Contacts are the best non-surgical alternative to glasses due to their convenience and ease of use.
We have experienced contact lens specialists at each of our offices to prescribe and fit contacts and to train patients in their care and use.
Contacts not only correct refractive errors but also serve cosmetic and therapeutic functions, so we carry many types and styles of contacts designed for unique needs.
Types of Contacts
Soft Lenses
- Daily contact lenses without solution (disposable lenses): Daily contact lenses that do not have to be stored in solution at night are the easiest and most hygienic. They must be removed at night and discarded. These lenses are not available for the correction of astigmatism.
- Daily contact lenses with solution: Daily contact lenses that are placed in solution at night are the most economical. They must be removed at night to clean, sterilize, and store them. These lenses are available in all prescriptions and tints.
- Overnight extended lenses with minimal solution: These lenses can be worn safely for 7-30 days and nights at a time and are only available for nearsighted prescriptions.
- Cosmetic lenses: These lenses are custom or standard-tinted for disfigured eyes or for those who wish to change their natural eye color.
- Therapeutic lenses: These overnight lenses act as a clear bandage to prevent friction between the lids and eyes. They are prescribed to patients with long-term conditions, such as corneal erosions, or short-term disorders, such as corneal abrasions.
Hard or Rigid Gas-Permeable (RGP) Lenses
Hard lenses provide superior optical correction. There are four options for hard lenses:
- Corneal Lenses: These daily-wear lenses are by far the most common but due to their rigid structure may move off-center or flip out of the eye.
- Scleral Lenses: These new daily-wear lenses stay in place better than corneal lenses, making them ideal for sports. They are also more comfortable and cause less irritation.
- CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy) Lenses: These lenses are used for myopia (nearsightedness) only and they are worn during sleep. They slightly reshape the eyes so that vision can be clear without contacts during the daytime.
- Therapeutic Lenses: These lenses are the best and only choice for thinning, bulging, and/or distorted corneas.
Special Contact Lenses
- Bifocals
- Colored contacts
- Ortho-k contacts, which allow your vision to remain correct even when you’re not wearing them
- Special-effect contact lenses
- Toric lenses for astigmatism
- UV-blocking lenses
Ask your doctor to help you choose the best type for you and your lifestyle.
Eyewear
Titanium is lightweight, durable, strong, and corrosion-resistant. Sometimes manufacturers combine titanium with other metals, such as nickel or copper. If you’re allergic to nickel, look for frames that are marked “100% titanium.”
Types of Eyewear
Today’s eyewear market offers a wide variety of eyeglass-frame materials. The multiple types include lightweight, flexible, strong, and hypoallergenic materials. The following types are just a few of the materials available:
Titanium
Flexon (A Patented “Memory Metal”)
Flexon is a titanium-based alloy with nickel and other elements. This unique alloy can return to its original shape if squashed or twisted. Flexon does not corrode and is lightweight and hypoallergenic.
Beryllium
Beryllium, a steel-gray metal, is rising in popularity as a lower-cost alternative to titanium eyeglasses. It resists corrosion and tarnish, making it an excellent choice for wearers who have high skin acidity or who spend a lot of time in or around salt water. It is also lightweight, very strong, and flexible. It comes in a wide range of colors.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is an alloy of steel and chromium with excellent resistance to corrosion, abrasion, and heat. Light weight, low toxicity, and strong frames containing only 10.5% to 27% chromium are nickel-free and hypoallergenic.
Aluminum
Aluminum eyeglasses are lightweight and corrosion-resistant. High-end eyewear designers favor aluminum because of its unique look and economy.
Ticral
Ticral is an alloy of titanium, copper, and chrome, nickel-free and hypoallergenic. It is also extremely lightweight, strong, and offers many of the features of titanium – without the high cost.
Zyl (Plastic or Cellulose Acetate)
Recently, plastic frames have seen a fashion resurgence. Zyl is a cost-effective and creative option for eyewear.
Call us today for an evaluation or to see if you qualify to participate in one of our