Contact Lens Fittings

Contact Lenses Calgary

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Contact lenses are one of the options that are offered to help a person see more clearly in their day-to-day life. While less invasive than optical surgeries, they are still more invasive than eyeglasses-- but many find them to be much more convenient. There are also more than one type of contact lenses, so can be more easily customized to a person’s needs.

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We also understand what it means to live in Calgary.  We live here and love our city.  We are also very aware of the complexities, and diversity that makes us who we are as Calgarians.

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We know about the dry, cold winters and the hot beautiful summers.  And of course everything in between.  

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At Respect Eyecare, we will work with you to not only get the best contact lenses you can find but also make sure your contacts work in the context of Calgary life.  

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What Are Contact Lenses?

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Vision correction is needed all over the globe, and contact lenses are becoming an increasingly popular option. A contact lens can be used as an alternative to glasses for reasons from lifestyle requirements to aesthetics.

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What Do Contact Lenses Do?

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Contact lenses are lenses that, when worn, have direct “contact” with the eye. They are designed to help maintain ocular health and correct vision errors. Contact lenses work very similarly to eyeglasses, however, they are worn on the surface of your cornea-- on the tear film layer-- instead of sitting upon your face in frames. They also move naturally with your eye, due to their placement, unlike eyeglasses.

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How do Contact Lenses Work?

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A contact lens will correct vision issues by sitting directly on the eye. Basically, what they do is they refract and focus light in order to make objects appear more clearly than with your natural vision.

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Types of Contact Lenses

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Contact lenses are not just one size fits all! There are several different kinds of lenses, from those designed to help with certain eye conditions, to others made from different materials. Your eye doctor can help you to determine the best contact lenses for you if you have any questions.

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During your contact lens exam your optometrist will 

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Soft Contact Lens

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Soft lenses are made out of hydrogels, which are plastics that contain water. As can be guessed from the name, hydrogels are a gel-like plastic. Hydrogel lenses were introduced in the 1970s and made contact lenses a more popular eyewear option, due to increased comfort. Soft lenses are thin, pliable, and easily conform to the shape of your eye.

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Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens

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Silicone hydrogel lenses are similar to soft lenses but are more porous. Because of this, they allow more oxygen to reach the cornea. These are more advanced types of lenses that were introduced in the early 2000s. They are now one of the most popular types of contact lenses!

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PMMA Contact Lens

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PMMA lenses have great optics but are not as comfortable as some of the other options, such as hydrogel lenses. THey’re considered a bit old-fashioned so are not commonly prescribed anymore. They are made from a rigid plastic known as polymethyl methacrylate. It is also used as a substitute for shatter-proof glass and is sold as Lucite and other titles. PMMA lenses do not transmit oxygen to the eye and can be uncomfortable and difficult to get used to, especially due to the rigidity of the material.

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Gas Permeable Contact Lens

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Gas permeable lenses are also referred to as GP lenses. They are similar to PMMA lenses in that they are made from a rigid material. However, gas permeable lenses are porous, so they allow oxygen to pass through. Gas permeable lenses fit closer to the eye than hard lenses such as PMMA lenses.

 

This makes them a more comfortable lens option. These types of lenses provide sharper vision than soft or hydrogel options do, so for this reason, they are a good option for those who suffer from issues such as astigmatism. However, because of the rigidity of gas-permeable lenses, they are not immediately comfortable; it often takes a person a little bit to adapt to wearing them. They are still more adaptable than PMMA lenses, which they had essentially replaced after their debut.

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Hybrid Contact Lens

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Hybrid contacts are designed to be the best of both worlds. They are a hybrid between silicone hydrogel lenses and gas permeable lenses. They take the comfort that silicone hydrogel lenses offer and combine them with the superior, crystal clear vision that makes gas permeable lenses great. Hybrid lenses have a more rigid area in the center, which is gas permeable. This is surrounded by a “skirt” of either the hydrogel or silicone hydrogel material. This may sound like the perfect option, but hybrid lenses are not as commonly worn as one might think. These lenses are more difficult to fit, as well as being more expensive to replace if they are damaged or lost.

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Contact Lens Precautions and Tips

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A contact lens comes with different characteristics than other vision correction options, so of course, there would be different wearing guidelines and precautions to be aware of, too!

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Wear Time - Daily and Extended

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Unlike eyeglasses, contacts have recommendations of how long they should be worn. This is because they sit directly against the eye-- wearing lenses for too long can be harmful, for example causing possible infection. Contact lenses used to have to be removed and cleaned every night. However, after 1979, “extended wear” contact lenses were announced. This allowed the lenses to be worn overnight and slept in.

 

Now, there are two categories for contact lenses-- daily wear and extended wear. Daily wear lenses must be removed every night, while extended wear lenses can be worn overnight and typically for up to seven consecutive days before being removed. Continued wear contact lenses are a type of extended wear lenses that can be worn continuously for up to 30 days. If you are unsure about the recommended wear time on your prescription lenses, just ask your eye doctor!

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Contact Lens Replacement

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Contact lenses should be replaced often to avoid sanitary issues such as the buildup of lens deposits, as well as contamination. This could cause infection. There are a few classifications for contact lens disposal, the first being daily disposable lenses. These must be replaced after every wear.

 

Disposable lenses must be replaced often, too, but not as often as daily lenses-- disposable lenses can last up to two weeks before being disposed of. Frequent replacement lenses can be replaced monthly or quarterly, and then traditional-- or reusable-- contact lenses can last for six months or more!

 

These guidelines pertain more to soft contact lenses. Gas permeable lenses are more resistant to lens deposits, so they will not need to be discarded as frequently.