygen can reach the eye when soft contacts are used. Rigid gas permeable contact lenses, frequently referred to as RGP contact lenses, are composed of a firm plastic material and do not contain water. RGP lenses permit oxygen to pass directly through the lens to the eye so that it may “breathe.” Because they transmit oxygen, these lenses are referred to as gas permeable. Hard contact lenses are made of a hard plastic material. Hard lenses, also called PMMA lenses, were the first mass-market contact lenses. Unlike RGP lenses, PMMA lenses do not allow oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye. Few people still wear these lenses.
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Can lenses change the color of my eyes?
Two types of tinted lenses that change your eye color are available. The first type is slightly tinted to enhance your natural eye color. The second type is opaque, or more dense, and allows you to cover your natural color with a totally different eye color.
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These are the newest development in soft lenses. Disposable contact lenses are only worn once and thrown away. Some may be worn for one day with a fresh lens being inserted each morning and discarded each night, and some can be used for continuous day and night wear for up to six days and then discarded immediately after the lens is removed. Disposable lenses require no lens care. Frequent replacement lenses are lenses that are cleaned and disinfected each time the lens is reinserted into the eye. Replacement intervals of two weeks to six months are available. One month planned replacement lenses are the most common. Disposable and frequent replacement lenses are available in a wide range of powers and designs, including bifocal, tinted and toric (astigmatic) lenses.
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Can I wear contact lenses if I have astigmatism?
In the past, patients with astigmatism were limited to rigid lens wear. With recent developments in technology, soft lenses are an option for many patients with astigmatism.
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I wear bifocals. Can I wear contacts?
There are now several options available for bifocal wearers: You may wear bifocal contact lenses, available in soft, rigid gas permeable and hard. One eye wears a lens corrected for near vision. This is frequently referred to as monovision. Wear contact lenses corrected for your distance vision and slip on reading glasses when needed.
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How often must I wear my lenses and how long can I leave the lenses in my eyes?
You must wear hard and rigid gas permeable lenses with regularity to keep your eyes adapted to the lenses. Soft lenses, however, provide you with greater flexibility – they can be worn on a full-time or part-time basis. Extended-wear soft lenses are also available. Wearing time varies from person to person.
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I’m apprehensive about putting a lens on my eye. Can I still wear contacts?
Many people with this apprehension become successful contact lens wearers. We can usually determine at the time of fitting which individuals have difficulty in this area. After individualized instruction sessions and homework, most people become competent in handling their lenses.
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Am I too old for contact lenses?
Age is not normally a factor in wearing contact lenses. Successful lens wearers are those who are committed to caring for the lenses as recommended by your contact lens specialist. If you have a physical condition, which makes it difficult or impossible to insert, remove or care for your lenses, we can train a family member or friend to assist you.
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Can I wear contact lenses while playinig sports?
Contact lenses are ideal for athletes. You will probably find that your peripheral vision is greatly enhanced and that your depth perception is also improved. Contact lenses are more comfortable than glasses during physical activity, and they don’t steam up!
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What if I lose or damage a contact lens?
You may consider ordering an extra pair so that you are never without lenses.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.