Constant advances in technology and design have made it easier than ever to switch to contact lenses, whether you’re shortsighted, astigmatic, or have dry eyes. To explore the options available for your condition, talk to your eye care professional at your next appointment.
Myopia (nearsightedness) and hypermetropia (farsightedness) are the best-known visual disorders and can be corrected with spherical contact lenses.
You can be simultaneously astigmatic and myopic, astigmatic and hypermetropic, or astigmatic and presbyopic. Optometrists prescribe toric (donut-shaped) lenses to correct astigmatism. Toric lenses have two distinct focal points in the same lens and need to stay in place to do their job. Modern toric contact lenses are designed to move around as little as possible.
Presbyopia comes for everyone. Even if you’ve never been nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic, you’re still doomed to develop presbyopia in your 40s as the lenses in your eyes lose their flexibility and ability to focus up close. Your Opto-Réseau optometrist will, depending on your needs and prescription, recommend either multifocal contact lenses or a monovision system.
Daily contacts are far and away the most popular type. Wear them by day and take them out at night. Depending on the replacement period, you then clean them and put them to bed for the night or just throw them away.
Much less common are extended wear contacts. These you can wear continuously up to 7 days in a row, day and night. They’re not for everyone and require close followup by an eye care professional.
Contact lenses are made of a variety of materials and are divided into 3 main categories: soft, rigid and hybrid.
Soft contact lenses
Soft contact lenses are made of hydrogel or silicon hydrogel. The thin, pliable lens conforms to the shape of your eye and lets plenty of oxygen through. They’re ideal for intermittent use, require a short adaptation period, and are ideal for active wearers because they rarely fall out. Soft contacts are currently the most popular type of contact lens.
Rigid contact lenses (RGP)
RGP stands for Rigid Gas Permeable. These are contacts that retain their shape after you put them in. The result is clear vision, and they’ll correct most cases of corneal astigmatism. Generally they take a bit longer to get used to than soft contacts. They’re made of oxygen-permeable materials and are often recommended to patients with dry eyes or those who for a particular reason can’t wear soft contacts.
Hybrid contact lenses
Hybrid or semirigid contacts are made up of a rigid central section with hydrogel or silicon hydrogel all around it.
To find out more about the materials your contact lenses are made of, or discuss what would work best for you, talk to your Opto Réseau eye care professional.
For more information about the materials used to produce your contact lenses or to find out which type is best suited to your needs, consult your Opto-Réseau eyecare professional.
As a rule, the shorter the replacement period, the higher the water content of the lens or the thinner it is in the centre. Being thinner in the centre generally makes a lens more comfortable because it can let more oxygen through.
If your optometrist prescribes contacts you have to take out and store, be very strict about cleaning and disinfecting them after every use. Some lenses in this group can be worn for longer periods, but most need to be cleaned and disinfected every day.
You also have to be very strict about the replacement deadlines your eye care professional recommends because, over time and even with regular maintenance, deposits of proteins and fats build up on your lenses.
Daily disposable lenses don’t need to be cleaned or stored, because you throw them away after use. They’re recommended for people with dry eyes, for occasional wearers, and travellers, as well as for anyone who just wants something comfortable and easy to use.
All Opto-Réseau clinics carry most contact lens brands. Here’s an overview of what we have:
The ever-expanding variety of contact lens options makes it easier to switch than ever before. Daily disposable contacts are an increasingly popular option that lets patients try out maintenance-free contacts that are also the last word in hydration.
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