Contact Lenses

Are made from gel-like, water-containing plastics called hydrogels. These lenses are very thin and pliable and conform to the front surface of the eye making them easy to adjust to and comfortable.

also called GP or RGP lenses — are rigid contact lenses that look and feel like “hard contacts” or PMMA lenses, rarely offered today because they are made from rigid plexiglass material that doesn’t breathe and are rather uncomfortable. Unlike old fashioned hard contacts, GP lenses are permeable to oxygen, and can be fit closer to the eye, making them more comfortable than conventional hard lenses. Gas permeable contact lenses have essentially replaced nonporous PMMA contact lenses. These types of lenses provide sharper vision than soft and silicone hydrogel contacts — especially if you have astigmatism or irregular cornea surfaces. They can be worn for longer periods of time but are generally less comfortable initially. After an adaptation period, most people find GP lenses are as comfortable as hydrogel lenses.

are an advanced type of soft contact lenses that are more porous than regular hydrogel lenses and allow even more oxygen to reach the cornea. According to All About Vision, these are the most popular lenses prescribed in the United States.

the goal of these lenses it to combine the benefits of Gas Permeable and Soft or Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses in one lens providing comfort and advanced optics. Hybrid lenses have a rigid gas permeable central zone, surrounded by hydrogel or silicone hydrogel material making them one of the best lenses available. According to All About Vision, despite these features, only a small percentage of people in the U.S. wear hybrid contact lenses, perhaps because these lenses are more difficult to fit and are more expensive to replace than soft and silicone hydrogel lenses.

These are ideal for those who want to have a low maintenance option. No need to clean your contacts or store them at the end of the day, just throw them away. Daily soft contact lenses are a popular choice as they are comfortable and are easy to get used to, allow oxygen to pass through and are less likely to have protein build up as they are replaced on a daily basis.

Replace at the end of a week’s wear.

Replace every two weeks.

For those who want to wear their lenses a little longer we offer monthly disposables. Simply replace your lenses at the end of each month.

These lenses are for those who want to wear their lenses for a longer period of time and don’t wish to continually replace them. Gas permeable contact lenses are more resistant to lens deposits and don’t need to be discarded as frequently as soft lenses. Often, GP lenses can last a year or longer before they need to be replaced.

In the past if you had astigmatism then contact lenses weren’t an option but with Toric lenses mostly everyone is a candidate for contacts.

These lenses offer an option for those with dual vision correction issues and work just like bifocal glasses offering clear vision at different distances. Bifocal or multifocal lenses are used to correct astigmatism as well.

If you want to correct your vision and change your appearance you can opt for coloured lenses.

Taken with a keratometer to measure the curvature of your cornea using light reflections and a corneal topographer an automated instrument that gives precise details about the surface characteristics of the entire cornea. You may be asked to sit facing the machine with your forehead resting against a curved brace. Circular patterns of light are then shone into your eye for analysis and a computer creates and prints out the surface “map” of your eye.

For more specific information about how well your eye focusses light.

The size of your pupil may also be measured by simply using a card or ruler with different pupil sizes to compare with yours and determine the best match. Automated instruments that measure pupil size are capable of extremely precise measurements, and some simultaneously measure the horizontal and vertical diameter of your pupil. Similar techniques may be used to measure the diameter of your iris (the coloured portion of your eye).

Contact lens fittings may also include a tear film evaluation which measures your body’s ability to produce tears. A small strip of paper may be inserted underneath your lower eyelid. You close your eyes for about five minutes, and then the paper is removed. The length of the paper moistened by your tears is measured to assess your tear production and determine if you have dry eyes. Alternatively, dry eye can be detected by adding drops that contain dye to the tear layer on your eye, and then evaluating how long it takes for your tears to evaporate. Note: If you have a severe dry eye condition, you might have to avoid or discontinue contact lens wear. For mild dryness there are now special contact lenses for dry eyes may enable you to wear contacts safely and comfortably.

These combined measurements can help us determine the type of contact lenses that will give you the sharpest vision possible and the most comfort.

You may be asked to come back after a trial contact lens is chosen to evaluate how it rests on the surface of your eye using the slit lamp and to check the health of your eye to see if any changes have occurred due to contact lens wear.