Contact Lenses
We strive to offer the latest advancements in contact lenses designed to address various eye issues such as dry eyes, astigmatism, reading difficulties, and eye diseases like keratoconus. Our commitment is to provide not just adequate comfort and vision but also ensure the best possible comfort vision through continually improved contact lens technology.
Just like routine eye exams, contact lens exams are important in assessing eye health and vision quality. Conducting these exams regularly, typically once a year, allows our team to monitor any subtle changes in vision. As contact lenses are classified as medical devices, a valid prescription from an optometrist is necessary for purchase. Ensuring the right fit for your lenses involves a comprehensive eye exam.
For contact lens wearers, proper fit is essential to ensure comfort and optimal vision correction. A contact lens exam includes a fitting procedure, where precise measurements of your cornea, pupil, and iris are taken. Individuals with dry eyes may undergo a tear film assessment to determine the most suitable contact lenses that maintain adequate moisture for eye comfort. This process ensures that your lenses align perfectly with both your eyes and vision requirements.
Types of Contact Lenses
Our array of lenses caters to diverse needs and preferences, each designed to meet specific eye conditions and lifestyle demands:
Soft Contact Lenses
Made from flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea, soft contact lenses are often more comfortable and easiest to adapt to wearing. Newer materials like silicone-hydrogels enhance oxygen transmission, promoting better eye health during wear.
Rigid Gas Permeable
Rigid gas permeable lenses boast durability and resistance to deposit buildup, offering a longer lifespan than soft lenses. While initially less comfortable, they provide sharper vision and tend to be more cost-effective over time.
Continuous Wear
These lenses’ wear time ranges from one to six nights or up to 30 days for overnight or extended wear. Typically, continuous-wear lenses are soft contact lenses, allowing oxygen flow to the cornea. These lenses vary in wear duration based on lens type and individual tolerance, necessitating occasional rest periods for the eyes.
Daily Disposable
All soft contact lenses are prescribed a replacement schedule based on the specific lens. “Disposable,” as defined by the FDA, means used once and discarded. A daily contact lens has a disposable schedule where a brand new pair of lenses us used each day. Some lenses, labeled as “disposable,” follow replacement intervals ranging from 7 to 30 days.
Decorative (Plano) Lenses
Primarily for cosmetic purposes, these lenses do not correct vision but alter eye appearance. FDA-regulated, they come in various designs, from changing eye color to portraying themed patterns.
Scleral
Larger gas-permeable lenses covering the sclera (white part of the eye) cater to conditions like keratoconus, ocular surface disease, and irregular corneal issues. Their unique fit enhances stability and minimizes dislodgement risks.
Medically Necessary Contacts
Prescribed for conditions such as keratoconus, irregular astigmatism, and more, these specialty lenses enhance vision when standard corrections with glasses or regular contacts fall short.
Ortho-K
A process involving specialized contacts worn during sleep, Ortho-K lenses reshape the cornea temporarily. This allows wearers to go without glasses or contacts during the day, crafted for a precise fit based on a digital eye map, ensuring comfort and visual clarity.
Is my child ready for contacts?
The readiness to wear contact lenses is less about a specific age and more about an individual’s responsibility, maturity, and ability to handle the lenses with care. While many teenagers and pre-teens successfully manage contact lenses, it’s crucial to consider various factors beyond age alone.
If your early teen, around 13 to 14 years old, has proper hygiene habits, the ability to follow instructions, a commitment to lens care routines, and an understanding of the importance of eye health, they may be ready for contact lenses. Some younger individuals may demonstrate these qualities earlier, making them suitable candidates for contact lenses under parental guidance and optometrist recommendations.
During your child’s next eye exam, discuss their vision correction options and contact lens readiness with us! We are happy to help determine if your child is ready to transition to contact lens wear.
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The team at Long Island Vision Care prides itself on delivering top-notch care for a wide array of eye-related conditions. Learn more about our eye care services today.