Contact Lens King

Breathing Eyes and Contact Lenses

2011-11-18T05:44:00.000-08:00

Did you know that our eyes breathe? In a sense they do, as they take oxygen from the air, diffuse it via our tears over the cornea, and even dispatches carbon dioxide into the air—much the same way as our normal inhaling/exhaling process. Corneas (the clear window at the front of the eye) have no blood vessels to feed them, so they require adequate amounts of oxygen to remain healthy and stave off infections and complications that threaten vision.

When not enough oxygen reaches the cornea, symptoms such as discomfort, redness, dry eyes, and blurred vision occur. Extreme oxygen deficiency may result in permanent dry eye, clouding of the cornea (corneal dystrophy) and, in the most severe cases, the need for a corneal transplant.

In the world of contact lenses, oxygen flow or permeability has always been a concern for eye doctors and manufacturers. Any lens, especially in their early years, automatically became a barrier to oxygen upon insertion. Making sure that the cornea was not deprived of too much oxygen meant that contacts were not to be worn over a certain period of time. Yet, manufacturers continued to grapple with the problem of coming up with a lens that would allow longer wear and adequate oxygen supply.

The problem began to be solved with the advent of soft contact lenses, and their ability to absorb water. Water content in lenses beats the barrier ‘handicap’ by permitting oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass through. This factor was further enhanced when silicone hydrogel contacts came onto the market. Silicone is porous by nature and facilitates even higher amounts of oxygen to be transmitted. In addition to providing healthier eyes, silicone hydrogels are more comfortable for those who had tolerance issues with lenses in the past.

These oxygen transmissible lenses have expanded to treat a wide array of vision conditions. Comfort and health can now be had by those not only with near- and farsightedness, but also astigmatism, presbyopia, and dry eye. Convenience has also been addressed with the range of wear times—30 days right down to a single day; the latter due to daily disposables, which eliminate the need for cleaning and storing lenses. With all this innovation it is no wonder soft contacts represent approximately 90% of all lens sales, as eye doctors have confidence in their ability to deliver comfort and healthy levels of corneal oxygen.

Wearers today have more soft contact lens choices, not only in brands and modalities, but also in where to buy them—online sellers being the most convenient in many cases.

Consult your eye doctor to find out which soft contact lens may be right for you. You’ll breathe easier…and so will your eyes.

Contact Lenses As a Preferable Vision Correction Option over Surgery

2011-07-15T04:18:00.000-07:00

Outside of eyeglasses, the two most prevalent means of vision correction today are surgery (most often the laser procedure called LASIK) and contact lenses. Many ask that of the two options, which is better? Both methods allow for a ‘natural look’, but with differing approaches.

The major impression that people get from LASIK is better vision without cumbersome eyewear. But despite the high success rate with LASIK, eye doctors agree* not everyone achieves crisp 20/20 vision after just one procedure. In these instances, enhancement surgery is needed to arrive at the sharpness patients expect. However, if there are complications with the initial surgery (or if the cornea is determined to be too thin) enhancement cannot take place. It should be noted that even with successful LASIK outcomes, oftentimes further eye issues as we age (i.e. presbyopia) will require some kind of prescription lens. So, surgery or not, eyewear always remains a distinct possibility.

Contact lenses, by contrast, do not hamper you with the kind of ‘permanent fix’ inherent with LASIK. The options of changing prescriptions or refitting of different lenses allows for the flexibility needed to quickly deal with any issues until satisfaction is achieved—with no invasive alterations to the eye.

Hesitancy in choosing contact lenses many times stems from the perception that they are bothersome to maintain (cleaning, storing, etc.). In fact, improvements in lens technology over the past few years have minimized or eliminated these ‘chores’. The best example of this has been the introduction of daily disposable lenses whose main function is to do away with cleaning and storing lenses altogether. They are worn once and then discarded for a fresh pair. Also, the market now offers a wide range of contacts to suit almost anybody’s needs; effective contact lenses have been developed to treat an array of vision problems including astigmatism and the aforementioned presbyopia.

Another misconception is you are dependent on your eye doctor when it comes to buying contacts. This has been reversed by two factors: the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act and the rapid growth of online lens retailers. The former, a 2004 law, gives you the right to procure your contact lens prescription from your eye doctor; this leaves you free to buy lenses from other vendors—including those online. Reputable Internet retailers provide an easy and affordable means to select sellers that give you the best price for purchasing a steady supply of contacts…and right from your own home. What is more convenient than that?

If you are apprehensive about vision correction surgery, then the contact lens option may be the perfect solution. Consult your eye doctor to explore the benefits of vision correction through contacts.

*Gary Heiting, OD, “LASIK Enhancement: When Additional Surgery Is Needed”

Contact Lens Compliance, Necessary for Eye Health

2011-07-05T05:47:00.000-07:00

Contact lenses have proven to be a great boon to those who need vision correction but still want to maintain the natural freedom of not wearing glasses. However, there is a tendency to forget that the continued enjoyment of this convenience comes with a price—the need to follow required practices, instructions, and habits to ensure the healthy use of these lenses.

Some estimates* put the incidents of wearers not complying with eye doctors’ and manufacturers’ recommended contact lens care and replacement regimens at just fewer than 40%. That is a significant number even though it is less than half the lens wearing population, because any rate of having to deal with unnecessary infections, eye and/or vision damage due to neglect is unacceptable.

Non-compliance occurs mainly because some patients disregard care instructions once they have their contacts (20 % of those surveyed in the CCLR study* were even unsure of what kind of lens they were wearing), so they end up inadvertently or deliberately going against the advice of their doctor. We are all acquainted with people who would rather listen to an all-knowing relative or friend instead of to conventional (and professional) wisdom. This is taking a great chance in regard to eye health.

Practices that get contact lens users in trouble include not exercising proper hygiene when handling contacts, extending the wear times of lenses beyond their recommended use, sleeping in contacts not designed for that purpose, not using a ‘rub and rinse’ step in the lens cleaning process, topping off rather than discarding used solution, and not changing contact lens cases often enough. Such risky habits increase the possibilities of developing infections and corneal complications that can threaten sight. One such infection is keratitis, characterized by unusual redness, blurry vision, pain in the eye, light sensitivity and excessive tearing or discharge. A more serious form, Akanthamoeba keratitis, can lead to vision loss requiring corneal transplants.

Fortunately, reversing the non-compliance trend is a relatively simple ‘fix’. It just takes the willingness to become familiar with the type (modality) of lenses you are wearing and apply the needed care and replacement habits for that lens. It is also important to keep regular appointments with your eye doctor, not only to monitor eye health and any changes in vision but also to learn about improvements in contact lenses that could place you in a more convenient or comfortable lens. They are also the person to go to when you need answers to questions about contacts. For their part, many doctors have stepped up their efforts to be more effective instructors in regards to patients and their contact lenses.

Ultimately, the responsibility for contact lens compliance rests on the wearer. Perfection may not occur all the time, but it is always a good goal to shoot for--and well worth the up front effort to reap the healthy benefits that last a lifetime.

*Centre for Contact Lens Research at University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, including the participation of 158 US eye doctors.

Obtaining Your Contact Lenses the Right Way

2011-05-27T05:12:00.000-07:00

One of the major improvements in the contact lens industry in recent years (aside from technological advances) is in the area of convenience. Thanks to a 2004 federal law, contacts can be purchased in many venues other than from eye doctors. While this has been advantageous to consumers, there has been a mindset growing among many wondering if this freedom makes it all right to somehow bypass the ‘traditional’ process of seeing an eye doctor or getting a prescription. This has especially followed the mainstream marketing of cosmetic, costume, or fashion lenses.

This mindset is somewhat understandable when those who are not seeking vision correction desire to obtain these ‘fun’ lenses. However, the point being missed is that costume lenses are not costume jewelry. All contact lenses are controlled medical devices subject to proper consultation, fitting, prescription, and care. Improperly fitted lenses, or those that are not cared for correctly, can cause discomfort and serious eye infections. This is why it is not all right to forego what is a necessary process to ensure the health of your eyes.

Another concern has been the relaxing of discretion when considering who to buy contact lenses from. A notion has developed that it is okay to purchase lenses from anyone set up to sell them. The problem is ‘anyone’ can include sellers that are less than reputable or offer unsafe product, and some of these venues are illegal.

So, is there really freedom in obtaining and shopping for contact lenses? Of course, more than you had in the past, but you cannot abandon a responsible approach and you must apply a few simple rules to ensure eye health and safety. First, it is necessary to visit your eye doctor for an initial examination and contact fitting or, if you are already wearing lenses, to obtain your lens prescription (which must be verified by lens sellers before any legal purchase of contacts can take place). When choosing the vendor who will serve you, eliminate any considerations you may have for beauty salons, novelty stores, or flea markets as places to purchase contacts. Approved sources other than eye doctors include optical chains or franchises that have optical departments. Online vendors have become an increasingly popular and convenient choice, as buyers can compare and select their seller from the comfort of home—and not have to run around town.

Further, maintain those annual appointments for eye exams so any changes can be monitored—and to keep your contact lens prescription up to date. Whether it be practical or ‘fun’ lenses, all the freedom to purchase them where you wish will not mean much if your eyes are not healthy.

Hopefully, these tips will steer you onto the right path in safely obtaining your contact lenses. Although convenience and choice have greatly improved, responsibility and discretion are also needed to ensure these benefits are enjoyed fully.

Astigmatism No Longer Bars You from Contact Lenses

2011-03-31T04:36:00.000-07:00

A common vision disorder experienced by many, alongside myopia and hyperopia (near- and farsightedness), is astigmatism.

Astigmatism affects over 40 million Americans and is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. When the cornea, which acts as a window, is a spherical shape it focuses light correctly upon the retina at the back of the eye; this produces sharp images at all distances. Conversely, in instances where the cornea takes on a more oval shape, the light is focused at two retinal locations rather than one and blurry vision is the result. Corneal irregularities can occur at birth or be the result of injury or trauma. It often happens in conjunction with the above-mentioned myopia or hyperopia.

Eyeglasses or LASIK surgery are options for treating astigmatism, but a more popular choice, especially in recent years, is contact lenses. It wasn’t so very long ago that patients were told they could not wear contacts because of astigmatism, but that is no longer the case. Advances in technology have allowed contacts to become very effective in dealing with the condition and have also made them more convenient than ever to wear.

Torics are contact lenses designed to correct for astigmatism. They contain two powers to address both the blurriness incurred by the condition and related near- or farsightedness. This dual purpose requires that the lens stays stable upon the eye without rotating. Over the past 10 years manufacturers have solved this by developing stabilizing techniques that keeps the contacts in place, and therefore delivering the proper corrective powers at all times. Torics now come in many modalities, from 30-day extended wear on down to daily disposables. You even have the choice of colored toric contacts that will enhance or change your natural eye color.

Your eye doctor can determine the degree of astigmatism during your eye exam. From that point you can be prescribed and fitted with the toric lenses that best suit your vision needs. The eye doctor will also answer any questions or concerns you have. From the point you are satisfactorily fitted with your contacts, you may obtain a copy of your prescription in order to shop for replacement lenses at any reputable venue of your choosing. Online sellers have become very popular and provide a convenient way to shop, compare, and buy your lenses from the comfort of home or office.

Astigmatism as a barrier to wearing contact lenses is now a thing of the past. A call to your eye doctor is the simple first step to get you on your way to taking advantage of the convenience and fashion offered by contacts.

Getting the Maximum Comfort from Your Contact Lenses

2011-02-11T04:33:00.001-08:00

Besides vision correction, convenience, and freedom from eyeglasses, comfort is one of the advantages of wearing contact lenses and is arguably the most important since it will determine your overall satisfaction with them. Beyond the initial selection and fitting of your contacts, there are some things you can do to ensure your lenses remain comfortable.

Keeping your lenses clean and replacing them as instructed by both your eye doctor and lens manufacturer is always important. Many may think that they are getting the most out of their contacts by ‘extending’ the wear time beyond what is recommended; or that it won’t hurt to skip just one cleansing. These habits not only lead to lens discomfort, but also threaten your eye health.

Avoid prolonged exposure to dusty or dry environments. The minute debris that is found in the air can get between your eye and contact lens and limits the time you are able to wear them in these situations.

Mild forms of dry eye (which affect tear production essential for comfortable contact lens wear) can be managed by drinking a plentiful supply of water and cutting down on high intakes of caffeine or alcohol, substances which contribute to dry eye. Hours of computer use at one sitting reduce blinking that is necessary to replenish tears, so establish a routine of taking frequent breaks from the screen. Smoking should stop immediately for a whole host of reasons, not the least of which is the effect it has on eye health and satisfying lens wear.

When it comes to providing comfort, contact lens manufacturers have more than met us half way—especially in recent years. Available now are silicone hydrogel soft contacts that transmit greater amounts of oxygen, resulting in longer wear times and healthy eyes. Daily disposable lenses do away with having to bother about cleaning altogether, just remove them at the end of the day and replace them with a fresh pair the next morning.

More serious obstacles to contact lens comfort include allergies and medical conditions, which may be hurdled by consulting your doctor. Many times there are treatment options in these cases that will keep you in contacts. Problems such as not seeing well and having eyes that do not look or feel good should always be evaluated to determine whether or not there is a more serious underlying concern.

For most of us, there is no reason why comfort and contacts should not go hand in hand. Do not give up on your lenses or suffer in silence if you feel your comfort level is not quite right. By taking the time to investigate the reasons why, you stand a good chance of improving your contact lens experience.

Contact Lenses Are Safe for Children—With Proper Care

2011-01-21T07:27:00.000-08:00

Recently there has been a flurry of news postings on the Internet and elsewhere about the number of emergency room visits (approximately 17,000 by some estimates) from children and teens related to their wearing of contact lenses. This leads to the question, “Are contacts safe for children?”

The short answer is yes, as recent studies* have concluded that children as young as eight can be successfully introduced to contact lens wear. Certainly their desire for them will continue—especially when issues of self-esteem, sports participation, and comfortable vision correction are ever present. However, there are some things to keep in mind.

The common reasons for these visits are preventable infections, eye abrasions, and conjunctivitis (‘pink-eye’) caused most often by the failure to adhere to required wearing and replacement schedules. One must always remember that contacts are regulated medical devices that must be prescribed and properly fitted by an eye doctor. Contacts are also subject to strict wear time and cleaning regimens that are to be followed diligently. The lens cases in which contacts are stored should be changed once a month. Use only prescribed cleaning solutions. Carry out all instructions from your eye doctor and maintain regularly scheduled visits to monitor eye health.

Whether or not a child or teen is ready for contact lenses is not based solely on their years, but also on their ability to handle the responsibility that comes with wearing them. Parents are the best judges of their children’s sense of responsibility and this judgment is an important deciding factor when it comes to pairing kids with contacts. Once this pairing occurs, parents should not step away from supporting and reinforcing good wearing habits beyond their child’s initial training. Also key is setting a positive example when parents are lens wearers themselves. When these concerns are successfully hurdled, any problems that could threaten eye health are minimized.

