Things You Should Know about Contact Lenses

Whether you have an active lifestyle or are simply looking for a convenient alternative to eyeglasses, contacts are a great option. At Six One Six Vision Center, we are committed to providing thorough eye care in Boise, Idaho, to all our patients. Here, we discuss the main things you should know about contact lenses before deciding to invest in them.

Types of Contact Lenses

There many different kinds of contact lenses: soft, rigid, hybrid, sclerals, and corneal reshaping contacts. Soft lenses offer clear vision and are the most comfortable to wear. Rigid lenses provide the sharpest vision to help you in your daily tasks. Hybrid lenses combine soft and rigid lenses: their rigid center provides crisp eyesight, while their soft lens skirt ensures your comfort. Sclerals are often used for patients with high prescriptions or irregular corneas. Corneal reshaping contacts (also called orthokeratology lenses) are contacts that you wear at night, and when you wake up in the morning you can experience clear vision all day long without having to wear glasses or contact lenses.

Our Boise, Idaho, optometrist explains that contact lenses also vary in durability. Daily-wear contacts are inserted at the start of your day then discarded at night. One advantage of daily-wear contacts is protection from lens-wear induced infections. Extended-wear contacts, on the other hand, last for up to 30 days and are sometimes more cost effective, but need to be carefully maintained to prevent infection.

Factors to Consider When Purchasing Contacts

The condition of your eyes determines the type of contact lenses you’ll need. Some eye conditions—such as recurrent eye allergies, infections, or keratoconus—may make your eyes “hard-to-fit” for regular contact lenses, In such cases, we may suggest a special kind of contact lens or other corrective eyewear options. You should also consider your lifestyle and daily activities. If you are frequently in contact with water or dust, you may find wearing eyeglasses, or using our corneal reshaping contacts, may be more beneficial for you.

How to Properly Care for Contacts

Before handling your contact lenses, be sure to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. To clean your contact lenses, we suggest gently rubbing them with your pinky or ring finger to remove dirt and other substances. We also advise using fresh solution when rinsing and storing them. As your go-to eye doctor in Eagle, Idaho, we strongly recommend cleaning your lens case with solution and replacing it every time you purchase a new bottle of solution to prevent eye irritations or infections.

For more information on contact lenses or other vision concerns, call us at (208) 514-1858. We look forward to helping you.