Choosing the right contact lenses can enhance your daily life by freeing you from glasses and offering comfort tailored to your needs. The best choice depends on your vision needs, lifestyle, and overall eye health. Whether you are new to contacts or looking for options to address specific conditions, our eye doctors at Insight Vision Center Optometry can guide you in the right direction.
Soft contact lenses are made of flexible, oxygen-permeable plastics that mold to the shape of the eye. They are widely used because they are easy to wear and adapt to, making them a popular option for new contact lens wearers. Soft lenses are available in different replacement schedules, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.
Daily disposable lenses, often called dailies, are single-use contacts meant to be worn once and discarded. They are the most convenient and hygienic type of contact lens, making them a strong choice for many wearers.
One of the biggest advantages of daily disposables is their impact on eye health. Studies have found that daily disposable wearers tend to comply with lens replacement schedules at higher rates compared to those using weekly or monthly lenses.
Unlike daily disposables, weekly and monthly lenses require regular cleaning and storage in contact lens solution. These lenses can be more cost-effective but come with a higher risk of buildup of proteins, lipids, and bacteria if not cleaned properly.
The risk of infection increases if lenses are worn beyond their recommended replacement period. Research shows that many people extend the life of their contacts beyond the suggested timeframe. This significantly increases the risk of eye infections, including microbial keratitis, an infection of the cornea.
Extended wear lenses are designed for continuous use, including overnight wear, for up to 30 days. These lenses are typically made of silicone hydrogel, a material that allows higher oxygen transmission to the cornea. However, even with this advancement, sleeping in contacts carries risks and should only be done under the guidance of your eye doctor.
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has an irregular shape, causing blurry or distorted vision. Unlike regular contact lenses, which have a uniform prescription across the lens, toric contact lenses have different powers in different meridians of the lens to correct this irregularity.
Toric lenses include several design elements that set them apart from standard soft contact lenses.
People with mild to moderate astigmatism who want the comfort of soft contact lenses often do well with toric lenses. They are also a good option for patients who need a vision correction alternative to glasses, or those who experience distortion or shadowing effects with regular spherical lenses.
Presbyopia is a natural age-related condition where the eye's lens loses flexibility, making it harder to focus on nearby objects. This usually becomes noticeable around age 40 and is commonly corrected with reading glasses. Multifocal contact lenses offer a glasses-free alternative by incorporating multiple prescription zones into one lens.
Multifocal contact lenses come in several designs, each using a different approach to correct near and distance vision.
Individuals over 40 struggling with near-vision tasks often find multifocal lenses helpful. They are a good choice for people who want to avoid carrying reading glasses, or those who prefer a natural transition between different distances.
Unlike soft lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses are made of firm, oxygen-permeable material. While they require a longer adaptation period, they provide sharper, more stable vision. This is especially true for those with high astigmatism or irregular corneas.
Patients with high astigmatism and corneal conditions who do not achieve clear vision with other types of contact lenses may benefit from RGP lenses. They are also a good option for people who need crisp, stable vision for work or daily tasks.
Scleral lenses are large-diameter rigid gas-permeable lenses that vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye, called the sclera. They are particularly beneficial for patients with irregular corneas or severe dry eye. The lens creates a fluid-filled reservoir that protects the cornea and provides a new optical surface for clear vision.
Scleral lenses offer several advantages for patients with complex vision and comfort needs.
Patients with keratoconus who cannot achieve clear vision with standard RGP lenses or toric lenses may benefit from scleral lenses. They are also helpful for people with dry eye who find soft lenses uncomfortable, individuals with corneal irregularities such as high astigmatism and post-LASIK complications, and people who require clear vision for their profession or activities. If you experience persistent dryness or discomfort, consider taking our dry eye quiz to learn more about your symptoms.
Dr. Nathan Schramm, OD, FSLS, FBCLA is a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Society and a Fellow of the British Contact Lens Association. He co-founded the International Congress of Scleral Contacts and is a principal investigator in studies involving wavefront-guided scleral lenses. Dr. Thanh Mai, OD, FSLS, FIAOMC also holds a fellowship in scleral lens fitting and uses Pentacam corneal tomography to map the eye surface for precise lens design.
Colored contact lenses are popular for both cosmetic and medical reasons. While some people wear them to change or enhance their eye color, others require them for therapeutic purposes, such as covering eye irregularities or improving contrast in low-light conditions.
Prosthetic lenses can restore symmetry and confidence for individuals with eye disfigurements. In cases of photophobia, or light sensitivity, tinted lenses can help by filtering out specific wavelengths of light. Dr. Nhi Nguyen, OD has published on prosthetic lens fitting and iris atrophy cases.
Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, involves the use of specially designed rigid gas permeable lenses that reshape the cornea while you sleep. By wearing Ortho-K lenses overnight, you can achieve clear vision throughout the day without the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses. This treatment is also used as part of myopia management programs for children.
Wearing contact lenses beyond their intended lifespan leads to bacterial buildup, reduced oxygen permeability, and increased infection risk. Replace your lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your eye doctor.
Never sleep in contact lenses unless they are specifically prescribed for overnight wear. Sleeping in lenses dramatically increases the risk of eye infections, as the cornea receives less oxygen while the eyes are closed.
Use fresh contact lens solution daily. Never top off old solution. Reusing old solution leads to bacterial contamination, which can result in serious eye infections.
Wash and dry your hands before handling contact lenses. Avoid using tap water to clean lenses or lens cases, as it may contain harmful microorganisms like Acanthamoeba, which can cause severe eye infections. Replace your contact lens case every one to three months.
Most people adapt to soft contact lenses within a few days to a week. Rigid gas permeable lenses and scleral lenses may take longer, typically two to four weeks, as your eyes adjust to the feel of the firmer material. Your eye doctor will schedule follow-up visits to check your progress and make any needed adjustments.
Yes, many people with dry eyes can wear contact lenses successfully. Daily disposable lenses are often a good choice because they reduce deposit buildup that can worsen dryness. For moderate to severe dry eye, scleral lenses create a fluid reservoir that keeps the cornea hydrated throughout the day.
A properly fitting contact lens should feel comfortable, provide clear vision, and stay centered on your eye. Signs of a poor fit include discomfort, blurry vision, excessive lens movement, or the lens sliding off center. If you experience any of these issues, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor for an evaluation.
If a lens feels uncomfortable, remove it and inspect it for tears, debris, or inside-out placement. Rinse it with fresh solution and reinsert. If discomfort continues, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor, as continued discomfort could indicate a fit problem, dry eye, or early signs of an infection.
Contact lenses can be safe and effective for children when prescribed and monitored by an eye doctor. Many children as young as eight years old successfully wear contact lenses for vision correction or myopia management. The key factors are the child's maturity level, ability to follow care instructions, and commitment to proper hygiene.
See your eye doctor if you experience redness, pain, excessive tearing, light sensitivity, blurry vision, or discharge while wearing contact lenses. These symptoms could indicate an infection or other problem that needs prompt attention. You should also have regular contact lens check-ups as recommended by your doctor, typically once a year.
