Would You Like To Wear Contact Lenses
Now is a great time to start wearing contact lenses. As we are able to fit and advise on contact lens options, and are not tied to just one contact lens manufacturer, we can advise you of the best lenses suitable for you and your lifestyle.
Contact lenses give you the freedom to see all around, with a wider field of view than spectacles. We encourage most patients to consider contact lenses, even for young children, because we believe that it can expand your visual world, increase self confidence, improve sports performance, and many people feel that they are more natural and comfortable wearing contact lenses.
There are lots of different types of contact lenses, and it can seem like a bit of a minefield, but there are basically soft lenses and gas permeable lenses, describing the lens material. Then there can be daily, monthly, weekly, fortnightly, three monthly or annual wear lenses, and they can be worn on a day wear or extended wear (overnight) basis. Then there are distance lenses, toric lenses for patients with astigmatism, bifocal and multifocal lenses for those needing a reading prescription and tinted lenses for those that would like to change their appearance!!
Phew, what a lot of choice!! But we are here to guide you, and find the most suitable lenses for your needs and requirements.
Soft Lenses
Soft lenses are very comfortable in your eyes, and are the most flexible in their wearing schedule allowing for full-time or just occasional ‘going out’ or sports wear. They do need to be handled carefully, and replaced regularly. We have many soft lenses available, and have toric, bifocal and multifocal soft lenses too. Where possible we fit Silicone Hydrogel soft lenses as they allow much more oxygen to the eye than the older style soft lenses.
Gas Permeable Lenses
These are rigid lenses that allow much more oxygen to the eye than the original hard lenses, and although they take a little longer to get used to wearing, they do last longer than soft lenses. They give excellent vision, need to be worn on a regular basis, and are particularly good at correcting astigmatism. Gas permeable lenses are available in toric, bifocal and multifocal forms, and are the lenses that can be used for orthokeratology.
Contact Lens Fitting and Trial
At your first contact lens appointment we will take some measurements of your eyes using a topographer or keratometer, check your tear film and then discuss the type of lenses that would be suitable for you. We will carry out a contact lens trial, and you will be able to wear a pair of lenses so you can discover the comfort and visual acuity with the lenses, and we can assess the lens fit to ensure your eyes remain healthy while wearing contact lenses.
Caring For Your Contact lenses
Before you can take your lenses home you will be taught how to but them in, take them out and how to care for them. Unless you wear daily disposable lenses, you will need to clean and disinfect your contact lenses to ensure both the lenses and your eyes stay in good condition. We will also arrange regular aftercare check ups to ensure your eyes are healthy, your lens prescription is up to date and to discuss any new lens options for you.