Ongoing advances in technology will also continue to make contact lens wear a healthy practice, an example being the development of daily disposables that provide an easy once-a-day use—eliminating the need for a daunting cleaning regimen.

Having a child that wears contact lenses need not be a worrisome endeavor, especially when proper levels of diligence and responsibility are applied to ensure a safe and satisfactory experience with their lenses.

*The Contact Lenses in Pediatrics (CLIP) and Pediatric Refractive Error Profile (PREP) are two examples.

There Is a Soft Contact Lens for Your Vision Needs

2011-01-10T05:07:00.000-08:00

Despite the fact that soft contact lenses have been around for many years now, there are still some people who are not aware of the full range and benefits they provide. This is especially true if they were told in the past that there was no ideal contact lens for their type of correction. Once accustomed to eyeglasses, and assuming the issue of wearing contacts has been settled, these persons very often never followed up on new information that could change an outdated diagnosis. When you couple this with the fact that under 20% of eye doctors proactively recommend contacts*, it is not surprising that even though innovations in lens technology have put soft contacts at the forefront (approximately 90% of lenses sold are soft contacts), there are those who are unaware that they could be wearing them today.

Soft contacts began as a means of single vision correction (near- or farsightedness), but they have marched far past that initial application. Today there are soft contacts available to treat astigmatism (torics) and presbyopia (multifocals). There are brands that provide UV-blocking to protect your cornea from the sun. In recent years cosmetic soft contacts have emerged to allow enhancements or complete changes in eye color for fashion or costume use.

In the realm of convenience and comfort, hydrogel and silicone hydrogel soft contacts have an advantage due to their makeup of water-containing plastics. This technology allows more oxygen to be transmitted to the cornea; keeping eyes healthy during lens wear. Certainly, the most convenient modality of hydrogels is the daily disposable, which are used once and discarded at the end of the day. There are other lenses with differing wear times, e.g. two-week and thirty-day disposables, but daily disposables eliminate the cleaning and care regimen that comes with contacts worn repeatedly for a period of time.

Contact lenses have become easier for users to obtain after a 2004 federal law required that patients be given their contact prescription from eye doctors. The ability to source lenses with a valid prescription in venues other than their eye doctor’s office has dovetailed with the growth of online vendors to service contact lens shoppers. The result is an easy and affordable means to replenish wearers’ contact lens supplies.

So, if you are among those that gave up on wearing contacts in the past--for whatever reason—you owe it to yourself to explore the possibility that you could be experiencing the freedom and satisfaction that come with contact lenses. Begin a conversation with your eye doctor to see if the many improvements in contacts have now allowed you to become a ‘good fit’ for lenses…you may be pleasantly surprised.

* “Targeting Contact Lens Practice Growth” by David M. Pearce, President of Responsible Marketing Consulting Services.

Contact Lens Wear: Freedom, Convenience, and Responsibility

2010-12-10T05:04:00.000-08:00

Those who appreciate and value the ability to wear contact lenses also know that there is a level of responsibility that must always be exercised due to the eye health factors involved.

The major reason people choose contact lenses is that they are the vision correction option that best approximates the natural free feeling of going without glasses. Contacts have become more convenient in recent years, due to advances in materials and technology that have extended wear times and widened the range of vision correction. Now that federal law requires that wearers have a copy of their lens prescription, obtaining contact lenses has become easier through online retailers and other sources.

And this is where personal responsibility in choosing lenses has become more important.

Despite the necessity of a valid prescription (renewed annually through an exam with your eye doctor), the increased ease of shopping for contact lenses and the introduction of many types of non-corrective cosmetic lenses has allowed them, in some people’s minds, to become more of a fashion accessory and not a medical device. Teens and young adult wearers have become susceptible to this mindset and have tended to lump contact lenses with t-shirts, shoes, jewelry and other trendy items that are sometimes shared with others. This is a dangerous practice. Nothing illustrates this more than the recent explosion in popularity of circle contact lenses among young girls in an effort to achieve the ‘enormous eyes’ sported by current pop singer Lady Gaga in a music video. These lenses (which give wearers a large-eyed look, much like what is seen in Japanese anime and manga) are illegal in the United States without prescription, but are nevertheless available for purchase on the Internet. Medical and legal warnings are being bypassed in favor of looking ‘cool’. Definitely not ‘cool’ are the results from irresponsible use of these lenses: pain, inflammation, corneal abrasions, and infections that can cause blindness.

It is not difficult to be a responsible contact lens wearer. Just stick to the basics that have proven healthy and effective for years. Only your eye doctor can properly prescribe and fit your contacts. Have regular eye exams to monitor any developments that can affect your ability to continue with your lenses. Discuss any voluntary changes in regards to lens brands or styles with your eye doctor. Follow all care, cleaning, and wear-time instructions from your doctor and contact lens manufacturer. Do not be swayed by fads until you investigate the latest ‘chic’ lens product to see if it can be prescribed safely.

When it comes to contact lenses, there is never any time when it is ‘okay’ to ignore the health concerns of these necessarily controlled medical devices. Responsible behavior in your approach to contacts is the best way to avoid damaging your vision, thus jeopardizing the freedom and convenience contacts add to your lifestyle.

Healthy Eyes Lead to Successful Contact Lens Wear

2010-11-24T04:38:00.000-08:00

When it comes to acquiring and wearing contact lenses, a lot of thought and preparation goes into the selection and care of your contacts. It is right for you be concerned about getting the proper lens that fits correctly, and gives you the comfort and freedom that is important for your lifestyle. To support the success and longevity of contact lens wear, the best eye health possible should be maintained.

It is not difficult to give yourself an ‘edge’ against potential challenges that could endanger your ability to wear contacts. The following are a few things to consider in regard to being proactive when it comes to vision care.

The part of the eye most impacted by contact lenses is the cornea. Making sure that you follow the wear and care regimen of your contacts is a good first step to minimize problems that could stem from not properly cleaning or disposing of your lenses.

An appointment with your eye doctor is recommended to discover the state of your current eye health and determine if you are at risk for eye disease due to family history and other factors. Your regular physical exam is helpful to monitor potential conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which also affect your eyes. These two culprits, if left unchecked, can lead to serious eye problems and a lessening of your ability to wear contacts. Even if you receive excellent health reports, do not fall into the trap of thinking you can do without that next exam; you do not want to be caught unawares by a rapid change in your health—both physically and visually.

Blood vessels that strengthen vision are helped by regular exercise and a healthy diet. Daily activity can lead to lower instances of inflammation in vessel walls. Foods rich in vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, and E aid in this regard, as well as fight other disorders connected to the cornea and retina. Vitamin supplements can help as well, but any changes in diet and supplement intake, as well as any substantive alterations to your exercise schedule, should be made in consultation with your doctor.

Overexposure to the sun can cause damage to the eyes, but do not be fooled into thinking that UV-blocking contact lenses will give you all the necessary protection. Lens wearers also need to have a pair of good quality sunglasses to protect the entire eye area against damaging rays because contacts—even the UV blocking kind—only cover the cornea.

If you smoke, consider giving up the habit immediately. The negative effects to eyes from both first- and secondhand cigarette smoke are significant. Conditions that smokers have to look forward to if they keep up the habit are dry eye; cornea irritation; blood vessel clots that affect retinal function; and glaucoma. By quitting sooner rather than later, risks for eye disease associated with smoking begin decreasing.

Successful contact lens wear depends on maintaining optimum eye health. Everything you can do to assure this, with the help of your physician and eye doctor, gives you the best chance possible to continue enjoying the enhanced lifestyle that come with contacts.

Take Advantage of Purchasing Contact Lenses Online

2010-11-12T04:41:00.000-08:00

Are you one of the 35 million Americans who wear contact lenses? Where do you buy your replacement lenses? If you are not buying them online, then you are missing out on an economical and convenient way to shop for your lenses.

When the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act was enacted into law in 2004, contact lens wearers were empowered to ask for and obtain their contact lens prescription. This allowed them to seek out and shop for the most convenient supply option for their replacement lenses—thus putting the ability of finding the best deal squarely in the hands of the consumer. Online retailers were also provided the opportunity to become significant players in the contact lens business as long as they offered the consumer excellent pricing, service, and dependability.

Why are online retailers so successful? The answer is simple: they realize the fact that as a consumer, you are looking to make the best use of your time and to save the most money you can. Online retailers can save the consumer up to 70% on the prices generally offered by the eye doctor, optical chain or box store. To check on the best pricing available online, consumers may visit shopping sites that compare lens prices, discounts, shipping costs, and other information to help in selecting the site that offers the best prices.

Being able to buy your contact lenses from the comfort of your own home or office is a huge benefit when considering today’s world of busy schedules and hectic lifestyles. No more rushing to pick up your lenses during lunch time or battling traffic to pick up your lenses after work. Now you can purchase what you need in a matter of minutes. All of this practicality does not set aside your basic expectations of a business.

High quality customer service is not compromised online. Reputable online contact lens retailers provide a telephone number where you can call to ask questions or discuss concerns. Delivery time is short and lenses in stock will reach you in many cases within 5 business days.

Shopping online helps you save on two important personal commodities: time and money. Only by finding an online vendor best suited to your needs, will you begin to reap the benefits of price, convenience, and service that add up to the value you are looking for when buying contact lenses.

Reasons to Give Up Those Negative Notions about Contact Lenses

2010-11-05T04:24:00.001-07:00

Are you one of those who feel you cannot wear contact lenses or are not inclined to explore this option based on things you have heard? Did you arrive at this decision years or even decades ago? If so, then it is time to take another look at the possibilities because there have been some significant changes made concerning styles, types, and comfort of contact lenses—many occurring in just the last few years.

It is easy to stick to the old prejudices against contact lenses when the only information you rely on is hearsay or based on old and outdated facts. Major advances have been made since the days when all contacts were rigid plastic. The most important has been the development of hydrogel soft contact lenses, which allow much-needed oxygen to permeate to the cornea. They also retain the moisture required to provide longer and healthier wear.

Improvements in comfort have lessened the difficulty during the initial ‘breaking in’ period of getting used to the lenses. This adaptation period is usually brief and, once completed, most feel as if they are not wearing contacts at all. In most cases, any discomfort beyond adaptation is quickly remedied when the cause is determined. Other concerns such as lenses ‘popping out’ (minimized to near zero due to lens improvements and innovations) or ‘sticking’ to the eyes (lenses can always be removed) are groundless. Eye doctors and staff are expert in teaching simple methods to insert and remove contact lenses—millions of satisfied wearers attest to it. In addition, mindfully following doctors’ instructions in regards to use and care significantly reduce chances of any serious eye problems. Among the safest and convenient lines of contacts promoting eye health are daily disposables, which are discarded at the end of day and replaced the next morning.

Today, you are not limited to buying contact lenses through your eye doctor. Now you have the right to know your lens prescription and the freedom to purchase contacts where you wish. So, if cost is one of your worries, then quick surfing of Internet contact lens retailers will put your mind at ease almost immediately. There is an online vendor that will satisfy any budget—no matter what type or brand of contact lens you are looking for.

And do not feel that you have grown ‘too old’ to wear contact lenses because you may have put off exploring this option for so long. There are contacts that can be prescribed for almost any condition, including those associated with age (i.e. presbyopia, dry eye, astigmatism, etc.). At the other end of the spectrum, studies have recently shown that conscientious pre-teens can also successfully wear contacts.

Begin the process of enjoying the benefits that come with wearing contacts by scheduling a consultation with your eye doctor. Now that some misconceptions have been cleared up, there is no reason not to give contact lenses a second look.

Color Contact Lenses—Fun and Functional

2010-10-15T04:40:00.000-07:00

For many years, contact lenses have been prescribed and used strictly for vision correction purposes. But lens technology has improved on the functionality of lenses these past decades. It also allowed lenses to become a true cosmetic device, bringing attractive fashion color options to the wearer.

Color contact lenses came onto the market in the mid 1980s and have seen an increase in popularity in recent years. With the freedom to source their contacts at whatever venue they choose (with a valid prescription), wearers have also begun to think beyond just the corrective nature of lenses. They have discovered, through Internet surfing and media advertising, that contact lenses have a stylish factor and can be used to enhance or change their appearance.

There are three basic types of color contacts. A visibility tint does not affect eye color but instead carries a light blue or green hue as a means to see it better as you insert or remove it. This tinting also helps to locate the lens if you should happen to drop it. An enhancement tint is darker and is designed to amplify the natural appearance of light-colored eyes. Opaque color tints are the deepest in hue and can completely change someone’s eye color, especially those with dark eyes.

Another line of contact lenses that fall within the category of opaque color tints is the costume, or theatrical, lens. Until recently, these contacts were used primarily in the film and television industry to help transform actors into aliens, demons, or vampires. Now, these ‘fun’ contact lenses are widely available to general consumers. Eyes can have the look of jaguars, werewolves, zebras, and any number of other effects for Halloween, costume parties, and the like.

Color contact lenses appeal to a wide segment of consumers because of their cosmetic nature, but their corrective value is just as important. Color contacts are available not just in plano (non-powered), but also for near- and farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. They also come in convenient disposable brands.

Much enjoyment can be had with color contact lenses, but always keep in mind that they remain controlled medical devices. Do not let the fun factor cause you to think of them just as accessories, which may lead you to relax your caution and care. They must be prescribed by an eye doctor and, like other contacts, are not to be shared or traded. Do not even think about purchasing them in beauty salons, novelty stores, or at flea markets—which, aside from being extremely unsafe, is illegal. In addition to providing proper fit and prescription, many eye doctors will also help you in selecting the color contact lens that will best accentuate your look.

Tips for Buying Contact Lenses Online

2010-10-08T04:40:00.000-07:00

You have decided to buy your contact lenses online and have quickly discovered that there are a large variety of vendors out there. Now you need a process to narrow the field so you can choose the best site for you.

Locating a seller with the best prices becomes easier with the use of price-comparison websites. The most common are those aligned with the popular search engines such as Google and Yahoo! (Google Product Search, Yahoo! Shopping), but there are others: BizRate, MySimon, Shopping.com, etc. Besides offering the obvious price match-ups, these sites also can make you aware of vendors you may not have found otherwise. In many cases, they also provide reviews of sellers posted by customers.

Beyond the pricing issue, there are other aspects of an online vendor’s service that need to be addressed before you commit. Great prices? Fantastic. But will you get what you want when you want it? If you have a complaint, will it be answered to your satisfaction? Let’s take a look at some things you can check for in order to select or discard an online seller.

A vendor who also takes telephone orders is indicative of a company that has service staff and is truly a mail order entity, as opposed to one individual with a website. Also, being able to talk to an actual customer service representative has reassurance value even in today’s online shopping atmosphere.

Receiving your order when you need it is important, so ask about shipping time and what may affect it. Reliable sellers should be able to tell you if the desired product is in stock and when it will ship. Some outfits will have fewer contact lenses on hand, so first they may have to order what you want before being able to ship it to you. Keep in mind if you have a complicated prescription there is a greater likelihood that those lenses will need to be backordered, even by larger companies. Also factor in the requirement by law that contact lens sellers must verify your prescription with your eye doctor. This, too, will affect processing and shipping time.

