Contact lenses are a healthy and convenient option for vision correction. However, they do require proper care and cleaning to avoid potentially serious eye infections. If you are ready to commit to wearing contact lenses, the first step is to have a contact lens fitting from one of our experienced eye doctors.
A Beginners Guide To Contact Lenses
During this eye-exam, your optometrist will:
Selecting the Right Contact Lenses
After the comprehensive contact lens examination, one of our eye doctors will recommend the best lens type options for you.
There are three major groups of contact lenses to choose from:
- Soft contact lenses: These are made mostly from water and are incredibly thin and comfortable to wear.
- Rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGP): Made of hard plastic, these contact lenses correct most vision problems and give crisp and clear vision.
- Hybrid contact lenses: This is a specialized contact lens, designed to give patients the visual acuity of a RGP with the comfort of a soft lens.
Once we have determined the best contact lens for you, we will give you a pair of FREE TRIAL LENSES. This is to ensure that you are 100% comfortable with them.
Caring For Your Contact Lenses
During your contact lens fitting, one of our eye doctors will show you how to properly clean and disinfect your lenses. Following these instructions is very important and will help you see better while keeping your vision healthy and safe.
Improper contact lens care can lead to:
- Eye infections
- Redness
- Uncomfortable vision
- Inflammation
- Eye irritation
If you cannot commit to regular disinfecting, you may want to consider daily disposable lenses which you can throw away after every use.
Things You Should ALWAYS Do When Wearing Contact Lenses
- Follow the advice and wearing scheduled recommended by your optometrist
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling your contact lenses
- Clean and disinfect your contact lenses with fresh solution after removing them
- Put in your contact lenses before applying your makeup and take them out before removing makeup
- Remove your contact lenses prior to sleeping, swimming or showering
- Keep a backup pair of eyeglasses handy
- If your eyes are red or feel sore/irritated, don’t wear your lenses and contact your optometrist immediately
- Schedule an eye exam at least once a year with your optometrist
Living with Contact Lenses
Wearing contact lenses should be a comfortable and rewarding experience. However, certain factors including dust, smoke, air travel and pollen can irritate the eyes when you are wearing lenses.
If you are into sports, beauty or are a frequent traveller or spend the majority of your time in front of a computer, Sunridge eye clinic has the perfect contact lens solution for you.
We offer our patients a variety of different lenses to suit all lifestyles including:
- Daily disposables
- Bi-weekly/monthly
- Extended wear (for patients wanting to wear their lenses overnight)
- Rigid Gas Permeable (for patients with eye conditions such as astigmatism or keratoconus)
Contact Us
If you are experiencing any discomfort, book a consultation with one of our Calgary eye doctors today so that we can get you back on track to enjoying the convenience of contact lenses.
Want to learn more? Contact our Sunridge Eye Clinic today at 403-280-7518 or use our online contact form below.
