We’ve compiled a list of some of the questions we regularly get asked about contact lenses.
If you’d like further information, get in touch with our Dispensing and Contact Lens Optician, Sonia Dixon, via our reception team.
Can anyone wear contact lenses?
Nowadays, almost everyone can benefit from wearing contact lenses. Most eyesight problems can be corrected with contact lenses and advances in lens materials and solutions mean that wearing contact lenses is simpler, more convenient and more comfortable than ever before.
What happens when I go for a contact lens fitting?
Fitting includes discussing your visual and lifestyle requirements. An eye and contact lens examination will determine if your eyes are healthy and if you are suitable for lens wear. Your eyecare practitioner will also take measurements of your eyes to find the best lens type, fit and vision, before trialing lenses with you.
How do I know if contact lenses are right for me?
Your eyecare practitioner will put contact lenses on your eyes so that you can see how they feel, and will then check the lens fit and your vision. Once you’ve tried the lenses, you and your practitioner can decide together whether contact lenses are right for you.
I’ve tried contact lenses before without success. Should I try again?
Yes. Research has shown that many people who drop out from contact lenses can be successful with modern lenses. Lens designs and materials are constantly evolving – so ask your eyecare practitioner about the latest developments.
Am I too old for contact lenses?
With modern lenses, there’s no reason why age should be a barrier. Bifocal and multifocal contact lenses are available for those who need different lens powers for distance and close work, or you may want to wear contact lenses for some of the time and spectacles for the rest.
Am I too young to wear contact lenses?
Young children can certainly be fitted with contact lenses. Research has shown that children can be very successful and benefit from contact lens wear. Now that most contact lenses are replaced often, there’s no need to wait until your eyes have stopped changing to wear contact lenses.
Are contact lenses comfortable to wear?
Contact lenses provide excellent comfort and vision. Most people find that they are so easy to use that they forget they’re wearing them. Your practitioner will help you find the most comfortable lenses for your needs.
My optician told me I have astigmatism. Can I wear contact lenses?
Yes. Almost all prescriptions can now be corrected with contact lenses, including astigmatism. Soft lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses and bifocal or multifocal lens designs are all available to correct astigmatism. These lenses are also known as ‘toric’ lenses.
I’ve heard about contact lenses that are worn overnight, but not during the day?
Orthokeratology (‘ortho-K’, ‘corneal reshaping’ or ‘overnight vision correction’) uses specially designed rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses to alter the shape of the cornea (the transparent front part of the eye) during sleep. These lenses are designed to be worn overnight and removed in the morning and to correct vision without the need for spectacles or contact lenses during the day.
There is also evidence that this type of lens can slow down the progression of myopia, particularly in children.