If problems occur with your order, you need to be assured that your complaint will be received and addressed. Reputable vendors offer contact information, including a toll-free number for customer service. As a rule of thumb, try the toll-free numbers to see if you get an answering machine—these are sellers you may want to avoid. Learn any company’s return policy; if your contact lens prescription changes, you will want a vendor who will take back any unopened boxes and credit you accordingly. Also, ask what they will do in the case of a shipment damaged in transit.

Of course, you are the final judge. No one is perfect, so in the end you will balance any contact lens seller’s flaws against their overall prices and service and choose accordingly. Employing the above tips will make your selection process easier.

Tackling Eye Problems As We Get Older

2010-10-01T04:57:00.000-07:00

As we get older, the search for a ‘fountain of youth’ can become more than just a fanciful notion. There is no such thing, of course, but there are approximations that we have managed to achieve through exercise, diet, and an overall healthy lifestyle to maintain our physical vigor.

But what are our options when it comes to aging eyes? Certain types of changes are inevitable as ‘maturity’ advances upon us, so what can be expected and how do we handle it?

One of the first changes is the onset of presbyopia, the loss of near-focusing ability that occurs around the age of 40. This is the point in life where the need for bifocals causes some distress because the adoption of eyeglasses is equated with the perception of looking older. Fortunately, there are contact lenses that can help presbyopes improve their vision and maintain a youthful appearance. Bifocal and multifocal lenses have become available to address vision correction at all distances.

Dry eye is something that can develop with age, which is a result of decreased level of tear production. Women nearing menopause can experience dry eye as an increase in hormones occurs. Such remedies as artificial tears, a change in medication (some can cause dry eye), and the use of oxygen-permeable contact lenses with lower water content (to minimize rapid evaporation) can battle dry eye symptoms.

Another condition that takes place is the lessening in nighttime vision. Sometimes this is due to the forming of cataracts, vitamin deficiencies and, to a degree, decrease in the muscle strength of the pupil. Since the most common activity affected by this is driving after dark, any measure taken to maximize night vision increases your safety as well as others’. Proper levels of vitamins A and zinc are essential to eye health and are found in yellow and leafy green vegetables (A), beef, poultry, beans and nuts (zinc). Also wear sunglasses during the day (or avoid the sun when planning night driving) as prolonged exposure to sunlight can affect night vision for up to 48 hours.

Other steps that can be taken to cope with aging eyes include further modification of your diet to add foods rich in the alphabet vitamins (the aforementioned A, C, and E); getting plenty of sleep; ensure proper lighting for reading, watching TV, computer use, and other close work; and not smoking. Most importantly, keep those regularly scheduled exam appointments with your eye doctor to stay ahead of potential issues such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.

Many equate being young with being active; as we get older, assuming a proactive and responsible stance when it comes to tackling these problems gives you a truly youthful vision when it comes to eye health.

Can I Wear My Contacts…?

2010-09-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

Contact lenses have been proven great lifestyle enhancers and now come in various kinds and styles to accommodate almost any vision condition. Yet, with all the information available concerning contacts, there are times when questions pop up in regard to whether or not a person should wear them in certain situations. The following will hopefully answer some of these questions and clarify any uncertainty.

Can I wear my contact lenses while applying eye makeup? Yes, in fact it is preferable that you insert your contacts before the application if makeup products as a means to minimize the contamination of the lenses. Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your contacts. Use only non-allergenic makeup; water-based cream eye shadows are recommended instead of oil-based and powders. If you are a stickler for powder, keep your eyes closed during application and brush away any excess before opening them. Keep eyeliner away from the part of the lashes that are closest to the eye. When removing makeup, wash and dry your hands and take out your lenses first—always being careful not to bring them into contact with any makeup.

What about beach and water activities, or sunbathing? Care must be taken when wearing your contacts in lakes, pools, hot tubs, or the ocean. Water in the eyes leaves your lenses subject to infection-causing pathogens. It is recommended that you remove your contacts before going into the water or protect them by wearing swim goggles. Lenses that are splashed with water must be removed immediately and thoroughly cleaned, rinsed, and stored using proper solution. For water activities, daily disposable contact lenses are the best option since they can be removed, thrown away, and replaced with a fresh pair. As for sunbathing, since the corneas may swell, the tighter lens fit could cause temporary irritation and redness. If you insist on wearing your lenses, put a safe lubricating drop in yours eyes before lying in the sun (your eye doctor can help you choose the right kind). Whether your contacts are in or out during tanning, always use a good pair of UV-blocking sunglasses to protect all portions of your eyes.

Can contact lenses be worn in airplanes? Are solutions barred from carry-on items? The air in plane cabins tends to be of lower humidity, which can lead to dry eye issues. Lubricating eye drops may help, but in the event of persistent symptoms it is best to do without lenses and wear eyeglasses during flights. But of course individual comfort levels vary. The Transportation Security Administration’s rules for carry-on liquids* require that saline solutions and eye drops must be in 3-ounce or smaller containers carried in a 1-quart zip-top clear plastic bag. Any amounts larger than three ounces or not in the 1-quart bag must be declared to security officers at airport checkpoints.

Never feel uncomfortable about asking questions concerning your contact lenses or their wear. Consulting your eye doctor can provide you with the best and most complete information regarding your personal eye health.

*Website found at www.tsa.gov.

Back to School: Pencils, Books, Backpacks, and an Eye Exam

2010-08-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

Kids will be starting or returning to school in a few days and the hurried activity to get them ready with all their needed supplies is well underway. But have parents thought about one ‘item’ that can really help a child’s classroom performance—an eye exam?

Now is an ideal time to schedule an appointment with the eye doctor and establish a regular schedule of exams. In today’s classroom, a child’s eyes are confronted with all sorts of visual stimuli: overhead projectors, blackboards and whiteboards, text and workbooks, computers, and participation in school activities and sports. Reading and studying levels increase. Since school age children are at the stage where eyes change rapidly as they encounter normal growth patterns, a preventive stance certainly makes sense.

When experiencing a vision problem, a child may not say anything about it, as at their young age they will assume that is how everyone sees. In this situation the effects of dealing with an undiagnosed condition such as hyperopia (farsightedness) or myopia (nearsightedness) on the part of the child can lead to short attention spans, frustration, and avoidance of schoolwork. Amblyopia (lazy eye) is a condition that must be treated early (by the age of seven) or chances of good vision in the affected eye are considerably lessened. Unfortunately, there are times when an undiagnosed eye problem may be mistakenly labeled as a learning disability or behavioral issue. This unnecessary complication can be avoided by proactive eye exams, which allow problems to be detected and addressed before they hamper performance in the classroom.

Leaving the detection of eye trouble up to school screenings alone may not be a good idea. Many of these tests are based on evaluating clarity and distance; a child passing them could still have a vision problem. Necessary eye functions that allow for recognition, comprehension, and eye-hand coordination need to be monitored as well.

If the time comes for a child’s vision correction, eyeglasses are usually thought of first, but contact lenses are just as viable an option. Recent studies have shown that children as young as eight can be successfully introduced to contacts, especially in cases where the child’s sense of responsibility and follow-through allows them to satisfactorily assume the care regimen that comes with certain types of contacts. Once a child demonstrates the skill to handle contact lenses, then a consultation can take place with an eye doctor who will prescribe, fit, and monitor the proper lens. Positive results from contact lenses, other than vision correction, include perception of an improved appearance that heightens self-esteem and being able to better cope with sports and activities that are hindered by eyeglasses.

An important fact is that 80% of a child’s learning comes visually; so scheduling an eye exam now is not only a smart decision, but a necessary preventive approach when it comes to minimizing eye health problems.

Computers and Contact Lenses

2010-08-13T04:53:00.000-07:00

The use of home and office computers has become so prevalent in just the last generation that we find it hard to believe how we ever got along without them. While they have been a definite boon to our quality of life and work, they have also handed us a whole new hurdle when it comes to eye care.

An outgrowth of extended computer use has been what the doctors term Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), an increasingly common occurrence defined by tired or burning dry eyes and headaches caused by the strain of focusing on the screen over long periods of time. The eyes work differently when viewing a computer screen as opposed to regular day-to-day vision requirements. Constant and focused concentration on the computer screen changes the rate of blinking, which leads to dryer eye tissues. As a consequence the contact lens wearer focused on a computer screen will feel that their lenses are drying faster and causing some level of discomfort, or even perhaps poorer vision quality.

Just like other industries that have provided other types of long-term solutions for computer workers, the optical industry has made its own contributions. As an example, there is eyewear available with specialized lenses that work to reduce glare and assist users in enjoying a more comfortable visual experience at the computer. The contact lens industry proposed silicone hydrogel lenses, made of a new material that binds less water than the older polymers with higher water content. These may also have specialized wetting agents bound to their surface or incorporated into their polymer matrix in order to preserve the desired hydration for longer periods—even in difficult situations. Silicone hydrogel lenses also provide the highest oxygenation levels in the industry and remain moist. In fact, these lenses transmit oxygen an average of six times more than prior lenses, allowing for optimum eye and cornea health.

For those entering the world of presbyopia (the decreased accommodation at different fields of vision that usually occurs after the age of 40), multifocal contact lenses provide a progression of corrective powers from far, intermediate to near vision. This smooth flow of vision while working at the computer is less jarring than the effect of bifocals, which can leave you bobbing your head up and down adjusting to the abrupt change from far to near lens power. By having an intermediate range, multifocals allow you to keep your head in one position while your eyes scan the screen through the mid and near portions of your lens.

Your eye doctor can diagnose for CVS and help you choose a contact lens that can compliment your computer work. Once you have a valid lens prescription, an online retailer can easily be found who will provide you with a money-saving and convenient avenue for purchasing your contact lenses.

With the kinds of innovations seen in the contact lens industry through each passing year, efforts shall continue to yield improvements that will give eager lens wearers the best possible contact lens for easing and enhancing our hours at the computer.

Daily Disposables—The Convenient Contact Lens Americans Aren’t Using

2010-07-30T04:42:00.000-07:00

Daily disposable contact lenses were first approved for use in the United States in 1994. Yet, sixteen years later, only 10 to 15 per cent of American contacts wearers use them regularly. This is a surprising statistic*, especially in the face of their convenience and availability.

Daily disposables are contacts that are worn once, removed before bedtime, and replaced with a fresh pair the next day. While Americans have been slow to fully embrace daily disposables, other countries have not. For example, Scandinavian countries and Japan are seeing use of these contact lenses at 50 per cent and above. They are also the leading modality of lens wear in Europe and the rest of Asia.

Why is the market share so low in the US? Cost is a factor that weighs against using daily disposables, especially if you rely solely on your eye doctor to get them. However, if you have a valid prescription and go online to source them, you will discover these lenses can be quite affordable--especially as they are available in boxes of 30 and 90 and may be purchased in yearly supplies. Depending on where you shop, discounts and rebates allow you in some instances to have daily disposables for around $1 a day. Since you do not have to buy solutions or lens cases, those expenses are eliminated from the cost calculation for daily disposables. As manufacturers continue to improve on their production efficiencies, product costs for disposables will continue to trend towards a more economical option for consumers.

Daily disposable contact lens wear provides the consumer with a safer option for their ocular health. The day-to-day build-up of protein, lipids, and other substances that occur with other types of contact lenses (even 2-week and 30-day disposables) increases the risk of infection. The replacement frequency inherent with daily disposables reduces this risk. The once-a-day use also provides comfort for those plagued by allergy season, as deposits that trigger those symptoms have less chance to accumulate on the lenses. In addition to the standard correction for near- and farsightedness, there are now daily disposable torics for astigmatism, multifocals for presbyopia, and UV blocking lenses that protect the cornea.

When daily disposables were first approved for use, only one manufacturer (Johnson & Johnson/Vistakon) made them. Today, all the major contact lens companies offer lenses in this modality, including Bausch & Lomb, CIBA Vision, and CooperVision.

Ask your eye doctor whether you are a candidate for daily disposable contact lenses. The rest of the world has already discovered their convenience and comfort, why not you?

*According to Dr. Renee Reeder, OD, Associate Professor and Chief of the Cornea Center for Clinical Excellence at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago.

Shopping Online for Contacts: Security and Privacy

2010-07-16T05:04:00.000-07:00

The Fairness to Contact Lens Consumer Act, signed into law in 2004, empowered lens wearers with the right to obtain a copy of their contact lens prescription from their eye doctor. After years of anticipation, contact lens wearers were finally free to purchase their contact lens replacements wherever they felt was appropriate for them. Although mail order companies had sold contact lenses for years, online contact lens replacement providers were growing in popularity and using popular search engines to market their services to consumers.

Today, more and more consumers find that online shopping saves them money and is convenient, but how do you determine which sites are safe to deal with? Everyone is looking for great prices, but the overriding concern is to find vendors who have secure websites that protect your privacy.

How does one go about finding a secure shopping site? There are two indicators you can check to determine if a website is properly safeguarded. The first is by looking at the URL, or web page address, at the top of your web browser. As you may have noticed during your Internet surfing experience, most begin with “http”. However, a secure site will have an address that begins “https”. Be sure the latter prefix exists when you arrive at a web page on which you will be actually entering sensitive information. The added ‘s’ is a signal to users that information (e.g. names and passwords) will be encrypted as it is transmitted. The second check for a safe site is to search for the padlock icon, usually located at the bottom of the screen. If the padlock is closed, the site is secure. Make sure this icon is in the browser window and not in the web page area. A click (or double-click) on a legitimate padlock icon will display a website’s security information.

Reputable shopping sites also have privacy policies posted that can be easily found and understood. This is where you will learn if the contact lens vendor shares your information with affiliated companies or other third parties. If they do, there is an almost certain likelihood you will receive unsolicited e-mail (‘spam’)—unless the vendor expressly restricts these parties from marketing in this manner. Also look to see if the site belongs to a ‘seal of approval’ program administered by the Better Business Bureau or others whose job it is to set guidelines for privacy practices.

Keep in mind that policies can change, especially if the website happens to be sold to or purchased by other companies. Review the policies at websites you do business with at regular intervals so any sudden ‘switches’ will not surprise you. This will allow you to take timely action to stop your information from being misused.

Since there are never any guarantees, care and research is necessary in selecting a legitimate online contact lens seller. However, this should not deter you from taking advantage of the convenience offered by online shopping. Remember, a responsible shopper will always be in a better position to take advantage of new opportunities. Take the time to locate responsible vendors that will safeguard their customers’ security and privacy.

Summer Fun and Contact Lenses

2010-07-09T04:36:00.000-07:00

The summer months are the most active for those who enjoy outdoor activities and are certainly the most comfortable. Dashing out the door without having to burden yourself with extra clothing after a long winter is a liberating feeling, especially for those who wear contact lenses instead of glasses.

Not only are contact lenses convenient, they are also more practical. How many times have eyeglasses gotten in the way of enjoying outdoor games and pastimes because of decreased peripheral vision and slipping frames? Contacts eliminate both of those problems. If you still wear specs and continue to struggle through warm weather activities, then it is time to seriously consider switching to contacts.

