Q. Who can wear contact lenses?
A. Most individuals who require vision correction can wear
contact lenses. Technical advances in contact lens development
include bi-focal contacts, daily disposables, extended wear
and frequent replacement lenses and lenses to correct astigmatism,
nearsightedness, farsightedness and specialized design for irregular shaped corneas.
Q. Are contact lenses good for your
eyes? Can they cause damage to the cornea?
A. Contact lenses are a healthy vision option for many people.
Only your eye care professional can determine if contact lenses
are a healthy option for you. When your eye care professional
prescribes contact lenses and you follow all prescribed steps
for inserting, removing and caring for them, contact lenses
have proven to be a safe and effective vision correction device
for millions of people. Every contact lens wearer should see
their eye care professional on a regular basis to insure long
term corneal health.
Q. How soon, or at what age, can
contact lens wear begin?
A. As soon as the vision correction need is identified, contact
lenses can be considered a viable option. In fact, contact
lenses have frequently been used in premature infants who
often have an underdeveloped retinas at birth and are at risk
of blindness. With proper care and lens maintenance, infants,
young children, teens and adults
of all ages can wear contacts effectively.
Q. Can I wear contact lenses while
playing sports?
A. Sports vision doctors agree that contact lenses are the
best vision correction option for athletes. Contact lenses
can enhance visual skills like depth perception, peripheral
awareness and eye-hand/eye-foot coordination. Unlike glasses,
contacts offer athletes a competitive advantage because they
stay in place under dynamic conditions, provide a wider vision
field and eliminate the risk of frame-related injuries. Contact
lenses also make it easy to wear protective goggles.
Q. Is it true that there are some
contact lenses that can actually slow or control myopia?
A. Many contact lens specialists agree that the use of Oxygen
Permeable, GP contact lenses, that are rigid by construction,
may slow or retard the progression of myopia (nearsightedness),
whereas spectacles or soft contact lenses offer no benefit
of this type. Scientific clinical studies are ongoing which
will provide more conclusive data.
Q. Are Oxygen Permeable, GP contact
lenses the same as hard lenses?
A. No, the new generation of gas permeable (form stable) lenses is a state
of the art alternative for minor correction to special needs.
The continued advancement in materials and lens designs make
GP lenses a first choice option for today's contact lens wearers
who want increased sharpness of vision and longer lens life.
Learn more about the exciting new gas permeable multifocal
lenses.
Q. Notwithstanding the availability
of toric soft lenses, on a conservative basis at what level
of astigmatism should GP lenses be chosen in favor of soft
lenses (that is, if "clear crisp" vision and not economics
or other factors, is the only objective sought)?
A. Only you and your eye care professional can determine what
is perfect vision for your specific needs. Astigmatism detected
at any degree indicates less than perfect uncorrected vision;
however, many people can tolerate small amounts of astigmatism
(0.25 to 0.75 Diopters) without significant compromise. GP
lenses correct this astigmatism when it is created by a difference
in the horizontal and vertical curvatures of the cornea. This
can be achieved with standard spherical lens designs for astigmatism
from 0.25 to approximately 2.50 Diopters. Special GP designs
can be utilized to successfully fit people with much higher
amounts of astigmatism. It should also be pointed out that
GP lenses, when successfully fit and after a short adaptation
period, are just as comfortable as soft contact lenses and
can be worn for all waking hours.
Q. Can I wear my contact lenses while
applying or removing eye makeup?
A. To avoid possible complications, patients who wear contact
lenses should observe the following guidelines when applying
cosmetics or toiletry products:
Apply cologne, deodorant, and hair spray before inserting
your lenses.
Wash hands thoroughly with oil-free soap prior to inserting
lenses.
Put your contacts in before applying make-up.
Use a water-based but water-resistant mascara that is
not prone to flaking. Two thin coats are better than one
thick coat.
Use a soft pencil eyeliner rather than a liquid or powdered
version that will flake off.
Use pressed powder eye shadow rather than liquid or cream.
Never use pearlized or frosted types that may contain tinsel.
Q. How do you get contact lenses
that are strictly to change the appearance or color of your
eyes? Is a prescription needed for these lenses?
A. There are soft contact lenses available that will change
the color of your eyes. They are still considered to be a
prescribed medical device that must be fit and followed up
by your eye care professional.
Q. Who should I see to be fitted with contact lenses?
A. An Ophthalmologist is a M.D. (Medical Doctor) whom sometimes fits or refer you to recommended fitter.
B. An Optometrist is a Doctor of science, dedicated to the visual as well as the physical health of your eyes and is an excellent source for contact lenses.
C. Licensed Opticians are another outstanding option for contact lenses.