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| Types of Contact
Lenses | | We often are one of
the first to receive the latest in CL
technology! | |
We have contacts available to target
specific eye problems like dry eyes, astigmatism, difficulty
reading, and eye diseases like keratoconus. We are focused on
taking the time to give you the best comfort and
vision, not just adequate comfort and vision. Contact
lenses are constantly being improved for more comfort,
better vision, and more options. |
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| What
are the different types of Contact Lenses? |
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Soft Contact Lenses Soft contact lenses
are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen
to pass through to the cornea. Soft contact lenses may be
easier to adjust to and are more comfortable than rigid gas
permeable lenses. Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels
to provide more oxygen to your eye while you wear your
lenses. |
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Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGPs) are more
durable and resistant to deposit buildup. They tend to be
less expensive over the life of the lens since they last
longer than soft contact lenses. They are easier to
handle and less likely to tear. However, they are not
as comfortable initially as soft contacts and it may take a
few weeks to get used to wearing RGPs, compared to several
days for soft contacts. |
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Extended Wear Contact Lenses
Extended wear contact lenses are available
for overnight or continuous wear ranging from one to
six nights or up to 30 days. Extended wear contact lenses
are usually soft contact lenses. They are made of flexible
plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea.
There are also a very few rigid gas permeable lenses that
are designed and approved for overnight wear. Length of
continuous wear depends on lens type and your eye care
professional’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. It’s
important for the eyes to have a rest without lenses for at least
one night following each scheduled removal. |
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Disposable (Replacement Schedule) Contact Lenses
The majority of soft contact lens
wearers are prescribed some type of frequent replacement
schedule. “Disposable,” as defined by the FDA, means used
once and discarded. With a true daily wear disposable
schedule, a brand new pair of lenses is used each day.
Some soft contact lenses are referred to as “disposable” by contact
lens sellers, but actually, they are for frequent/planned
replacement. With extended wear lenses, the lenses may be worn
continuously for the prescribed wearing period (for example, 7
days to 30 days) and then thrown away. When you remove your
lenses, make sure to clean and disinfect them properly
before reinserting. |
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Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, is a lens fitting procedure that
uses specially designed rigid gas permeable (RGP)
contact lenses to change the curvature of the cornea to
temporarily improve the eye’s ability to focus on objects.
This procedure is primarily used for the correction of
myopia (nearsightedness).
Overnight Ortho-K lenses are the most
common type of Ortho-K. There are some Ortho-K lenses that
are prescribed only for daytime wear. Overnight Ortho-K
lenses are commonly prescribed to be worn while
sleeping for at least eight hours each night. They are removed upon
awakening and not worn during the day. Some people can go all day
without their glasses or contact lenses. Others will find that
their vision correction will wear off during the day.
The vision correction effect is temporary. If Ortho-K is
discontinued, the corneas will return to their original curvature
and the eye to its original amount of nearsightedness. Ortho-K
lenses must continue to be worn every night or on some
other prescribed maintenance schedule in order to maintain
the treatment effect. Your eye care professional will
determine the best maintenance schedule for you.
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Decorative (Plano) Contact Lenses
Some contact lenses do not correct vision and are intended
solely to change the appearance of the eye. These are
sometimes called plano, zero-powered or non-corrective
lenses. For example, they can temporarily change a
brown-eyed person’s eye color to blue, or make a
person’s eyes look “weird” by portraying Halloween themes.
Even though these decorative lenses don’t correct vision, they’re
regulated by the FDA, just like corrective contact lenses. |
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