The selection of contact lenses has never been greater, due to ongoing improvements and innovations targeted to enhance comfort and convenience. Soft contacts (including silicone hydrogels) have come along to extend wear time and maximize moisture for healthy eyes. Multifocal and toric lenses are available for those with presbyopia and astigmatism, so all ages can enjoy the benefits these contacts give. Many of these offer UV blocking* as an added measure of protection against the sun.

With the introduction of daily disposables water sports have become less of a problem. Whether one is swimming in lake water, municipal pool, or a familiar private swimming pool, water splashed in the eyes while wearing contact lenses increases the chances of infection and other eye damage caused by microorganisms in the water. These incidences are minimized when the affected contacts are promptly removed and replaced with a fresh pair. Daily disposables also mean you no longer have to carry cleaning and solution kits to disinfect your lenses.

Today there are online retailers that make it very convenient to purchase contact lenses inexpensively and in a timely manner. Quick surfing of the Internet will give you a list of vendors who will meet your needs. All that is required is a valid prescription provided by your eye doctor. Purchasing lenses online cuts down on traveling to box store lens sellers and wasting valuable time that is better spent enjoying your summer.

Consult with your eye doctor who will assist you in choosing and fitting the appropriate contact lens for your needs. Nothing defines ‘carefree summer days’ more than the ability to leave your eyeglasses behind and enjoy the natural feel of wearing contacts during warm weather activities.

*Keep in mind that contact lenses that block UV radiation only protect the cornea—that part of the eye covered by the lenses. For full eye protection from UV rays, appropriate sunglasses that shield the entire eye area are needed.

‘Piggybacking’ and ‘Vaulting’ Contact Lenses for Keratoconus

2010-07-01T05:11:00.000-07:00

The cornea of the eye is the ‘window’ that allows light to be reflected onto the retina to enable our sight. One of the irregularities that can afflict the cornea is the disease called keratoconus.

Keratoconus occurs most frequently during the teen years or early 20s. It causes the naturally rounded cornea to become more cone-shaped, resulting in nearsightedness, astigmatism, and light sensitivity. Changes in eyeglass prescriptions tend to be necessary upon each visit with the eye doctor and, for many years, patients were told they could not wear contact lenses. Fortunately, some excellent options have been developed and marketed. These options can provide keratoconus patients with a contact lens option in various lens materials and designs.

Initially, rigid gas permeable (RGP or GP) lenses were the only type of contact used because their firmness restored a symmetrical window, correcting the focus of light into the eye. However, there were cases where keratoconus made the eye so sensitive that GP lenses could not be worn due to pressure exerted on corneal tissue. A solution called ‘piggybacking’ was developed.

In ‘piggybacking’ eyes that cannot tolerate GP contact lenses are first fitted with a soft lens that is intended to act as a cushion. Then, a GP is fitted over the soft lens. This achieves both the comfort and correction needed to overcome the effects of keratoconus. The one concern with this method is the issue of oxygen permeability necessary to keep the eye healthy. Fortunately, the advance of hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses has greatly increased oxygen flow for their wearers; GPs have also improved in oxygen transmission by way of new materials development in that segment. Despite this advantage, ‘piggyback’ patients need to be monitored by their eye doctor to prevent any problems that might occur.

One other innovation is the hybrid lens, which combines features of GP and soft contacts. Unlike the ‘piggyback’ lens option where two different lenses are used, with the hybrid lens there exists a center portion, made of a non-pliable material, while the outer skirt is made of a soft hydrogel material. This type of contact lens performs a function in which the corrective window ‘vaults’ over the cornea, eliminating any uncomfortable pressure. This is closer to the fit wearers have come to expect from current lenses.

Being diagnosed with keratoconus is not an automatic sentence to eyeglasses. It may take some patience and close consultation and visits with your eye doctor, but the options available give lens users good opportunities to keep the freedom and comfort of contact lenses.

Water and Contact Lenses

2010-06-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Water is one of the most plentiful substances on Earth, and its relationship to man’s survival is vital. However, when it comes to contact lenses, water holds both risks and benefits depending on its source.

Water has always been thought of as a cleanser, and in most instances that is true, but not so in the case of contacts. Water should not be used to clean or store lenses because it contains bacteria and microorganisms that transfer first to the lenses and then to your eyes. The serious infections and eye damage that result can cause vision loss, and even blindness. It does not matter whether the water comes from a filtered tap or is bottled or distilled, those harmful organisms remain. Use nothing but approved contact solutions to clean and store your lenses.

If you are the type of person who enjoys water sports or leisure activities, care must be taken when wearing your contacts in lakes, pools, hot tubs, or the ocean. Water splashed in the eyes will leave your lenses vulnerable to the same type of pathogens found in tap water. It is recommended that you remove your contacts before going into the water, or protect them with swim goggles. If water does get in to your eyes while wearing your lenses, remove them immediately. Thoroughly rinse them in solution and store them overnight. Daily disposable lenses are very convenient in this regard as they can be removed and replaced with a fresh pair right away. This is handy in situations when you find yourself without contact solution, e.g. at a park, lake, or resort.

On the other hand, the water that forms our tears is essential for comfortable contact lens wear. Not only do tears keep the eye healthy by flushing out dust and debris, they also minimize the growth of naturally occurring microorganisms that can appear on the eye’s surface. Tears are also important in keeping the cornea supplied with oxygen while contacts are in place, and blinking allows the tears to be continually replenished.

In addition, a recent innovation in contact lens manufacture has allowed water to become a component in silicone hydrogels, a soft lens that can deliver more oxygen to the cornea because of the water content in the plastic that makes up the lens. As a result, these contacts have become some of the most popular types on the market.

So, water has a two-fold relationship with contact lenses—one harmful, the other beneficial. Being mindful of the differences will keep your experience with lens wear a pleasant, comfortable, and healthy one.

Coming to Terms with Contact Lenses’ Prescriptions and Their Expiration

2010-06-18T04:41:00.000-07:00

Despite all the information available about contact lenses, there is still one area where misconceptions crop up concerning the nature of contacts and their use: prescriptions and their expirations.

Eye doctors and contact lens sellers remain surprised that a good number of people continue to ask why they need a prescription to wear contact lenses. In cases like these, the prevailing notion seems to be that contacts are somehow just a fashion accessory and not the controlled medical devices that they are. It is true that patients have been given greater freedom to shop around for their lenses since the federal government required that contact wearers have a copy of their prescription. However, this freedom may have fostered assumptions that contacts have become less controlled. No one would think of taking a medication to treat a serious illness without benefit of a doctor’s prescription because that medication must be monitored so it will do no harm. The same holds true for contacts. A lens that fits poorly, is not perfectly matched to your vision power, or is made from material not best suited for your eyes will cause problems. Not only is discomfort a most likely result, but inflammation, infection, and permanent damage to eye tissue are also risks.

Once you have the proper prescription it is important to remember that it is subject to expiration, in most cases after one year. Your eyes may continue to feel good and lens wear remains comfortable, but there could be microscopic changes in your eye health that are not noticeable. An annual exam with your eye doctor assures that any potential problems with your eyes are caught and corrected before they become serious. These regular exams also keep up with how your lenses are performing and allows for any required updates in regards to power, size, material, or design.

In addition to prescription expiration, soft contact lenses themselves have a time limit placed on them. Despite the airtight packaging used on most brands of soft contacts, the passage of time may weaken or compromise the seal. This leads to contamination of the sterile saline solution and the lens inside. Expiration dates can be found on the box and on the lens’ foil wrapper. Dates are printed in a year-month format, meaning the contacts within can be used until the last day of the month in the calendar year indicated (e.g. 2014/12 means you can use the lenses until December 31, 2014). Once an expiration date has been reached, discard the lenses immediately and obtain fresh ones.

Contact lenses provide great convenience and comfort regarding vision correction, but it is important to remember that they also impact a most sensitive part of our bodies, the eyes. Regular and timely visits with your eye doctor are necessary to maintain eye health and to make sure they are enhanced--not harmed--by the contacts we choose.

Ending Discomfort Associated with Contact Lenses

2010-06-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

The ongoing advance of contact lens technology in recent years has made the wearing and enjoyment of contacts more widespread. Nevertheless, there may be instances where discomfort may occur in some people’s use of lenses. In most situations where this is an issue, there are relatively simple solutions.

Eyes that burn when contacts are inserted are many times due to substances that get on the lenses through handling. Skin lotions, cosmetics, food oils, and soaps with additives (e.g. moisturizers and perfumes) can easily find their way onto your contact lenses. Search out ‘basic’ or ‘all natural’ soaps for use and make sure your hands are thoroughly dried with a lint-free towel before handling your contacts. Daily disposable lenses go a long way to cut down on contamination because you use them once and then throw them away.

Foreign body sensation (the feeling that something is in the eye) when wearing contacts could be a sign that your lens fit may not be just right. This cause may be as simple as inverted lenses, a nick at the edge of the lens, a torn lens or an incorrect base curve or diameter. Lipids and natural deposits left on lenses due to tear production is another factor, and can be removed with the proper cleaning solution. Your eye doctor can help you with the correct fitting and care regimen necessary.

Dry eyes while using contact lenses can possibly be solved by having your current lens fitting reevaluated by your eye doctor. A switch to contacts better suited for dry eye symptoms (silicone hydrogels are one type) may be recommended. Certain eye drops used for dryness in conjunction with lenses are available. High intakes of caffeine and alcohol contribute to the problem, so a moderation in their consumption may help.

Silicone hydrogels have also come to the rescue of those who find they cannot wear their lenses as long as they would like each day. These soft lenses have increased wear time due to their high rate of oxygen flow to the cornea, which also promotes good eye health in addition to comfort.

Other factors that affect contact lens comfort are the presence of allergies, medical problems, and the use of some prescription medications. Smoking raises a whole host of health complications associated with vision.

The most important thing to remember is that discomfort in most cases does not mean having to give up your contact lenses. Meetings with your eye doctor will very likely result in greater satisfaction and enhanced visual freedom.

Answering Some Common Questions About Contacts

2010-06-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

As long as contact lenses have been a common and widely available means of vision correction, there also have been some basic questions that people ask—especially if they do not wear them and/or are contemplating a switch from eyeglasses.

For the ‘sophisticated’ contact wearer, the following questions may seem silly or unnecessary, but they are of great concern to those who are thinking of purchasing lenses or those who are new wearers. In this regard, they should not be dismissed, as any exchange of information that is useful to someone is certainly not a waste of time.

Are contacts bad for your eyes? Do they make your eyes worse? The success rate among contact lenses over their decades of use is indisputable. However, ‘bad’ depends on how conscientious users are in following the wear and care regimen that is vital to eye health. Since contacts are placed directly on the eye, the natural oxygen flow to the eye is immediately reduced by a factor related to the lens material itself. Industry developments over the past 5-7 years have greatly improved oxygen transmission through the lens material. Nevertheless, careless habits employed by the wearer will increase the potential for infections and other problems. The best defense is to heed all of your eye doctor’s instructions on lenses’ wear time and cleaning. As far as making eyes worse, this is a misconception borne out of contact use among children who often experience a progression of myopia (nearsightedness) during their growing years. Studies* have shown that children who wear eyeglasses under the same circumstances have a nearly identical rate of progression. It is simply that myopic changes are greatest during childhood.

Are contact lenses difficult to insert? After your eye doctor has assisted you in achieving a good fit with the right type of contact, they will also demonstrate the proper way to insert and remove the lenses. There may be those who struggle at first with insertion, but patience and practice leads to success rather quickly. It has been proven that children as young as eight are able to successfully handle contact lenses; if they can do it so can you!

Can contacts get lost in your eyes? They certainly cannot find their way to the back of the eyeball, as some fear, due to the nature of the membrane of the inner eyelid (conjuctiva). This membrane continues up the inside lid to become the covering of your eye’s outer white surface; nothing can get behind the eye. However, lenses can move into the upper eyelid, usually due to rubbing or sudden jostle. When this happens, use re-wetting drops in your eye and gently massage the lid with your eye closed to move the lens to a position where it can be removed. Another method is to carefully turn up your eyelid so that it is inside out (employ a cotton swab on the outside of the lid to fold onto), tilt your head back, and use the inverted eyelid to move the contact onto the eye’s surface so it can be removed. If the above methods prove unsuccessful, ask someone for assistance or immediately see your eye doctor.

Where can contacts be bought without a prescription? Contact lenses are classified as medical devices by the FDA and cannot be purchased without a valid prescription from an eye doctor. However, since you have a legal right to obtain your prescription from your eye doctor, you have the freedom to shop and select the seller who best fills your needs.

These are only some of the questions asked about contact lenses. Your eye doctor is the best source for answers when it comes to the wearing and care of lenses. They are willing partners and the dialogue between you can only improve your satisfaction with contacts.

*The Adolescent and Child Health Initiative to Encourage Vision Empowerment (ACHIEVE) is an example.

Contacts Match Active Lifestyles at All Ages

2010-05-28T04:44:00.000-07:00

In recent decades, Americans have become more active as they try to live a healthy lifestyle. Whether it is competitive sports or leisurely pastimes such as jogging, walking, or swimming, we are going and doing in greater numbers than our grandparents. However, if you are among the millions who require vision correction you have another concern: finding the type of lenses that won’t inhibit your activity level or enjoyment.

Although tolerated for years, eyeglasses remain pretty much a non-starter as far as being the best means for seeing well while exerting yourself. There are many disadvantages: restricted peripheral vision, slipping or falling frames, putting up with spectacle headbands, accommodating goggles, etc. Oftentimes glasses are the main reason people opt not to take up a sport.

Contact lenses have certainly made it easier to participate in physical activities, with their convenience and range of choices. Also, because of recent studies showing that responsible children can be successfully fitted for contacts, the entry age for kids who need vision correction and wish to start playing sports now begins at approximately eight years old. At the other end of the scale, older or ‘more mature’ individuals are able to continue enjoying healthful exercise with contacts that have come a long way in addressing eye conditions related with age, primarily presbyopia and dry eye.

Between the two types of contacts favored today, soft and gas permeable (GP), soft contacts get the nod as the better choice when it comes to active wear. Besides being more comfortable and quicker to get used to, their gel-like make-up allows them to adhere to the eye in such a way that they do not fall out during exercise or strenuous activity. Gas permeable contact lenses, because of their rigid and smaller-diameter design, tend to move or dislodge as the body exhibits vigorous motion. A recent development, hybrid lenses, may make it easier for those who are bound to a GP contact. Hybrids blend the corrective qualities of GPs with the comfort of soft lenses.

Disposable lenses have been a boon to sports enthusiasts who find themselves in situations where a strict contact-cleaning regimen is unwieldy, i.e. camping, sailing, or hunting excursions that can last for days. Beginning with a fresh pair every day and discarding them before retiring for the night, disposables are seemingly made for those constantly on the go.

Nowadays there are eye care practitioners who can specifically fit for participants in competitive or professional sports. Adapting general fitting techniques to the more precise need of a particular activity accomplishes this, whether it is softball or soccer for school-age children or golf and tennis that appeal to an older crowd.

Be mindful that any change in eyewear you plan to make is done in close consultation with your eye doctor. This is necessary to arrive at the proper lens for comfort and ease that will allow an enhanced enjoyment of your activities.

