What are contact lenses

Contact lenses are thin pieces of plastic worn directly on the eye to correct certain vision problems.  Contact lenses are the perfect correction solution for those who do not want to wear eyeglasses and or have corrective surgery. Millions of people wear contact lenses, especially those who lead active lifestyles and want crisp, clear vision without having to keep a pair of glasses on their face.  Most people are able to wear contact lenses and enjoy the freedom of being able to see without the help of glasses.

Contact Lens Exam

The first step in getting contact lenses is to have a contact lens examination by an optometrist.  A contact lens exam is done specifically to fit you with contact lenses.  During the examination the optometrist will determine if your eyes are healthy enough to wear contact lenses, then your eyes will be measured.  The measurement will help the optometrist find the right contact to fit properly and comfortably on your eyes.  For patients new to wearing contact lenses, the optometrist will help you get used to placing the contact lenses in and talking them out, and teach you how to care for them properly.

Types of Contact Lenses

There are two types of contact lenses, soft and permeable lenses. Soft contact lenses are extremely thin and comfortable to wear, they are made mostly of water, providing the softness.  Soft contact lenses are divided into four categories: spherical (regular) contact lenses, contacts for astigmatism, contacts for presbyopia and colour contacts.  Permeable contact lenses are made of hard plastic that gives crisp, clear vision and corrects most vision problems, they are durable and last considerably longer than soft contact lenses.

Wear and Replacement

Some contacts are designed for daily wear, these lenses are worn for one day and then discarded.  Other soft lenses are worn for a day and then removed, cleaned and disinfected each night.  Soft lenses are usually replaced on a regular basis.  Permeable lenses can last for years with regular care.  Extended wear lenses are worn overnight for one week and then replaced.  Overnight wear decreases the amount of oxygen available to the eye and increases the chance of infection, because of this, some optometrists do not recommend extended wear of contact lenses.

Caring for Contact Lenses

Your optometrist will show you how to clean and disinfect your contacts.  Perfect Vision will provide you with quality lens care products, the cleaning products should be used as often as possible to remove build-up of bacteria.  Wearing contact lenses for long periods of time may cause blurry vision, pain and redness due to a lack of oxygen passing through to the eye.  Remember that contact lenses are medical devices and with proper care you will see better and will have peace of mind knowing that your contact lenses are healthy and safe for your eyes.  If you have any questions about contact lenses please contact our optometrist