We have put together a list of the most common questions
received by our doctors and staff.
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| Can I wear soft
contact lenses if I have astigmatism? |
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Yes, you can wear a special type of
soft contact lens called a toric lens, which will correct
your astigmatism. The lens is "weighted" to orient
the lens into the appropriate position. There are some limitations
regarding the amount of astigmatism that these lenses will
correct. They are available as a disposable lens to be replaced
on a monthly basis.
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| Is a contact lens
prescription different than a glasses prescription? |
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Yes. When you order contact lenses, you must
have a current contact lens prescription, which specifies
the power of the lenses, the size of the lens, the type and
brand of lens. See also How to Read a Contact Lens Prescription.
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| If my disposable
lenses are still comfortable and in good condition
beyond the recommended wearing time can I continue
to wear the same pair? |
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In order to maintain optimal eye health and
comfort, it is important to adhere to the wearing schedule
prescribed by your doctor. The lenses become less permeable
to oxygen with time, which then creates physiological compromise
to the cornea. The advantage of wearing disposable lenses
is that you are putting a fresh new pair of lenses in your
eyes on a regular basis, which helps prevent corneal infections,
ulcers or inflammation.
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| If I only wear my
disposable contacts part time, do I still have to
replace them for the recommended wearing time? |
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Yes, the oxygen permeability of the lens
continues to deteriorate even though the lens is not being
worn. The best solution for part time lens wearers is to be
fit into the Daily Disposable Lenses. These are designed to
be disposed of each time they are worn.
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| What's the difference
between rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses and soft
lenses? |
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RGPs are smaller and made out of a harder,
less pliable material than soft lenses which makes them less
comfortable initially. The clarity of vision is crisper with
RGP lenses and they need to be replaced on a 3-5 year time
frame. A spherical RGP lens will typically correct astigmatism,
whereas a soft spherical lens will not.
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| Can I swim with
my contact lenses in? |
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It is best if you don't because there are
bacteria in the water that can adhere to your lenses and cause
infections. If you do swim in your lenses, you should wear
goggles over them and you should disinfect them immediately
afterwards.
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| Why is it necessary
for contact lens wearers to have regular eye exams
even if their prescription hasn't changed? |
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Regular eye exams are important not only
to check your prescription but also to evaluate the health
of your eyes. This is especially important for contact lens
wearers because the lenses are directly in contact with the
eye and can cause damage to your eyes without causing any
obvious symptoms.
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| Is my doctor required
by law to release my contact lens prescription? |
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The doctor is required to release your prescription
once the fitting is complete (this may include the initial
exam and one or more follow-up visits). Your doctor is not
required to release an expired prescription.
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| I wear contact lenses
and in order for me to read, I have to wear reading
glasses over them. Are there any other alternatives
whereby I don't have to wear glasses at all? |
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Yes, the most common option is called monovision
where one eye is corrected for viewing distant objects and
the other eye is corrected for reading and close work. Monovision
is a good solution for approximately 70% of the population,
but not everybody can successfully adapt to this approach.
Another alternative is bifocal contact lenses that are available
in both rigid gas permeable or soft lens designs.
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| Do colored contact
lenses work on dark eyes? |
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Yes, they are called opaque contacts as opposed
to enhancer tints that work only on light colored eyes. There
are daily disposable opaque contacts available in many different
colors and shades.
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| Do I still need
a prescription if I just want contacts to change my
eye color? |
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Yes, you still need to be fitted for the lenses
even if you don't need vision correction. This is because
contact lenses are medical devices and wearing them can affect
the health of your eyes.
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| How does the new
Federal Law "Fairness To Contact Lens Consumers" Act
affect me? |
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On February 4th this
year, a new Federal Law called the “Fairness
To Contact Lens Consumers” act went into effect. Prior
to this law each state had their own regulations regarding
contact lens prescriptions. Now all doctors in every state
will be working under the same regulations.
If you could not find the answer to your
question simply click here to send us an email. We will try
to get the information you need as soon as possible. (Generally,
you can expect a response to your inquiry within 1 to 2 days.)
If you are having any unexplained eye discomfort, watering,
vision change or redness, remove your lenses immediately and
consult your eye care professional before wearing your lenses
again.