Contact Lenses and Solutions

2010-05-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

Conscientious contact wearers are fully aware that taking proper care of their lenses is important and vital to continued eye health. The cleaning and storing regimen is a major part of this care.

There are various types of solutions made to accomplish safe cleaning and storage and it is easy to become confused about which does what. The following breakdown may be helpful.
· Cleaning solutions remove bacteria and debris, including dirt and mucous.
· Disinfecting solutions are used when storing your lenses, killing bacteria when you are not wearing your contacts.
· Multi-purpose solutions combine cleansers with disinfectants and can be used to remove proteins on lenses that come from tears.
· Peroxide solutions are also disinfectants, but most importantly come with a neutralizing agent that must be employed to convert the peroxide to saline before contacts can be placed on the eye. Peroxide in the eye will cause serious injury.
· Enzyme cleaners and protein removers target tear deposits that may irritate eyes.
· Rewetting solutions moisten lenses during the course of the day as they become dry; also called comfort drops, they can extend lens wear.
· Rinsing solutions basically wash across lenses to ready them for use, but do not kill bacteria.

Solutions should not be kept beyond their expiration dates; neither should they be mixed unless okayed by a doctor.

With all the above information, not to mention expense, an obvious question would be why not use tap water as a cleanser? Because despite the best filtration systems, tap water carries microorganisms and bacteria that can cause serious eye infections such as Acanthamoeba keratitis, a parasite-triggered condition that is sometimes difficult to diagnose and leads to permanent vision loss if allowed to advance. Bottled and distilled water are also off limits as impromptu solutions for the same reason.

It is also important to remember that swimming pools, hot tubs, and other recreational waters pose the same potential health risks if water is splashed in the eyes while wearing contacts. If this happens, remove the lenses as soon as possible, rinse and store them overnight to a proper disinfecting solution. A way to avoid this problem, especially if you are a ‘water-loving’ person who has no solution handy, is to carry disposable contacts. Disposables can be discarded and replaced once you leave the pool, lake or tub.

As for selecting the right solution for reusable lens care, your eye doctor is the person to go to for the information you need to navigate the various types and brands available. In fact, consultation is vital for first-time contact wearers and those wishing to switch from an established care regimen.

You enjoy the comfort and convenience provided by contacts. By approaching the cleaning and care aspects in an informed and responsible manner, you will ensure your healthy enjoyment of lenses for years to come.

Dry Eye Syndrome in Regards to Contacts

2010-05-14T05:05:00.000-07:00

If your eyes have feelings of dryness, scratching, burning, or the sensation that something is in your eye, then you may be suffering from dry eye syndrome (what doctors call keratitis sicca). It is basically diminished amount of moisture due to evaporation or rapid draining of the tear film on the eye; it can also refer to a lack in the quality of tears, as they are made up of three components: oil, water, and mucous.

Some factors that lead to dry eye include the natural aging process; side effects from medications; dry, dusty or windy climates (don’t discount indoor ‘climates’ such as home or offices affected by air conditioning or heating systems that dry out eyes); smoking; and insufficient blinking caused by concentrating on computer screens and the like. There are also health conditions that can play a role: eye gland disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes.

Contact lens wearers can also fall into a pattern of dry eye, as this is a complaint from roughly 50% of users. However, combinations of treatment and types of lenses made to offset dry eye means one does not necessarily have to give up contacts.

First, if you suspect dry eye problems visit your eye doctor for a full examination to determine the type and extent of the disorder. From there, a treatment plan can be established. In recent years, developments both with contact lenses and other products have brought new weapons to the dry eye front.

Among the contact lens brands in this regard are Acuvue Oasys, Focus Night & Day, Ciba O2 Optix, Acuvue Advance, Bausch & Lomb PureVision and Proclear Compatibles. Using these lenses alone or in combination with doctor-approved eye drops or prescription medications have helped many with dry eye. Drops with cyclosporine in a castor oil base aid the body in producing more tears; this is more popularly recognized as Restasis. Other measures that can be taken include maintaining good care of your lenses, being more mindful about blinking frequently and completely throughout the day (which keeps up the natural wetting process), and re-soaking the lenses in solution for a few minutes to extend comfortable wear time.

When it comes to producing tears with the proper consistency, nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and oils gleaned from fresh-water fish are helpful. Flaxseed oil is also recommended.

Surgically, there is a process where punctal (also called lacrimal) plugs can be inserted in the tear ducts to slow the draining of moisture from the eye. The process is painless and usually the plugs are not felt after they are in place. There is also an insert that can be set inside the lower eyelid that releases a lubricating agent throughout the day.

With contact lens manufacturers, medical researchers, and other professionals continuing to look for better ways to minimize or eliminate dry eye syndrome, it is only a matter of time until discomfort from this problem becomes a thing of the past.

Advantages of RGP Contact Lenses

2010-03-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

Just because RGP (rigid gas permeable, oftentimes referred to just as GPs) contact lenses have been around a long time and have been seemingly displaced in popularity by soft contacts, they are still an important player in correcting eye disorders.

Rigid Gas Permeable lenses came along as a better alternative to PMMA, or hard, contacts. Hard contacts did not allow oxygen to pass through to the eye, setting up a situation wherein prolonged wear caused complications such as swelling, cloudiness to the cornea, blurred vision, and infection. The materials in RGP contacts are more oxygen friendly and the firm construction of the lens conducts a flow of tears across the cornea during blinking; this provides adequate and much-needed moisture to the eyes.

Gas permeable lenses hold their own alongside soft contacts for a variety of reasons. They can be fitted in a more custom-made manner to the eye and retain their shape better during the blinking process, which keeps crisp vision from fluctuating. The rigidity also assists astigmatism patients in maintaining a rounded cornea that will let light hit the center of the retina, producing desired clarity of vision. In this vein, GPs become the only resort for those with irregular or severely scarred corneas. They are also a top choice when post-LASIK wear becomes necessary to correct remaining aberrations following surgery.

While it is true that on average it takes two to three weeks to become comfortable with GPs (soft lenses tend to provide more immediate comfort), once a satisfactory fit is reached, the quality of vision attained makes the adjustment period well worth it.

The care regimen* for GPs is easier because of their resistance to proteins and other deposits; they hold up over time to repeated cleaning. Needless to say, a longer-lasting lens can be less expensive due to fewer replacements.

Gas permeable lenses can be made with various designs and materials, freeing the fitter to fashion a contact to meet precise needs. Recent advances in technology have allowed a hybrid lens to be developed that combines the best features of soft contacts with those of GPs. The result is a lens with a rigid gas permeable center married to a soft outer skirting—giving the wearer sharp vision and comfort.

So, despite the vogue for soft contacts, GPs should not be discounted when selecting a suitable lens. They have a proven track record that makes them far from obsolete.

*Always follow your eye doctor’s instructions for proper wear and cleaning of contact lenses. They will also assist in choosing the best lens and answer any questions concerning GPs, soft contacts, and other lenses available to you.

Don't Let Age Keep You From Contacts

2010-02-16T05:57:00.000-08:00

With all the youth-oriented product marketing these days, it is easy to get the impression that contact lenses are more fashionable for young people, leaving the assumption that the older or ‘more mature’ are better-suited for bifocals and the like.

Fortunately, that notion doesn’t hold water. It is true that as we age eyesight issues can become more complicated, but improvements have been made in contact lens technology over the past several years that have increased the opportunity for older adults to switch from glasses.

The most common eye condition encountered as we age is presbyopia, the difficulty of focusing at varied distances. In years past, prescription bifocal eyeglasses achieved correction. But nowadays contact lenses have been developed and manufactured to tackle presbyopia, with bifocal and multifocal lenses coming onto the market. There are also lenses made from hydrophilic (water-containing) materials for dry eyes, which can occur as we get older. Many lenses feature tinting and orientation marks, making handling easier and aids locating dropped or lost contacts. There are both rigid and soft styles that can be worn, depending on the type, for daily or extended wear. There are even disposable brands for more convenience.

Another inducement to switch to contacts is that older individuals today are generally more active than their parents were at the same age. An active lifestyle is enhanced by contacts as eyeglasses tend to be awkward and frames constantly interfere with peripheral vision. Along with healthy pursuits, contacts add to a youthful appearance and sense of vitality.

Once you have made the choice to explore the option of wearing contacts, a consultation with an eye doctor is essential. A full eye examination is needed to help determine the type and design of contact best suited to you. Health issues that may factor into your eligibility to wear lenses have to be dealt with; so you must be prepared to discuss any allergies, medications, and conditions in your history. An eye care professional should become a partner in fitting your lenses and monitoring the adjustment process, answering questions and giving you the support needed during this transition. They are also there to give you the ongoing care needed to maintain comfortable wear.

So, this notion that contacts are only for 20 and 30-somethings is as old-fashioned as telephone booths. Fortunately, in today’s health-conscious world youthful vigor can be found in many individuals other than the young. There is no reason to rule out getting contact lenses simply because you are ‘more mature’.

Smoking, Eye Health and Contacts

2010-02-05T07:20:00.000-08:00

We have all heard or seen the surgeon general’s warning about smoking: it causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy. But fewer people know that it also plays a significant, negative role in eye health.

Recent studies have pointed to smoking as a contributor to age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in persons 65 and older. Smokers also have a three-times greater risk of developing cataracts.

The chemicals in cigarette smoke get into the bloodstream, cause clots, and shrink blood vessels. The retina uses a major supply of blood to help us see clearly. When the retinal receptors lack a proper flow of blood, damage occurs that directly affects eyesight. This constriction of blood vessels also raises inner eye pressure, resulting in glaucoma and deterioration of the optic nerve.

Other eye disorders attributed to smoking include uveitis, an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye and Graves’ ophthalmopathy, a thyroid-related disease that disrupts muscle control of the eye. Smoking worsens diabetic retinopathy, blood vessel damage associated with abnormal sugar levels and spikes the number of free radicals, molecules in the body that alter healthy cells. This changes the ability to absorb proper nutrients and vitamins—including those necessary for eye health.

Contact lens wearers who also smoke exacerbate conditions of dry eye and cornea irritation, increasing the chances of infection. Achieving comfort becomes more difficult, and smokers have to resort to additional dietary nutrients, supplements, or medicated drops to increase eye moisture. Quitting the habit gives you the opportunity to see if your dry eyes improve to the point where you can do away with those ‘artificial tears’ and other lubricants.

Second hand smoke has over 250 toxic compounds that are left behind in the air for eyes to be exposed to. In addition to the obvious irritation, second hand smoke gets into the bloodstream just as pervasively as puffing from a lit cigarette.

Quitting smoking reduces the risks of developing eye disease, but once you are diagnosed with macular degeneration or optic nerve damage it is irreversible. The key is to give up smoking while eyes are relatively healthy with no major disorders present; risk factors continue to decline the longer you stay away from cigarettes.

Snuffing out the habit sooner rather than later is a winning health strategy. Not only will you breathe easier and enjoy your activities more, but you will also give yourself a great chance of keeping good vision along with a better quality of life.

Getting Used to Monovision

2010-02-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

Monovision is the contact lens technique for presbyopia that involves fitting a corrective lens for distance on a patient’s dominant eye* and a near-vision one on the other. As with bifocal or multifocal lenses, it is an option that allows the same pair of contacts to be used whether one is driving or reading a book.

On the surface, this method may seem odd and one questions how clear vision can be achieved with the eyes working at different powers.

So, how does monovision work?

As we look into the distance, our dominant eye commands the brain’s attention as vision information is transferred. The non-dominant eye still works, of course, but the dominant eye is in the ‘driver’s seat’. Even though the non-dominant eye is corrected for near vision, it does not interfere with the ‘communication’ going on between the brain and the distance eye. In successful applications, the brain learns to adapt to the two extremes, minimizing any overwhelming dizzying sensation following an adjustment period. Monovision also works if the dominant eye sees distance clearly with no aid, leaving the non-dominant one to be corrected for close sight. The technique is more successful with contacts than with eyeglasses since glasses sit away from the eyes. By their design, contacts are more attuned to natural eye function.

Monovision provides effective correction for presbyopes in nearly 75% of cases; but because the method is a compromise, there are some issues that have to be dealt with. Diminished depth perception is a result of the technique, as well as possible mild headaches until one becomes used to the differing lens powers. There is also the possibility of having less distinct sharpness when viewing distance. In successful instances, the period of adaptation is approximately one to three weeks.

Contact lens applied monovision does not permanently alter eyesight, unlike refractive surgery that incorporates the technique. Contacts can be removed if a trial is not successful and vision will return to what it was before the therapy.

If you are presbyopic and want to depend less on reading glasses, then ask your eye care provider about monovision to determine if you would be a good candidate.

*Much like being right or left-handed, eyes are similarly coordinated. The dominant eye focuses for distance while the non-dominant eye handles near vision. A simple test to determine which eye is dominant involves keeping both eyes open as you raise your right arm to point at an object in the distance (approximately 20 feet away or more). Focus on the object as you continue to point and cover first your left eye and then the right. In one of these instances, your pointing finger will seem to shift to one side. Your dominant eye is the one that does not cause the shift. Your eye doctor can confirm which eye is dominant.

Pregnancy, Eye Health and Contacts

2010-01-13T09:19:00.000-08:00

Understandably, pregnancy is a time of great joy and expectation; but, as you have been told to expect by your doctor, it is also a time of metabolic shifts in your body—resulting in some symptoms that prove stressful and cause a little concern.

With all the other hormonal and physical changes going on, it should not be surprising that eyesight can also be affected. For the most part, these signs are relatively minor and should not trigger undue worry; they occur as part of a conventional pregnancy, and revert to normal after giving birth. Your eye doctor should be alerted to the fact you are expecting so that any prenatal changes can be adequately monitored, especially if there are pre-existing eye conditions.

The same blood pressure and fluid fluctuations in the body that produce swollen feet, etc., also changes the shape of your eyes. The most common development is a thickening in the curvature of the cornea, which alters refraction (the ‘bending’ of light through the cornea to the retina). This sometimes manifests itself in pronounced near- or farsightedness—the greater numbers of women with any significant refractive change experiencing the former. Also, because of eye swelling, contact lenses may suddenly become less comfortable. When this occurs, cease using them until you decide whether or not to continue with a new pair (fitted by your eye doctor). Since we are talking about a finite period of time until post-natal eyes re-stabilize, you may want to just ‘put up’ with eyeglasses for the duration of your term. If you stay in contacts, think about wearing any new lenses for shorter periods to lessen chances of further discomfort.

Dry eyes can also be a problem during pregnancy. This is exacerbated if you do a lot of work at the computer, or other work that requires long stretches of concentration. Blinking decreases during these times, lessening the natural wetting of the eyes. Lubricating drops can readily alleviate this lack of moisture, as most are safe to use for expecting mothers. Contact lens solutions and cleaners pose no problem, as well.

Symptoms to watch out for, as they signal a need to see your doctor, include double or blurry vision, temporary vision loss, seeing spots or flashing lights, and eye pain or redness. Sensitivity to light may occur due to hormonally triggered migraine headaches; a physician must okay any medication used to treat them. The risk of developing diabetes increases during pregnancy and certainly anyone previously diagnosed with the condition should get a full eye exam.

