Soft Daily Wear Contact Lenses are made of soft flexible plastics called “hydrogels” that also have water content and allow oxygen to pass to the cornea to maintain its health and clarity. Because they are soft, thin and flexible, Soft Contact Lenses are easier to adapt to and more comfortable than Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses. A newer type of Soft Contact Lens is made of a “silicone hydrogel” material that allows an even greater amount of oxygen to reach the cornea than previous soft contact lens, providing additional safety. Soft Daily Wear Contact Lenses require careful cleaning and disinfection, as they tend to attract deposits of protein from your tear film.

Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses (RGPs) are more durable and resistant to deposit buildup, and generally give clearer, crisper vision. They tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft contact lenses. They are easier to handle and less likely to tear. However, they are not as comfortable as soft contacts and it may take several weeks of adaptation, as compared to only a few days for soft contacts.

People who have astigmatism usually have an unequal curvature of their cornea so that it is shaped more like a football than a basketball. Contact Lenses that correct astigmatism are sometimes called “toric” contact lenses. Toric lenses are readily available in both soft contacts and rigid gas permeable contact lens prescriptions. Toric contact lenses require more intricate fitting sessions and professional expertise to achieve optimal visual acuity.

There are a number of Extended Wear Contact Lenses that are available. However, your risk for corneal infection and ulceration increases if you sleep with contact lenses in so they are generally not recommended.

Today, most soft contact lenses are prescribed with a very specific “planned replacement schedule”. That is, the prescribing eye doctor will give you instructions on how frequently to replace your lenses based on your tear film, how often you may be removing the lenses and how quickly you soil the lenses, even after cleaning and disinfection. True “Disposable” Contact Lenses are worn only once and then discarded.

There is a type of specialty contact lens that are used to change the appearance of your eyes with no need for vision correction. These are sometimes called “Plano”, “Zero-Powered” or “Non-Corrective” lenses. Wearers of these contact lenses will appear to have a different eye color. For example, one can “change” brown eyes to blue and can even create different themes such as Halloween or Dracula by modifying the eye’s appearance.

EVEN THOUGH THESE DECORATIVE LENSES DO NOT CORRECT VISION, THEY ARE A MEDICAL DEVICE AND THE FDA STRICTLY REGULATES THEM .

This is because, even with correction, they pose the identical risks to patients that “regular’ contact lenses pose. These include:

• Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye
• Corneal Abrasions
• Corneal Ulcers
• Vision Impairment

Many patients are simply unaware of the need for proper fitting and prescription of these lenses and have purchased decorative contact lenses from beauty salons, record stores, video stores, flea markets, convenience stores, beach shops and the Internet. Buying contact lenses without a prescription is dangerous and illegal.

We offer convenient in-office or over the phone ordering for your contacts that are prescribed by your doctor. All contact lens orders must have a valid prescription. If you need to renew your contact lens prescription or you are interested in getting contacts the first place to start is to schedule an eye appointment with one of our doctors. Call us at 800-325-3937.