A contact lens is a thin, convex disc that floats on the surface of the eye, providing vision correction. With advances in optical technology, most people can use contact lenses, regardless of the type or extent of their vision problems. This includes patients with astigmatism, and those who need bifocal or multifocal lenses.
request an appointmentTypes of Contact Lenses
There are several varieties of contact lenses. The distinctive features of each offer a wide range of options.
Soft Contact Lenses
There are three basic types of soft contact lenses.
Bi-Weekly or Monthly
These lenses are applied in the morning and taken out in the evening, and stored in a contact lens cases. They must be discarded and replaced according to their specified shelf life (every 2 weeks or every month). The main advantage with these is cost, but they tend to be more invonvenient and less comfortable as compared to daily disposable.
Daily Disposable
Disposable soft lenses are intended to be discarded and replaced after they have been worn each day (you would use a new lens each day). Daily-wear disposables are worn during waking hours only, and should no be worn while sleeping
Astigmatism
Soft contacts can be used to correct a wide range of astigmatism.
Multifocal Lenses
Multifocal contact lenses are available in most powers and allow far and near vision correction in the same lens.
Rigid Gas-permeable Lenses
Rigid, gas-permeable contacts are available for patients with irregular astigmatism from ketatoconus, corneal scarring, or eye trauma. Patients who are not candidates for soft contact lenses may achieve much better vision with these rigid lenses.
Scleral Contact Lenses
Scleral contact lenses are wider and designed to vault over the clear cornea (the edges rest on the white part of the eye outside the cornea). This allows more comfort and the ability to correct for irregular corneas.