Having your eye physician as an integral part of your pregnancy care regimen is a wise decision; they can answer any questions regarding your eye health and help in relieving some stressful moments during these expectant days.

Contacts for Post-LASIK Patients

2010-01-04T09:57:00.001-08:00

Nearly everyone has heard of LASIK (Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis), the eye surgery that alters the cornea* for better vision. As innovative and beneficial as LASIK has become in recent years, the assumption that the procedure eliminates all need for eyeglasses and contact lenses is not entirely correct.

Refractive surgery is successful in many cases, but there are those who come away from LASIK with less than the desired sharpness of vision. Several factors affect an individual’s satisfaction with laser eye surgery: cornea health and characteristics; the extent of the refractive error and strength of prescription needed; tear production; a patient’s age and expectations. Cornea shapes are not uniform for everyone and these variances affect laser-response and healing. Heightened sensitivity to light--with glare, halos, or ‘starbursts’--can occur. Other symptoms include blurred vision (oftentimes known as irregular astigmatism) and diminished ability to see for night driving.

A follow-up laser procedure, called enhancement, is available for further correction. But this can be prohibited if the cornea is too thin or other complications arise from the initial surgery. Patients at this stage often find that contacts are the next best option for achieving that crisp vision they want. However, acquiring lenses cannot happen right away; fittings must wait until complete healing of the cornea. This occurs generally at 6 months post-op (individual healing times vary), a point when adhesive proteins in the eye have sealed the epithelial flap over corneal tissue exposed during the operation. The seal becomes stronger from this time forward, resulting in a natural suture.

Gas permeable (GP) lenses are the leading choice for post-LASIK correction because of their rigid structure. This rigidity is needed to allow a pool of moisture to form between the actual cornea and the backside of the contact lens. The cornea’s irregularities are then masked as the front surface of the lens permits the correctly refracted light to enter the eye. Soft contacts are not firm enough to accomplish this.

A newer development in contact technology is the hybrid lens. These combine facets of both GP and soft contacts by permitting the visual zone of the lens to remain rigid and gas permeable, with the remaining rim made of soft material. This results in a more comfortable contact that corrects aberrations occurring after LASIK.

Since the cornea has been significantly altered during laser surgery, the fitting process for contacts can take longer than normal. Some amount of patience must be spent during the trial period while finding the right lens. Consulting an eye physician who specializes in this field is always an option and it may make the transition less stressful.

Your eye doctor can answer all your questions about contacts for post-LASIK wear.

*The cornea is the clear ‘window’ of the eye that allows light to enter permitting sight. Irregularities in the shape of the cornea cause refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism (distorted or blurred vision at all distances).

Acuvue Oasys Contact Lenses

2009-12-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

Among the current selection of soft contacts, the Acuvue Oasys family of lenses is taking their place in the ‘neighborhood’ and is rapidly growing in popularity. They have stepped to the forefront, becoming a leading brand prescribed by eye doctors.

Acuvue Oasys, Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism, and Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia all share features that contribute to the ongoing improvement in comfort and extended wear desired by contact users.

The trademarked Hydraclear Plus technology approximates the way eyes naturally stay wet, with a delivery of moisture that lasts all day even in environments and conditions that rapidly produce dryness. The use of senofilcon A (a silicone hydrogel material) facilitates a high flow of oxygen through the lens--a necessary process to maintain eye health. This unbeatable combination gets you as close to that feeling of ‘not wearing any contacts at all’ as any soft lens can.

The Acuvue Oasys family has also forged ahead in the area of UV protection, blocking 96% of UV-A radiation and 99% of UV-B radiation from reaching the covered portion of the eye*. These numbers put Acuvue Oasys at the top of the list in this regard, gaining seals of acceptance for ultraviolet absorbing contact lenses from both the American Optometric Association and the World Council of Optometry.

In addition to the comfort and UV protection, Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism delivers constant, crisp vision due to its four-point Accelerated Stabilization Design that keeps the lens from rotating (and causing a loss of focus). Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia employs Stereo Precision Technology to achieve clear sight at all distances.

Many contact users who are introduced to the Acuvue Oasys family are happy with the results, and there are others who are switching from their prior contacts to get this same satisfaction. One such individual, age 60, has spent much of her forty-four ‘contact years’ settling for just three hours of comfortable lens wear a day. After recently discovering Acuvue Oasys, she now experiences several days of wear without discomfort. Another turned away from ‘old’ Acuvue Oasys after an initial trial only to come back and embrace the improved brand.

Acuvue Oasys is FDA approved for two-week daily wear or six nights of extended wear. Ask your eye doctor about the Acuvue Oasys family member best suited for you.

*All other areas of the eye still need to be protected from ultraviolet radiation. These lenses are no substitute for UV-protecting eyewear such as sunglasses, goggles, etc.
UV-A radiation damages collagen fibers (which support cell structure) and destroys Vitamin A in the skin.
UV-B radiation does direct DNA damage that leads to skin cancer.

O2 Optix Contact Lenses

2009-12-18T06:52:00.001-08:00

The news is out. Contact lens wearers with busy, daylong activities can now enjoy finding new freedom and confidence with O2 Optix.

In the past, insufficient oxygen flow to the eyes--related to materials in the manufacture of many contact lenses--caused redness, irritation, and dryness before the day was done. Any enjoyment of lengthy activities was marred by having to switch out of contacts and/or wear glasses.

Recently, all that has changed thanks to the introduction of silicone hydrogels. These innovative materials have allowed contact lenses to be made with an amazing improvement in the rate of oxygen flow to the eyes. Among these lenses is Ciba Vision’s O2 Optix, rapidly becoming popular among soft contact wearers who have been looking for that safe ‘all-day’ lens.

Prescribed for the correction of myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness), O2 Optix is designed to provide the highest levels of moisture and oxygen permeability possible with a soft contact lens. Also, the surface of the O2 Optix is specially treated to resist protein and other deposits naturally produced by the eye or come from handling the lens. All this technology helps to minimize common symptoms associated with Corneal Oxygen Deficiency, e.g., irritation, blurred vision, dryness and redness. Since these complaints can shorten contact wear-time, the revolutionary features of O2 Optix are a welcome contribution to ongoing eye health for those wearing their lenses for longer periods during the day.

All-day activities become easier and can be enjoyed fully without having to remove contacts because of ‘tired’ eyes and dryness. So go ahead with that hike or excursion, the healthy and fresh feeling you have with O2 Optix will continue for hours.

Other features of the O2 Optix are the blue tint and tiny ‘Ciba Vision’ lettering applied to the lenses, as an assist in seeing the contacts better within solution (or if they’re dropped or lost and you need to retrieve them) and in orientation before insertion.

Satisfied wearers describe O2 Optix as “desirable”, “(of) high quality”, and “an easy choice”. They also suffer less from ‘eye fatigue’ and see their eyes maintain a ‘healthy whiteness’. As the popularity of these lenses grows, many patients are asking eye care professionals about them.

O2 Optix, a 1-2 week disposable lens, is FDA approved for daily and extended wear up to six nights.

As always, consult your eye doctor in determining what the best lens and care regimen is for you.

Convincing Your Parents About Contacts

2009-12-08T05:36:00.000-08:00

You are a teen (or pre-teen) with a vision problem that needs correction, but the thought of having to wear glasses turns you off. You would love to be able to wear contacts, but your parents may not think it’s a good idea. How do you convince them otherwise?

First, make sure your motivations for having contacts are practical. Peer pressure should not be an overriding factor in your decision. The argument “but all my friends wear them” is not a winning one in this case. Yes, contact lenses are ‘cool’, they make you look more attractive, and you won’t be called ‘four-eyes’, but more importantly they also allow you to better participate in sports and other activities, tend to bolster your self-esteem and give you more confidence in social interactions. Contact lenses also eliminate the obstruction to peripheral (or side) vision caused by eyeglass frames and make it less awkward when having to don sport or safety goggles. Improvements in technology and manufacture have made lenses more convenient and comfortable.

The major concern of parents is that their children may be too young for contacts. For many years, the prevailing notion was that the constant changes in kids’ eyes as they matured excluded them from wearing contact lenses until adulthood. This idea has been disproved in recent studies conducted with children ranging from 17 down to as young as eight being successfully fitted with contacts*. So now, ‘too young’ becomes less a matter about age and more about responsibility.

In this regard, you are dealing with the perception that young people are somewhat irresponsible, especially in cases where follow-through and continued diligence are necessary. The fact is people are able to assume responsibility at different ages, and this is to your advantage if you have shown mature behavior in the past. It is best to remember that contacts are medical devices, so you must be prepared to have more frequent visits with your eye doctor. Beyond initial fitting and instruction on how to insert and remove your contacts, there are appointments to monitor changes in your prescription and prevent possible problems concerning eye health. Obviously, your doctor’s instructions must be obeyed faithfully. Depending on what type of contact you wear, there are regimens for care and cleaning that are to be strictly followed. If you successfully prove your ability to make these adjustments, obtaining contacts will become much easier.

*CLIP (Contact Lenses in Pediatrics), jointly conducted by colleges of optometry in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Texas; and PREP (Pediatric Refractive Error Profile), a three-year study at five US clinical facilities.

All Day Long with O2 Optix

2009-11-20T08:36:00.001-08:00

Contact Lens Cases

2009-11-11T08:49:00.001-08:00

Contact lens wearers have always focused on the selection and fitting of their contact lenses. However, with the exception of perhaps selecting a ‘nifty’ color, less attention is paid by many to the lens case in which their contacts will be stored. This is an oversight that could lead to serious eye-health problems.

Currently, a large portion of research in the contact lens field centers on preventing and treating infections that result from contaminated lenses. The condition of contact lens cases must also be considered a factor; especially when a recent study* discovered that nearly one quarter of cases in use are never replaced. This is extremely alarming because when not properly cared for or discarded, these cases become reservoirs for dangerous bacteria that threaten the health of the wearer’s eyes. The implications are more serious when realizing that an increasing number of children are being fitted for contacts. If parents are lax in lens care, it is logical to assume that this behavior will be passed onto their kids.

One very serious condition that can stem from unclean contact lens cases is acanthamoeba keratitis. This is a microbial infection that in its advanced stages leads to ulceration of the cornea and the need for a corneal transplant. Symptoms include irritation, sensitivity to light, tearing, and the feeling that something is in the eye. At times diagnosis is not immediate, as these symptoms mirror other types of eye infections.

Whether it is due to neglect or lack of awareness, the negative trend in lens case care must be reversed. Nearly 80% of complications related to contact use are due to patients not applying proper care techniques. The important thing to remember is that contacts are not just fashionable accessories, but regulated medical devices that require the utmost diligence (and that includes cases) to safeguard your eyes.

Recommended contact lens case replacement is once a month, and during the time a case is kept the following steps should be taken:
· Always wash hands before handling contact lens or the lens case.
· Never use tap water (which may contain bacteria) to clean lens cases. Use a solution and air-dry with the lids open.
· Never ‘top-off’ old solution with new. Use fresh solution each time you store the lenses.
· Do not allow solution bottle tips to touch any surface, including your body, as this leads to contamination.
· Do not use solutions past their expiration date.

Also available are case-holders that keep track of replacement times for both lenses and cases. These are handy for those who do not want to rely on their memory alone.

Consult your eye care professional about contact lens and lens case care, types of solutions that are best suited for your needs, and any changes in care regimen that you plan to make. Be sure to follow all your doctor’s instructions.

* Conducted by WatchDog Group LC, St. Louis, MO.

Air Optix Night and Day Aqua

2009-10-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

Are you a contact lens wearer with a busy schedule? Then you surely must have experienced the occasional need to take a time out from your hectic day for a refreshing catnap. The only thing is, you probably didn’t think of removing your contacts—and you awoke still wearing them. Forgetting your contacts in your eyes while sleeping may be acceptable from time to time, however potential eye-health problems could occur if occasional forgetfulness becomes neglect. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a contact lens with a wearing regimen that could accommodate your style of living?

Now there is.

More on-the-go people are looking for a contact lens that is compatible with their lifestyle: full and active with little time or patience for life’s inconveniences (such as time out for frequent lens care). Many find the answer with Air Optix Night & Day Aqua, a monthly disposable that has been approved by the FDA for up to 30 nights of continuous wear. *

If this contact sounds familiar, it is because recently Ciba Vision changed the brand name of its Focus Night & Day to Air Optix Night & Day Aqua. Many active contact wearers quickly realize the benefits of this new brand, a soft lens with an emphasis on comfort. Air Optix Night & Day Aqua offers the same fit as Focus Night & Day, with the addition of Ciba’s ‘Aqua Moisture System’. This silicone hydrogel innovation delivers six times more oxygen through the lens than the prior brand, achieving a continual ‘breathability’ that contributes to healthy eyes. They are also moister, with a surface that reduces build-up of deposits—a combination dramatically lowering the rate of dehydration and discomfort that may occur at the end of the day. The result is a contact that can be worn while sleeping; which, aside from convenience, gives one the advantage of waking up to crisp, clear vision.

Those satisfied with Air Optix Night & Day Aqua enthuse about the natural feeling they get with their use, which increases due to not having to ‘bother’ with them for an extended period. Also, reduction in ‘red-eye’ or irritation, as well as the fresh sensation stemming from the oxygen flow through the lens adds to their comfort. Impromptu naps can take place without concern for failing to remove them.

If you are a busy mom, frequent business traveler, involved student, or just want a few less hassles in your life, then Air Optix Night & Day Aqua may be the contact lens for you.

* To minimize risks that may come with continuous wear contacts, be sure to strictly follow your eye-care professional’s instructions.

PureVision Multi-Focals

2009-10-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

If you are one of the increasing number of individuals being diagnosed with presbyopia and are overly concerned about it, don’t be.

You are not alone. Onset presbyopia (difficulty focusing up close) is occurring to more people as the segment of the population 35 years of age and older grows. Within the next decade, that segment will increase by an additional 16 million. Changes in lifestyles, both at work and home, have made more demands on our near vision. Computer screens, I-phones, and PDAs, etc., keep our eyes busy many hours a day and is contributing to the population experiencing presbyopia earlier than previous generations.

Despite what one may think, contact lens users do not have to give in to the wearing of half eyes, bifocals, or reading glasses. The good news is that they can continue enjoying the benefits of contacts by switching to multi-focals. Even though multi-focal lenses exist, eye care professionals state only 2 out of 5 presbyopic patients realize they are available—or that these lenses can correct their condition. Multi-focals work similarly to progressive eyeglasses, as they have a range of powers in each lens. One’s visual system learns to choose the proper power depending on how close or distant the focus. As it turns out in most cases, this adaptation occurs without difficulty—making multi-focals a viable alternative to monovision (a contact lens application where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near vision).

Eye care professionals, seeing increasing satisfaction with fittings, are being encouraged to make patients aware of PureVision Multi-Focals, lenses which are among the leaders in correcting presbyopia. They allow wearers to focus at all distances, providing clear intermediate vision with easy transition to far and near. Active individuals hindered by glasses can now go from reading a book to using the computer or taking a drive with a renewed sense of freedom.

