At Eclectic Eye, we understand the strong appeal of contact lenses. Contacts are extremely popular as an alternative to wearing prescription glasses or prescription sunglasses. Contact lenses are a great addition to your eyewear wardrobe and provide flexibility around different activities, especially sports. According to the American Optometric Association, an estimated 45 million people in the United States are contact lens wearers. That’s a lot! Even within our community at Eclectic Eye, we have a significant number of contact lens wearers. We do our best not only to provide the most comfortable fit and best possible vision in contacts but also to educate our patients about the importance of proper contact lens care.
Contact Lens Care and Fittings
When an Eclectic Eye patient begins wearing contact lenses, a staff member will go over proper contact lens care as well as discuss the insertion and removal process. This ensures the patient knows not only how to wear their contacts, but also the ideal wear schedule and pertinent eye health information. Each contact lens fitting and exam are completely different, based on patient experience and need. Because we place a high premium on comprehensive eye care, all examinations include a thorough health exam of the cornea and front of the eye, diagnostic lenses, and all follow-up visits to determine a successful fit.
There are various types of contact lens fittings we provide at Eclectic Eye. We have spherical fittings, toric fittings, bifocal/multifocal fittings, monovision fittings, rigid gas permable fittings, and scleral fittings. Each fitting is based on the requirements of the patient.
While each fitting varies by patient, we have similar recommendations for all contact wearers:
- Remove lenses for a few hours every day so that the corneas can breathe.
- Wear your glasses for at least once a week to encourage corneal healing.
- Be sure to discard contact properly to help prevent infections.
- Avoid damaging your eyes by taking your contacts out immediately if you experience pain or discomfort.
Contacts are a wonderful supplement to vision correction. However, there are certain things to remember when committing to wearing contacts. They are absolutely not a replacement for glasses. Contact lenses can increase the risk to the health of your eyes, especially if overworn. This is why Dr. Weinberg always recommends daily disposable lenses. Once taken out, they can be thrown away before putting in a new, fresh pair the next day. That being said, it is important to recognize that contacts have a limited life and should always be worn according to the schedule designated by your optometrist.
Proper contact lens care is so important. That’s why we take the time to educate each and every patient who wears them! Our eye care team is always ready and willing to answer any contact lens or other eye health-related questions. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about your contact lens options.
