Contact lenses are a comfortable and flexible vision correction alternative to traditional eyeglasses. Your eye doctor can recommend the perfect pair to suit your lifestyle and eye-health needs.
When it comes to vision correction, contact lenses offer a fresh, comfortable and more convenient option to traditional eyeglasses. Eye doctors often recommend them due to their many benefits including:
- Improved field of vision
- Better safety, especially when playing sports
- Greater visual clarity
- Less visual obstructions and distortions than eyeglasses
- They give you a natural look, without frames obscuring your face
Find The Perfect Pair of Contact Lenses!
At Market Mall Optometry, our eye doctors offer a comprehensive contact lens fitting service to check the health of your eye and determine which lenses are best suited for your particular vision needs.
Want to know how we can help you?
Contact Lenses for Hard-To-Fit-Eyes
If you have trouble wearing contact lenses, or have been told that eyeglasses are the only vision correction option for you, it may simply be that you have eyes which are hard to fit.
But don’t worry! This doesn’t mean you can’t wear contacts. A qualified eye doctor who has special expertise in contact lens fittings can help find the right pair for you.
1. CONTACT LENSES FOR ASTIGMATISM
Toric contact lenses are specially designed to correct the vision issues that arise from astigmatism. This is possible because toric lenses are shaped like a ring doughnut rather than a standard spherical lens.
Choosing Toric Lenses
Since toric lenses have a particular orientation, they need to stay on your eye in the correct way. Manufacturers design these lenses with specific features to help the lenses stay put, including:
- Thin-thick zones
- Lens truncation
- Ballasting (where the lens is a little thicker or heavier)
This means that fitting the contact lenses is even more important than usual. If you are considering toric lenses, it’s important to consult your eye doctor first as they can help find the right correction and fit for your eyes and lifestyle.
2. CONTACT LENSES FOR KERATOCONUS
If you have keratoconus and cannot see as clearly as you would like with eyeglasses, you may want to consider contact lenses. Contacts for keratoconus improve vision by optically replacing the irregular shape of the cornea with a smooth, uniform surface, enablign light to form a sharper focus on the retina.
Today, there are several types of contact lenses which can correct vision problems caused by keratoconus, including:
- Gas permeable contact lenses
- Piggybacking contact lenses (a soft contact lens is worn under the RGP lens)
- Hybrid contact lenses
- Scleral contact lenses
Finding the right contact lenses for keratoconus requires special handling but fortunately, modern optic technology now makes it possible for all patients to enjoy clear and comfortable vision.
3. CONTACT LENS FOR PRESBYOPIA
Bifocal contact lenses are designed to give good vision to people who have presbyopia. One of the key signs that you are developing this eye condition is that you need to hold reading material (e.g menus or newspapers) farther away from your eyes in order to see clearly.
Bifocal lenses are typically available in both soft and rigid gas permeable materials, and can even be worn on a disposable basis, giving you both convenience and comfort when it comes to your vision.
4. CONTACT LENSES FOR DRY EYES
Dry eyes is a very common problem and it can cause contact lens discomfort or make lens-wear seem impossible for some individuals. Common symptoms include:
- Red, irritated eyes
- A scratchy sensation, or the feeling something is in your eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Watery eyes
To avoid or reduce dry-eye related contact lens discomfort, your eye doctor may recommend soft contact lenses. These retain moisture better than other materials and allow for greater wearing comfort.
Dry Eye Care
Your eye doctor may recommend treating your dry eye condition prior to a contact lens fitting. Treatment may involve the use of:
- Artificial tears
- Medicated eye drops
- Dietary supplements
- Punctal plugs
Importance of Contact Lens Fittings
Contact lenses are not a one-size-fits all solution, especially when you have hard to fit eyes. Failing to talk to your eye doctor can result in ill-fitting lenses which may cause serious damage to your vision including:
- Eye infections
- Corneal ulcers
- Vision loss
- Red, irritated and dry eyes
- Discomfort
If you are considering switching from eyeglasses to contacts, or need to change your contact lens prescription, this process is best overseen by a professional eye doctor who can measure your eyes properly and find the best fit for your eyes.
Call Today
To find out more about how our Calgary eye doctors can help you find the perfect pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses to suit your specific needs and lifestyle, contact us today at 403-286-4884 or book an eye exam today.