Comfort has been enhanced in the PureVision Multi-Focals by the lens’ silicone hydrogel construction, in this case the trademarked AerGel material, which minimizes the buildup of dust, debris and proteins that can collect on the lens. They also stay moist and allow proper oxygen permeability, promoting healthy eyes. An innovative rounded-edge design contributes to the feeling of not wearing any contact lens at all.

Over 80% of multi-focal contact users state these lenses do not cause any interference or disruption in their lives. PureVision Multi-Focals also do much to preserve youthful appearance and confidence.

PureVision Multi-Focals have been approved for daily wear, or continuous wear up to thirty days. As always, consult your eye care professional in determining what is best suited for you.

Don’t Panic Over Presbyopia

2009-10-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

Presbyopia is the condition of having blurry near vision when trying to read or perform other close work, such as using the computer. Characterized by the wearing of half eyes, it has been stereotyped as something that happens to ‘old people’ and is lumped into the same imagery as canes, shawls, rocking chairs and sensible shoes. So, it is not surprising that many who are first diagnosed with presbyopia go into a mini-panic, thinking that social security checks and nursing homes are just around the corner.

Well, that is not necessarily the case.

The onset of presbyopia takes place around the age of 35-40 and despite what some might say, that is not old. In a world where we see more people reaching their 90s and remaining spirited and active for many of those later years, the onset of presbyopia seems to be coming on at a relatively young age. In this light, typing the condition as an ‘old people’s affliction’ doesn’t seem to fit.

No one escapes presbyopia because it occurs naturally as eyes age. The natural lenses of the eyes thicken, as we grow older, become more opaque as the protein that forms their building blocks becomes older and less transparent from the center outward. All of this causes less flexibility, less clarity and the decreasing ability to focus on close objects.

Common corrections for presbyopes include the aforementioned half eyes, bifocals and progressive addition eyeglasses. The latter have no ‘dividing lines’ in the lenses, allowing for a smoother focusing transition from distance to near sight. Some patients are satisfied to have a pair of glasses for near vision and another for distance—switching them as needs demand. Also prescribed at times are half eyes in combination with contact lenses powered for distance.

Emerging Presbyopes, who were contact-wearers before being diagnosed, ask if this means they are stuck with having to wear glasses. Fortunately for the 92% who wish to remain in contacts, technology in the past few years has allowed the manufacture of bifocal and multi-focal lenses that treat presbyopia. Another application is monovision, the technique of fitting one’s dominant eye for distance vision and the other for near vision. However, this is viable only for those who can adapt to the dissimilar prescriptions and wouldn’t be bothered by a lack of depth perception that results.

Overall, the contact lens option is certainly desirable for those who want to continue the youthful freedom and natural feel that contacts give without being reminded of ‘advancing age’ by the use of eyeglasses.

Hopefully, armed with the above information, having to deal with presbyopia should be less panic inducing. Taking everything into consideration, it becomes just another treatable eye condition that happens as we go about the business of living our lives.

Contacts vs. LASIK

2009-09-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

Have you considered LASIK surgery to correct your vision only to find out you are not a good candidate for the procedure? Does the whole idea of elective surgery on your eyes give you pause? Let’s look at the viable contact lens alternative.

Why consider contacts when one of the reasons for having LASIK performed is to become free of lenses or eyeglasses? Because, in some cases, even successful LASIK recipients later need to be prescribed eyewear for the onset of presbyopia, the loss of near-focusing ability often associated with aging. Also, the time it takes for the corrected vision achieved by the laser procedure to stabilize can be somewhere between three and six months; and that vision is slightly less than perfect 90 % of the time for those with extreme prescriptions, falling within a range of 20/20 to 20/40. In these instances, a further procedure—known as enhancement—is called for. Unfortunately, there are some patients that cannot have this additional treatment if their cornea is too thin or other factors evolve resulting from the initial surgery. Contacts tend to give crisper vision and more immediate satisfaction at less risk.

Just as LASIK has advanced in the past decade, so have contacts. Some optometrists express amazement at how the field has progressed. New types of lenses, manufactured with materials that have improved comfort and convenience are prevalent. The introduction of silicone hydrogels, which allow more oxygen to permeate to the cornea, has extended contact wear time in some instances up to thirty days. For those who are able to tolerate overnight wear, these contacts approximate the same non-hassle ‘freedom’ that LASIK would give. It should be noted that proper care and commitment to a prescribed replacement regimen is still vital to avoid eye problems associated with lens use. As a contrast to extended or continual wear, daily disposables have seen a surge in favor among patients who like the handiness of just using their lenses once and discarding them at the end of the day.

LASIK can correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (fuzzy vision due to an asymmetrical cornea). There is also a procedure for the aforementioned presbyopia. It involves the principle of monovision, where one eye (usually the dominant one) is corrected for distance vision and the other for near vision. Patients’ adaptability plays a large part in the success of monovision and many must be prepared for a loss in depth perception. Contacts are available to treat presbyopia in addition to all the above-listed conditions. For presbyopia there are lenses manufactured using a bifocal or a multi-focal design or one can also use regular lenses specifically fitted in monovision. As with LASIK recipients, monovision contact-wearers have the same concerns regarding adaptability and depth perception. Multi-focals provide a full depth of field, with a gradual transition between near and far powers in the same lens.

Other considerations in choosing contact lenses include not having to worry about aggravated dry-eyes, which can occur with LASIK, necessitating ongoing medication to facilitate tear production. With the laser procedure there is also the possibility that employment may be affected (some jobs prohibit employees who have undergone refractive surgery). Though uncommon, reports of postoperative symptoms that do not go away (double vision, heightened sensitivity to light, and vision loss due to dramatic corneal reshaping) exist. Night driving vision performance has been diminished in a number of LASIK patients--especially those with myopia--due to glare, ‘starbursts’ and halos seen around lights.

So, the benefits of contact lens wear as an alternative to LASIK are well worth weighing. Of course any final decision can only be determined, as always, after a thorough discussion with your eye care professional.

Kids and Contacts

2009-09-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

When it comes to children wearing contact lenses, there are certain questions that arise. Among them: At what age can children begin wearing contacts safely? When do they become responsible enough to accept and handle the regimen necessary for maintaining their lenses?

According to the Contact Lenses In Pediatrics (CLIP)* study, children as young as eight can be successfully introduced to contact lens wear. Colleges of optometry in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Texas jointly conducted the study. Their findings refute the prevailing opinion that children should not be offered the option of wearing contacts until 13 years of age.

One part of the CLIP study was to fit a group of 84 children, beginning at age 8, with contact lenses and provide the proper training for insertion and removal. They were re-examined at points one-week, one-month, and three-months from the initial visit to assess their progress and check for any problems. With only three non-serious incidents reported (and quickly corrected), the children demonstrated their ability to wear and take care of their lenses at the same level as teens and adults.

Of course, proper motivation was important in keeping the kids on a successful track throughout the duration of the study (and, hopefully, beyond). Besides the eye physicians’ instruction and training, other factors were certainly involved. Parental support, reinforcement, and (if they are contact wearers themselves) setting a good example were key. Most importantly, self-motivation among the group was just as strong. After receiving their contact lenses, a majority of those in the survey expressed a greater confidence with and enjoyment of various activities they participated in due to the freedom from eyeglasses. Also, for a child, having to adjust to wearing eyeglasses can be a traumatic experience, since their perception of how their peers will view them oftentimes takes on a negative aspect. Self-esteem was boosted when they equated wearing contacts with enhancing their appearance.

Corroboration for the above findings was offered by another study, the Pediatric Refractive Error Profile (PREP)*, conducted over a three-year period at five US clinical facilities. In a random group of 484 youngsters—ranging in age from 8 to 11--PREP measured three factors related to contact lens wear: satisfaction, appearance, and activities. Their results mirrored CLIP, seeing positive data among the children in as little as one month, and added to the building evidence that pre-teens are perfectly capable of embracing the use and maintenance of contacts and reap the benefits for a better quality of life.

*Both CLIP and PREP were administered with sponsorship and support by VISTAKON, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
Visit Contact Lens King where we offer all major brand contact lenses with up to 70% savings. Free shipping on all orders in the continental US and low per box pricing.

Eye Fashion Trends Shifting Toward Colored Contact Lenses

2009-08-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

It is a fact that women spend substantial amounts of money on eye shadows, eyeliners, false eyelashes and mascara. Recently, this trend has been shifting to having their eye care professionals prescribe colored contact lenses. Women are getting prescriptions for different colors and changing their looks dramatically. Commonly known as cosmetic contact lenses, these colored lenses are intended to change the appearance of the eye. These lenses are also manufactured in various powers so they can be used to correct vision problems should this be necessary. For the adventurous spirit or for someone in the mood for a style change colored contact lenses might just be the option for you.
Think about how many times you have walked into your favorite department store and strolled up to your favorite cosmetics counter be it, Clinique, Estée Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Lancôme or any number of other cosmetic sellers. The beauticians are prepped to sell you more than you need and the “best” eye makeup products. The fortunate shoppers might make it out of there with bills of between $100-$200. If you are lucky, you might even qualify for one of those snazzy bonus gift bags full of sample products.
For less money than you would spend at your favorite beauty counter, you can visit an eye care professional and be fitted with colored contact lenses. He/she should have trials available for you to try in the colors that you like. Once you have made your decision just ask him/her for a prescription for each of the colors you want to purchase. Remember contact lenses are considered to be a medical device and therefore a prescription from your eye care practitioner is necessary to purchase them. Don’t get lured to a colored lens display in your local beauty salon. Such dispensing options are illegal and do not provide for the proper assurances that your eye care practitioner can give you once he/she has determined that your lenses are well fitted.
There are two types of colored contact lenses – enhancers and opaque. Enhancer lenses merely accentuate your natural eye color while opaque lenses will change your eye color completely. These medical devices need to be cared for and cleaned regularly.
· Always wash your hands before handling your lenses.
· Regularly clean your contact lenses.
· Store your contact lenses in a clean lens case.
· Do not reuse the contact lens solution you used to disinfect your lenses. Always use fresh solution to ensure maximum efficacy in disinfection.
· Do not use tap water for hydration, rewetting or during the lens cleaning process.
· Definitely do not use your saliva to rewet your lenses.

Now that you have your prescription and lens care instructions it is time to shop online for the best deals when replacing your favorite colored lenses. Remember that most lenses are sold in a 6-pack so avoid sites that are willing to sell you only 2 lenses. Shopping for contact lenses online can be tricky. Low prices per box are great but definitely check on the shipping fees as well so that you can calculate your true cost. Many places only offer free shipping after you have spent over a certain amount on their site. In no time at all you will have a whole new look for a fraction of what it would have cost at the department store beauty counter.
Below are just a few links that allow you to see the various colors available.

http://www.contactlensking.com/freshlookdimensions.aspx
http://www.contactlensking.com/freshlookcolorblends.aspx
http://www.contactlensking.com/expressions.aspx
http://www.contactlensking.com/focus1to2weeksoftcolors.aspx

Presbyopia and Baby Boomers

2009-08-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

There are almost 78 million baby boomers that are either currently experiencing vision difficulties in reading. Some are about to experience this very shortly. What is common to all is that they will come to know the world of presbyopia. This vision phenomenon eventually expresses itself with everyone on or about the age of 35 years. It is caused by the aging process as it relates to the natural eye lens and the muscle structure that assists it in the process of accommodation. This process is what normally allows for one’s ability to seamlessly see distant, intermediate, and near objects. Suddenly the newspaper or your favorite book becomes much more difficult to read at your usual reading distance. You find yourself stretching out your arms as far as possible to read. Then suddenly your arms are not long enough and you become frustrated because you can no longer read clearly.
If you have been a contact lens wearer for the past few years you will surely seek out a contact lens solution option instead of the usual pair of half eyes. This is when being well informed can be important. There are several options for you to consider. These include monovision, adapted monovision and multifocal lenses. Monovision is a fitting practice that uses vision principles normally used by the human brain when coordinating vision. The brain works with the principal that one of our eyes functions as our distance vision instrument while the other eye functions as the near vision and/or reading instrument. In reality neither handles that particular category of vision alone but weighs its functionality mostly on distance or near vision. All other vision, or fields of focus, is handled in varying degrees by both eyes, and when used together, or stereoscopically, the net result is excellent vision.
When considering contact lenses as a solution to presbyopia eye doctors prescribe one lens with a distance correction in one eye and another lens prescribed for reading in the other eye. Once again, stereoscopically the net result does provide for good visual acuity. However when lighting decreases as one may experience in a poorly lit room, a romantic restaurant setting or while driving at night, certain limitations of the monovision method will become apparent. In low light settings the pupil dialates to collect as much light as possible. In doing so each of the eyes will perform better for distance or for near vision. Intermediate vision diminishes enough to result in an effective loss of depth of field and contrast. Some patients can adapt to this but others elect to limit their wear of monovision based lens solutions to day light conditions.
Adapted monovision is a fitting method used by eye doctors who fit multifocal lenses but on the principle of classic monovision. By doing so they attempt to optimize upon the optical designs of the multifocal lens to maximize on the reading or distance vision that can be attained by the lens fit. The intermediate vision is guaranteed by the engineering design of the intermediate optical zone in each of the lenses on the respective eye. So in essence the eye doctor is optimizing the lens design characteristics to their fullest. No loss of contrast or depth of field is experienced with this method.
Multifocal lenses fitted in the classic method simply get fitted according to the prescription power requirement of each eye. The reading vision is in the center of the lens and various other fields of vision extending to the distance vision are achieved by way of the different concentric circles of powers within the lens design from the center out to the periphery of the zone of optics. No loss of contrast or depth of field is experienced with this method.
In all cases however it is your eye doctor who can best assess the lens type and fit that would work best for you. Ask your eye doctor if any of the above options will work for you.

2009-08-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

Most of us have heard that eating carrots is good for your eyesight. While this is true, a balanced nutritional diet is essential to your eye health. Vitamins A, C, & E are very important to your vision well being as are lutein, fatty acids and zinc. Vision Care for life presents a very comprehensive article that is recommended reading in order to learn the proper nutrients your body needs to maintain optimum vision health. You can read that article here: http://tiny.cc/OwQEb

Common Contact Lens Myths Busted!

2009-07-15T07:06:00.001-07:00

Do you have trepidations or concerns about contact lenses??
Check out this great article that busts some common misconceptions about contact lenses.
Read it here.

The Impact of Vision on A Child's Learning

2009-07-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

In most American classrooms, about 80 percent of what is taught is dependent upon an ability to see well. Teachers use tools to aid their teaching that include chalkboards, computer screens, projectors -- good vision is crucial to understanding and comprehending the material. Vision problems often lead to problems learning.
It is estimated that about 10 million children have undetected vision problems because of poor evaluation. Most schools test the distance vision of students, but fail to evaluate how well a child can see close objects.
To learn well, it is essential for children to be able to see quickly and process visual information, especially at close distance.

Signs that your child may be having visual difficulty:

Avoiding close work as much as possible or refusing to do it at all.
May attempt to do the work, but lacks a good understanding.
Discomfort, fatigue and a short attention span.
May become shortsighted or suppress the vision in one eye.

