Want to have an alternative to glasses for everyday use or just for sports and special occasions? Ask our Union City staff about contact Lenses. Advances in the field of contact lens research have produced a variety of different types of contact lenses with a range of benefits. Today's lenses has better optics, better comfort, and healthier for your eyes. Our optometrist will discuss the various options with you to determine which type will best fit your needs and lifestyle. Schedule your examination today by calling 510-270-5634.
Contact Lens Services:
Contacts lens services are performed in addition to your regular eye exam when elected.
Wearing contacts is not the same as wearing glasses. Contacts, as the name implies, makes direct contact with your eyes. As a result of this proximity to your eyes, contact lenses can alter the normal physiology of your eyes. You need professional care to be fitted and monitored to safely and successfully wear your contacts. Please see our CL wearer information form for additional information.
Contact lens new fit:
This is for patient who has never worn contacts before. This service includes initial assessment, contact lens trials, and follow up visits. Contact lens training on how to handle and care for your contacts is also part of the fitting process.
Contact lens wearer annual progress evaluation:
This evaluation is for anyone who is doing well with their current contacts. We will be evaluating your vision with your contacts to determine if a power change is required. We also will be evaluating your eye health related to contact lens wear to ensure that contact lens wear does not cause any side effects. This service is required for anyone who wishes to renew or update their contact lens prescription.
Contact lens refit:
If you are not happy with your current contacts, or the doctor finds the current contacts are no longer the best fit for you, a refit is needed.
Types of Contacts that we fit include:
Soft spherical, soft toric, soft progressive, Gas Permeable lenses.
We offer all major brands such as Cooper Vision, Ciba/Alcon, Bausch&Lomb, Vistakon Boston, Paragon, Menicon and lenses from a variety small specialty lens manufactures.
Reasons for Hard to Fit Contacts
Contact lenses are not an easy solution for every person suffering with vision problems. Some eye conditions make wearing contacts a difficult proposition. However, it does not rule out wearing contact lenses altogether. It just means patients need to discuss options with their eye care provider and obtain specialized hard to fit contacts for their specific vision problems.
Finding contact lenses that fit and wearing contact lenses in general can be made more challenging when these conditions affect your eyes:
- Astigmatism
- Dry eyes
- Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC)
- Keratoconus
- Presbyopia
Astigmatism: Astigmatism causes the front surface of your cornea to have different curvatures at different direction, like that of a football instead of a basket ball, which has the same curvature everywhere. Astigmatism requires contacts that compensate such curvature difference.
Dry Eyes: When eyes become excessively dry, it leads to irritation, burning, redness and blurred vision. Contact lenses can exacerbate these conditions by making it feel like a foreign object stuck in your eye.
GPC: This form of conjunctivitis is caused by inflammation on the inner surface of the eyelid. Protein buildup on contact lenses can make this condition worse.
Keratoconus: This is an uncommon condition that causes major discomfort when wearing contacts. Keratoconus happens when the cornea becomes thinner bulges forward. The bulge forms into a cone shape.
Presbyopia: Eyes tend to have a tougher time focusing on close objects as they age. This condition is known as presbyopia. It typically affects people aged 40 or older.
Solutions for Hard to Fit Contacts
Wearing contacts is not impossible if you suffer from one of the above conditions. You do need to meet with an eye care professional, however, and get prescribed contact lenses that are tailored to deal with your specific vision condition.
Gas permeable lenses are a good solution for patients who suffer from GPC or Keratoconus. A GP lens will limit protein deposits from accumulating which will reduce GPC symptoms. It is also effective in containing corneal bulging and relieving pressure on the tissue for a Keratoconus sufferer.
Toric lenses are useful for correcting astigmatism. Since the lens needs to align with the curve it is correcting, toric lenses must not rotate in order to fit on the eye. They are typically custom made to correct a specific astigmatism. For that reason, this type of lens takes longer to make and costs more than a traditional contact lens.
Bifocal and multifocal lenses can help remedy presbyopia. Monovision lenses are another option for presbyopia. This type of lenses can have one fitted for distance vision and the other for seeing close objects.
Medicated eye drops can be an effective solution for dealing with dry eyes. They will lubricate eyes enough to make contact lenses more bearable, although a punctal occlusion also must be done to plug the ducts in some extreme cases. GPC symptoms can also be lessened through medicated eye drops. They flush out protein deposits and reduce inflammation.