2 Comments

Contact lenses is an excellent method of visual correction that can give you independence from eyeglasses. They can be broken down into the following categories with each having their own advantages:

1. Soft lenses
2. Rigid Gas permeable lenses (RGPs)
3. Hybrid lenses
4. Scleral lenses

Soft lenses: I prefer to start patients on daily disposable contact lenses because it is the safest and healthiest of all soft lens modalities. It is great for dry eyes and for those who suffer from allergies. It is also the most convenient as you do not have to deal with contact lens solutions and cleaning. Patients have reported that there is nothing better than having a fresh clean pair of lenses on everyday. These lenses are also recommended for those that want to wear lenses occasionally for sports or on the weekends as well. By not reusing lenses that build up with protein deposits, these lenses are the most comfortable. Without the cost of contact lens solutions, and the huge manufacturor's rebates that are being offered, annual supplies of these lenses are NOT more expensive than 2-week disposable lenses. 2-week and 1-month disposable lenses are other available disposble modalities that I use frequently, but they require contact lens solutions and cleaning.

Toric soft lenses: If you have astigmatism, these lenses will correct your astigmatism as well and therefore give you clearer vision. I use a select few brands that have been known to be very comfortable and provide very good and stable vision. Toric lenses cost a little more than standard lenses.

Rigid Gas Permeable lenses(RGPs): These are gas permeable rigid lenses (not soft). There are made of materials that allow more oxygen to pass through the lens material and to the eye. Though not as popular as soft lenses, GP lenses offer a number of advantages over soft lenses. Due to increased oxygen transmission, they allow your eyes to breathe better. This reduces the risk of eye problems due to reduced oxygen supply that may be caused by some soft lenses. RGP lenses are also smaller than soft lenses so they cover up less of the front surface of your eye and move more on your eye, leading to more and healthier tears exchange under the contact lens and to your cornea(front of the eye). RGPs also provide sharper vision than soft lenses. They also provide a more stable and accurate correction of astigmatism. They usually can last up to 2 years so they don't need to be replaced as frequently as soft lenses, making them less costly than soft lenses in the long run. Some research has also suggested that wearing gas permeable lenses may slow the progression of myopia(nearsightedness) in some children. They are also easier to keep clean and maintain. So with all the advantages, why doesn't everyone wear RGP lenses? The downside is there is a need for adaptation. You may need a few weeks to get used to them as there is some "lens awareness" initially. If you can tough it out those first few days, you will be pleasantly surprised how good there can be. RGPs cannot be worn part-time because they need to be worn everyday in order to stay comfortable. If you stop wearing the lenses for a few days, you will be more aware of them on your eyes and you will have to re-adapt to them. If you have significant astigmatism, RGPs will be the best lens type for you.

Hybrid lenses: They have the best of both lenses: The center of the lenses are rigid and the outside of the lenses are soft. The downside is they are more expenseive than either soft or RGPs and these lenses are relatively new.

Bifocal contact lenses: When you are in your 40s, you may need to hold reading material like a menu or newspaper further from your eyes to see it clearly. This condition is called presbyopia, and it gets worse as we get older. Bifocal contact lenses are designed to give you relatively good far and near vision when you reach your 40s, correcting presbyopia. These lenses are available in both soft and RGPs. There is usually a balance between clear far and near vision and most patients have adapted very well to them. The designs that are available today are much better than what was available even 5 years ago and I have successfully fitted a large number of patients in these lenses who have returned yearly to order their repeat bifocal lens supplies. If you are stuggling with poor near or computer vision with your contact lenses, these lenses are a great option for you.

Scleral Contact Lenses: These are large diameter rigid gas permeable lenses. This is the new revolution in contact lenses and they are becoming more popular among practitioners fitting patients with various corneal disease or ectasias such as keratoconus. These lenses are excellent in providing relief for patients who have been uncomfortable with corneal RGP lenses, and they can often help post-pone or eliminate the need for corneal transplants. They are fitted so that they do not touch the cornea(front surface of the eye). They rest on the white part of the eye due to the large diameter. They are therefore more comfortable than the smaller RGPs since they do not touch the cornea and the eyelids. Scleral contact lenses are ideal for conditions like keratoconus, corneas that have been traumatized due to injury, or patients that have had bad outcomes with corneal or lasik surgery. These lenses are very costly but they are worth the relief it can offer a patient in need. Here is an excellent link for more information on scleral lenses:

http://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/scleral-lenses.htm

Dry Eyes: If you have dry eyes, you may have trouble wearing contact lenses comfortably. It is best to treat your dry eyes first before wearing contact lenses. Here is a link about dry eyes and its treatment:

http://www.sightnation.com/blog/dry-red-burning-and-stinging-eyes

If your eyes tend to get red or burn at the end of the day, it may be caused by your contact lens solution. Simply changing your contact lens solution to a non-preserved type may solve the problem.

Meyer Izaac, O.D.
Optometrist in Encino, Ca.
http://www.visionsource-izaaceyes.com/

http://www.facebook.com/MeyerIzaacO.D

twitter.com/izaaceyes