See information page here

Girls Self-esteem Improves with Contact Lenses

2009-06-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

Findings from a three-year study conclude that overall self-esteem is improved in young girls when they wear contact lenses rather than eyeglasses.
The study was conducted at five clinical centers in the U.S. between September 2003 and October 2007. A total of 484 nearsighted children between the ages of eight and 11 – 59 percent female and 41 percent male – were assigned randomly to either wear glasses or contact lenses for the duration of the study.
The study uniquely combined optometry with psychology to demonstrate the benefits of contact lenses beyond their ability to improve vision.
“Girls are particularly vulnerable to social and psychological distress during the transitional years of early and middle adolescence and this data suggests that for girls, in particular, a switch from glasses to contact lenses may result in an improvement in self perception,” said Mitchell J. Prinstein, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a co-author of the Adolescent and Child Health Initiative to Encourage Vision Empowerment (ACHIEVE) Study. “This study demonstrates than an intervention as simple as switching youths’ glasses to contact lenses can help boost girls’ sense of self-worth and self-efficacy during this stage of their development,” Dr. Prinstein said.
Because researchers expected that a unique vulnerability might be present among the female participants, the results were examined based on gender.
“Contact lenses significantly improve how children feel about their physical appearance, acceptance among friends, and ability to play sports. Contact lenses even make children more confident about their academic performance if they initially dislike wearing glasses,” said Jeffrey J. Walline, O.D., Ph.D., and leader of the ACHIEVE study.
Parents and eye care practitioners should be aware of all of the benefits of contact lenses when determining what is the most suitable means of vision correction for their young patients.

Determining if your contact lens is inside out

2009-06-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

This short instructional video demonstrates the difference between a contact lens that is inside out versus right side up. Check it out!

Can Video Games Improve Vision?

2009-06-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

A research study performed by a team from the University of Rochester has found that playing action video games can improve aspects of vision in adults.
Contrast sensitivity, which is often impacted by ageing and by conditions such as lazy eye, can be improved by playing action video games, the study found. Improvements to contrast sensitivity generally require changing eye optics through surgery or with the use of prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses.
The research compared “expert” video game players who played games involving shooting at virtual targets with players who played non-action video games. Those who played the action games had better contrast sensitivity, according to the research.
The visual improvements that were noticed in the study’s participants were sustained over the course of months and years, seemingly refuting the long-held belief that time spent in front of a television or computer screen is harmful for one’s vision.
Dr. Daphne Bavelier, who was the lead researcher on the study, said that she believes several facets of video games contributed to the results. While playing action-filled video games, players are required to be constantly ready to react to unpredictable events and players must respond instantly to visual information. Dr. Bavelier is hopeful that further research could lead to new, more efficient ways of treating lazy eye. By using video games, both eyes can be encouraged to work together to restore the vision that is lacking in people who have lazy eye.

Protect Your Children's Eyes!

2009-06-17T11:48:00.001-07:00

A recent survey of 2,000 adults found that 82 percent of parents ensure that their children wear sunscreen to protect their skin from the sun and its damaging UV rays, but only 32 percent make them wear sunglasses to protect their eyes.
Children have larger pupils than adults and tend to spend more time outdoors; as a result, they can be exposed to as much as three times as much ultraviolet radiation.
Outdoor activity and sunshine are beneficial to children, but it is important to be well informed about the risks to ensure the health and safety of the child.

Buying the Best Sunglasses

Be sure that any glasses you purchase have a UV-protection sticker, and it is best if they also have the American Optometric Association's Seal of Acceptance. These stickers indicate that the glasses block 99 to 100 percent of harmful UV radiation.
Buy real sunglasses to provide real protection. Toy sunglasses aren't effective enough.
Sunglasses should block 75 to 90 percent of light. Lenses should be dark enough that you cannot see your child's eyes through the lens.
Gray-colored lenses are best as they absorb all colors evenly and allow the wearer to continue to see in natural color.
The glasses should be large enough or have a wrap-around style that helps to block rays that might enter the eye from the side.

Contact Lens Care

2009-06-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

Check this out:
Instructional video from the FDA on how to properly care for your contact lenses.

The Costs of the Aging Eye

2009-06-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

Visual disorders that affect Americans older than 40 cost the United States economy an estimated $35.4 billion a year, according to a report in the Archives of Ophthalmology journal. The breakdown of those costs indicates an estimated $16.2 billion in direct medical costs; $11.1 billion in other direct costs; and $8 billion in productivity losses.
One of the most cost-effective ways of dealing with eye disorders is to get proper treatment and to have regular eye exams to catch problems before they become serious or untreatable.
Entrepreneur.com claims that every seven seconds a baby boomer turns 50 years old, making people over 50 a segment of the population that is expected to grow by 25 percent over the next 10 years.
Presbyopia is an age-related vision change that causes an individual, generally older than 40 years, to lose the ability to see objects at a close distance. Common symptoms of presbyopia include holding a book or newspaper at arms length in order to read it properly and feeling eyestrain or headaches when doing close work such as sewing.
Presbyopia can easily be controlled with corrective lenses, either eyeglasses or contact lenses, or through corrective surgery. Presbyopia is caused by a change in the ability of the lens of the eye to change its shape and focus on objects that are nearby.
Contact lenses are an excellent option for people with presbyopia. Multifocal contact lenses are prescribed commonly. Multifocal lenses have a range of powers in each lens.
Multifocal lenses work differently depending on their design. With alternating vision lenses, the eye alternates between powers as gaze shifts direction. With simultaneous vision lenses, the eye looks through both distance and near powers simultaneously.
If you are experiencing difficulty focusing or having any other vision issues, please contact your eye care practitioner and schedule an exam. Contact Lens King is both aware of and prepared for the increase in cases of presbyopia. It has a vast stock of numerous types of multifocal contact lenses in all standard parameters. To order lenses and receive free shipping, or to learn more about presbyopia or other eye problems, visit Contact Lens King today.

Eat Well for Better Vision

2009-06-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

New research indicates that certain nutrients may be crucial in lowering the risk for developing macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in Americans older than 55.
Although the risk of eye problems increases as one ages, studies suggest that eating the right foods may lower the risk.
In a study that examined data from 4,000 participants, it was found that those who ate foods rich in vitamins C, E, omega-3 fatty acids, and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin had lower risks.
Results from other studies published in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology found that omega-3 fatty acids can protect against macular degeneration; those who ate one serving of fish a week had a 31% lower risk; two servings of nuts reduced risk by 35%. Risks were lowered by 52% for those who included the highest amounts of olive oil into their diets.

Healthy Habits:

Eat leafy greens such as kale, spinach, turnip greens and collard greens. These foods are filled with lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants shown to help protect against macular degeneration.

Eat omega-3s! Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids are known to be healthy for the heart, brain and for vision. Anchovies, mackeral and wild-caught Alaska salmon are rich in omega-3s. If you can't bring yourself to eat fish, a fish-oil or omega-3 supplement will help.

Studies have found that exercise is good for the eyes. Researchers noted that men who ran more than 2 1/2 miles every day reduced their risk for age-related macular degeneration by up to 54%.

Check out article here.

Protecting Your Eyes From Ultraviolet Radiation

2009-06-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

Ultraviolet rays are invisible light rays from the sun that carry more energy than visible light. This invisible radiation is also produced from tungsten lamps, welding arcs, and certain fluorescent lights. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can damage a person’s eyes and skin.
Sunlight and UVR can reach the eye by direct viewing, scattering from the sky, or reflection from objects such as the ground. Direct sunlight is not a major ocular health concern because not many people stare directly into the sun. The eyebrow also helps shade the eye when a person is facing the sun. Reflected light is more crucial to eye health. Fresh snow reflects as much as 85 percent of UV rays. Other reflective surfaces such as sand and water can be dangerous; the reflected rays can reach the eye even when a hat is worn.
UV radiation is divided into three categories: UVA, UVB, or UVC. UVC rays are almost entirely absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere. The cornea and the lens of the eye absorb UVB rays. These rays do not penetrate the retina in the back of the eye, but can alter the eye’s lens and cause cataracts if the eye is not adequately protected. UVA radiation has lower amounts of energy than UVB rays, but is capable of penetrating deeper into the eye and damaging the retina, which can lead to macular degeneration and blindness.
According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of UVR exposure occurs by the time a person reaches 18. Children have larger pupils and tend to spend more time outdoors than adults, which can lead to as much as three times more UVR exposure annually.
According to research conducted at the University of New South Wales, ocular changes can begin in children as young as 9, and 80 percent of Australian children had signs of eye damage by the time they reached age 15. One Australian school district mandated sunglass use in elementary-aged students. However, 65 percent of elementary schools in the United States prohibit sunglasses.
The UV Index, developed by the National Weather Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control, estimates the amount of UVR that will reach the Earth in a certain location. High-risk periods are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and at noon UVR can be 10 times higher than three hours earlier or later.
The Earth’s ozone acts as a shield against UVR, which can cause sunburn, skin cancer, keratitis and cataracts. Over the next 10 to 20 years, scientists predict the ozone may be depleted by as much as 20 percent. Holes in the ozone layer have already been located at both poles. Research conducted at the University of Houston College of Optometry has found radiation levels are unhealthy 90 percent of the time during the summer in the southern United States.
Effects of UVR
The effects of UV exposure on eye health are cumulative and symptoms can be delayed for years, and in some cases decades, making it more difficult to promote the need for protection.
In addition to the increased risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, overexposure to UV rays can also lead to pterygium, an abnormal growth on the conjunctiva that can eventually spread onto the cornea and require surgery. Pterygium is the most prevalent UV-related disease of the conjunctiva. Researchers estimate that pterygium affects more than 10 percent of the population in the southern United States and around 20 percent of central Mexico’s population. Skin cancer around the eye and photokeratitis, a painful sunburn of the cornea, can also result from overexposure to harmful UV rays.
Protecting the eyes
One of the most critical components of protection is education. In a 2005 Brand Health Monitor Report, eight out of 10 eye care patients said they wanted to know more about the impact of UV radiation.
All lenses can be manufactured with UV protection, including prescription eyeglasses, safety and sport goggles, and contact lenses.
The optimal protection against UVR is the combination of sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and, for those who use vision correction, UV-blocking contact lenses. The average contact lens blocks 10 percent of UVA rays and 30 percent of UVB rays. Lenses which meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute block 99.8 percent of UVB rays and 70 percent of UVA.Discuss the risks associated with UVR with your eye care practitioner and find out if UV blocking contact lenses are appropriate for you. It is important to remember that ultraviolet radiation can damage the eyes. Children’s eyes are especially susceptible, so be sure to adequately protect them.

May is Healthy Vision Month

2009-05-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

The goal of this year's Healthy Vision Month is to promote and encourage people to get regular eye exams. One of the most important aspects of maintaining good ocular health is to catch and correct problems before they become too serious.

Healthy Vision Month was established in 2003 by the National Eye Institute, and it began as an effort to draw attention and priority to vision as a health issue.

Call your eye care provider today and schedule an eye exam and take charge of your vision and overall health!

5 benefits of shopping Contact Lens King

2008-06-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

Contact Lens King is an online contact lens retailer that has provided its customers with brand name products at the lowest possible price since 2004. With more than 36 million contact lens wearers in the United States, the business of providing contact lens replacements to consumers has grown to become a significant service industry. Contact Lens King is a leader in this industry segment and prides itself on providing its customers with great value.

Why should you consider shopping at contactlensking.com?

- Convenience. Contact Lens King is both easy to navigate and easy to use. Use it to shop for your brand name contact lenses in the comfort of your home or office. With Contact Lens King, traffic hassles and time off work to pick up lenses are a thing of the past.
- Price. Contact Lens King offers top brands at discounts of up to 70 percent.
- Availability. Contact Lens King has a large inventory. Once a customer’s prescription is verified (the Law allows up to eight hours for an eye care practitioner to respond), the order generally ships within one business day. Products can be shipped within the United States, as well as internationally.
- Customer service. Contact Lens King has a dedicated staff of friendly, personable customer service representatives who work tirelessly to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Company credibility. Contact Lens King has a proven track record and is a market leader in providing its service to consumers. The company continually strives to improve its services to more adequately meet the needs of its customers.

Abut the company

Contact Lens King Inc. is a privately owned company that sells branded contact lenses directly to consumers online. Some of these brands include Vistakon (Johnson & Johnson), Bausch & Lomb, Ciba Vision, and CooperVision. Contact Lens King offers online contact lens buyers convenience as well as highly competitive prices that are unmatched by the larger direct-to-consumer contact lens retailers available on the internet. The company’s efficient operating philosophy, combined with its commitment to service and aggressive pricing, allows Contact Lens King the ability to offer its customers contact lenses at a fraction of their regular cost. The combination of great prices, attentive service and a large volume of repeat customers are what continue to contribute to the company’s success.

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Five Reasons to Wear Focus Night and Day Contact Lenses

2008-06-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

Focus Night and Day contact lenses are made of silicone hydrogel – a combination of hydrogel, a soft plastic that contains water, and silicone, a compound which allows oxygen to pass through it. The combination of the two materials creates a lens capable of absorbing six times more oxygen than standard hyrogel lenses. Oxygen is crucial for optimum eye health.
The Night and Day lens is flexible, stays moist, and is resistant to dehydration. Focus Night and Day lenses are beneficial in that they are durable, long lasting, comfortable, and easy to maintain. Also, the risk of infection is reduced, and not having to take the lenses out each night minimizes the hassle that some contact lens wearers experience.
Focus Night and Day contacts were the first lenses to be FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved for continuous wear for 24 hours a day for as long as 30 days. Although the lenses are approved for use without removal for up to 30 days, this schedule may not suit all wearers. The length of wear is dependent upon the recommendation of one’s eye care practitioner.
During a year-long U.S. clinical study in which 1,300 eyes used Focus Night and Day lenses, 1,000 were able to complete the year of wear, and 67 percent wore the lens for a period of 22 to 30 days.
Focus Night and Day contact lenses do have some risks and side effects. As with any contact lens product, wearers are at risk of developing an eye infection; that risk increases for those who wear continuously, or for extended periods of time.
Another possible side effect of extended wear of Focus Night and Day contacts is cornea inflammation. Patients sometimes do not have symptoms, but those who do report redness, sensitivity to light, blurry vision and general discomfort.
A British study conducted at the University of Manchester in 2005 found that wearers who slept in standard hydrogel lenses were five times more likely to develop keratitis (corneal inflammation) than those who slept wearing silicone hydrogel lenses.
Some less serious side effects of extended wear of Focus Night and Day contact lenses include conjunctivitis or pink eye, eyelid irritation, dryness of the eye, and mild burning or stinging.
Anyone who experiences any discomfort or side effects should immediately contact their eye care practitioner.
Research firm Robert W. Baird & Co. projects that by 2009 silicone hydrogel lenses will make up more than two-thirds of contact lens sales in the United States.
Focus Night and Day contacts are available, with a valid prescription, at Contact Lens King, http://www.contactlensking.com/.