Contact Lens Evaluation

Contact Lens Evaluation

We offer all types of contact lenses, including contacts for bifocals, astigmatism, for people with dry eyes or if you just want to change the color of your eyes.

Most people can be helped to wear contact lenses comfortably and with clear crisp vision. Because we have fitting sets of most major brands of contact lenses, we can fit and instruct you on contact lens handling and care and send you home with contacts on your first visit.

Reasons To Consider Contact Lenses

• Contact lenses move with your eye, allow a natural field of view, have no frames to obstruct your vision and greatly reduce distortions.
• They do not fog up, like glasses, nor do they get splattered by mud or rain.
• Contact lenses do not get in the way of your activities.
• Many people feel they look better in contact lenses.
• Contact lenses, compared to eyeglasses, generally offer better sight.
   

Some Things To Remember About Contact Lenses

• Contact lenses, when compared with glasses, require a longer initial examination and more follow-up visits to maintain eye health, and more time for lens care.
• If you are going to wear your lenses successfully, you will have to clean and store them properly, adhere to lens wearing schedules, and make appointments for follow-up care.
• If you are wearing disposable or planned replacement lenses, you will have to carefully follow the schedule for throwing away used lenses.
   

Our Service Includes:

• We will discuss the available options for your particular vision needs.
• One on one instruction session on placement, removal and care for your contact lenses. Includes initial supply of contact lens solutions and storage case.
• Measure the curve of your cornea to determine the proper curve for the contact lens.
• Try on diagnostic contacts which will have your actual prescription to determine the exact fit and vision correction.
• Ultrasonic measurement of the thickness of your cornea, giving us a baseline for future comparison. This helps us make sure your cornea is getting enough oxygen.
• Schedule progress exams to allow you to assess your contact lenses before the lenses are prescribed and purchased.
• We offer discounts on prescription glasses to use in conjunction with your contacts.
• Your supply of contact lenses can be shipped to your home or office for a minimal shipping fee.
• We offer many manufacturers contact lens rebates that may make the cost of the contacts the same or less than what can be ordered on-line.
• In subsequent years, we will keep you informed of new developments in contact lens technology that may be of benefit to you.

Our goal at Westonka Vision Center is to ensure successful contact lens wear for every contact lens patient, including good vision, long term comfort, and excellent eye health.We strive to achieve this goal by utilizing the latest contact lens technology and applying the most up-to-date lens care systems.

Contact Lens Types

The types of contact lenses available have exploded in the past few years. There are contact lenses available for almost everyone. Many or our patients were told in the past that they could not wear contacts, or they tried unsuccessfully to wear contact lenses. You owe it to yourself to see what is new. We carry many options, and promise to do our best in selecting contact lenses that you will love wearing. Choose from the following list for a brief look at some of the options available.

Conventional Soft Lenses
Soft lenses are very comfortable and come in a variety of types, depending on the wearer’s needs. Conventional soft lenses are worn during the day, and cleaned and stored at night. Usually once a week the lenses must be cleaned using an enzymatic cleaner, which removes protein deposits. These lenses can last for a year or more if your prescription stays the same and you take good care of them.

Frequent Replacement Soft Lenses
These lenses are similar to conventional soft lenses except they are replaced more frequently. Oftentimes, they are worn for one-month periods and then replaced. Other frequent replacement soft lens types are worn two to three months before they are replaced. Like conventional soft lenses, they have to be cleaned and stored at night and cleaned once a week with an enzymatic cleaner to remove protein deposits.

Disposable Soft Lenses
Disposable soft lenses are much more popular than conventional soft lenses. These lenses are worn for a period of time and then, of course, thrown away. The most well-known disposables last for two weeks. There are also one-week and one-day disposables. These are perfect for many patients who were told they could not wear contact lenses because of allergies or mild dry eye conditions. They have a low cost per lens and are also popular for athletes and hobbyists who do not necessarily want to wear contact lenses every day.

Soft Colored Contact Lenses
Next, you have tinted soft lenses, available in conventional, disposable, or frequent replacement types. With tinted soft lenses, you can change or enhance your eye color. Even if you do not need corrective lenses, you can use “plano” colored contacts to change your eye color. It is important to be fitted by an eye doctor for colored contact lenses even if you do not need a prescription; wearing the wrong style can damage your eyeball.

Bifocal Soft Lenses
Recent technology has greatly improved bifocal soft lenses. Many patients past their 40s who need bifocals can now enjoy the comfort and benefits of soft contact lenses.

Toric Soft Lenses
Toric lenses are used to correct astigmatism. Astigmatism is a vision condition where an irregularly shaped cornea affects the vision. In the past, the only options for those with astigmatism were either glasses or hard gas permeable contact lenses. But toric lenses, which are lenses with a special shape, now offer an alternative. There are several types of toric lenses to choose from.

Extended Wear Soft Lenses
Extended wear lenses, the result of new technology in lens materials, transmit more oxygen to the cornea of the eye. Some of these lens materials can be worn up to 30 days, day and night, without removal. Extended wear lenses can last one week, two weeks, or one month, depending upon the lens material and your doctor’s recommendations.

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses
As the name implies, these lenses are hard and gas permeable. If you’ve been told you cannot wear soft lenses, RGP lenses are often a great alternative. RGP lenses are available in specialized designs to correct just about any vision disorder.

Solutions
There are a variety of solutions available from many different manufacturers. The important thing to remember is that not every solution is right for every type of contact lens. Some contact lenses require the use of multipurpose solutions, while others require separate solutions for the four steps in contact lens care: disinfecting, cleaning, rinsing, and enzyming. Use only the lens solutions that are recommended by the eye doctor. If you wish to change brands, check with our office first.