Contact lenses are an incredibly common way for many people with refractive errors are able to live life with clear vision. Today’s contact lenses are more comfortable, safe, and durable than ever before, allowing you to live an active lifestyle with clear vision.
At Longwood Eye & LASIK Center, we offer comprehensive contact lens fittings and all types of lenses to meet your unique needs.
How Do I Know if Contact Lenses Are Right For Me?
Contact lenses are an excellent alternative to glasses for most people. Thanks to recent advances in contact lens technology, there are very few people who cannot wear contacts. Even if you have astigmatism or presbyopia, we now offer specialized lenses, such as toric and bifocal contacts, to address these conditions.
Our eye doctors are highly trained and experienced in fitting all types of contact lenses, including hard-to-fit options for complex prescriptions and post-surgical needs.
Types of Contact Lenses We Offer
Soft Contact Lenses
Soft contact lenses account for the large majority of all contact lenses worn today. Made from soft plastic polymers and water, they allow oxygen to reach your cornea, making them breathable and instantly comfortable with no adjustment period.
Here are some of the common types of soft contact lenses:
Daily Disposable Lenses: Insert fresh lenses every morning and discard them every night. No cleaning or storage required, making them the most convenient and hygienic option.
Two-Week Contact Lenses: Wear these lenses daily, then clean and store them overnight in lens solution. Replace with a new pair after two weeks.
Monthly Contact Lenses: These lenses last up to 30 days with proper care. While some are approved for extended wear, we recommend removing them nightly for optimal eye health.
Rigid Gas Permeable (GP) Lenses
Modern gas permeable contact lenses are flexible, comfortable, and actually transmit more oxygen to your cornea than soft lenses. Because they’re rigid and maintain their shape when you blink, they can provide sharper vision for certain prescriptions. They’re also more durable and resist protein buildup better than soft lenses.
However, GP lenses require a three to four-day adjustment period and need to be worn regularly to maintain comfort.
Specialty Lenses
Toric Lenses: Specially designed to correct astigmatism along with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Available in both soft and GP varieties, these lenses feature specific curvatures that keep them properly aligned on your eye.
Bifocal Lenses: Available in both soft and GP options, these lenses correct both near and far vision, just like bifocal glasses.
What to Expect: The Contact Lens Fitting Process
At Longwood Eye & LASIK Center, we combine your regular eye exam with your contact lens fitting if you’re already a lens wearer. After testing your visual acuity and overall eye health, we move on to contact-specific evaluations including:
- Measuring your corneal curvature
- Measuring your pupil and iris
- Evaluating your tear film
- Assessing your lifestyle needs
If you’re new to contacts or need a refit, you’ll return on another day for the contact lens portion of your exam. By law, we require fitting appointments and follow-up visits to ensure a proper fit before ordering your contact lens supplies.
A typical contact lens fitting appointment takes about one hour. You’ll leave with trial lenses to ensure they’re the right fit before ordering your full supply.
How to Keep Your Soft Contact Lenses Clean
Caring for today’s soft contact lenses is simpler than ever, but proper hygiene is essential to prevent infections and keep your lenses comfortable. Here’s the basic daily routine:
Every Night:
- Wash and dry your hands with a lint-free towel
- Remove one lens and place it in your palm with a few drops of cleaning solution
- Gently rub the lens with your fingertip to remove protein buildup and debris
- Rinse the lens according to the solution’s recommended duration
- Place the lens in a clean case filled with fresh solution (never reuse old solution)
- Repeat with your other lens
Make sure to rinse your contact lens case with solution after each use and leave the caps off to air dry. Replace your case every three months or sooner if buildup develops.
If you only wear your contacts occasionally, you can store them in a closed case with multi-purpose solution for up to 30 days.
Best Practices for Healthy Contact Lens Wear
Here are some things you should never do when wearing contact lenses:
- Don’t expose lenses to water: This includes tap water, showers, pools, hot tubs, oceans, and lakes. Water can harbor dangerous microbes like Acanthamoeba, which can cause serious eye infections and permanent vision loss.
- Don’t rub your eyes: This can damage your cornea when wearing contacts.
- Don’t touch contacts with dirty hands: Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses.
- Don’t sleep in your contacts: Your lenses build up proteins and lipids overnight, creating a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Don’t reuse cleaning solution: Always use fresh solution to prevent bacterial contamination.
- Don’t wear contacts when eyes are irritated: If your eyes feel scratchy or irritated from allergies, dryness, or environmental factors, give them a break.
- Keep makeup away from lenses: Put contacts in before applying makeup, and remove them if makeup gets on the lens.
- Be careful with sunscreen: Avoid applying sunscreen directly above your eyes to prevent irritation if it sweats into your eyes.
Schedule Your Contact Lens Consultation
Ready to experience the freedom and convenience of contact lenses? Our expert team at Longwood Eye & LASIK Center is here to find the perfect lenses for your lifestyle and vision needs.
Schedule an appointment at Longwood Eye & LASIK Center in Greenfield, MA, today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a contact lens fitting take?
Approximately one hour. We’ll conduct a comprehensive eye exam followed by contact-specific measurements and evaluations.
Is it okay to wear contacts every day?
Yes! Contact lenses are designed as an alternative to glasses. Daily disposable lenses are actually the best choice because their one-day lifespan limits protein and bacterial buildup. Extended wear lenses can also be worn daily with proper nightly cleaning.
How long does each pair of contact lenses last?
It depends on the type:
- Daily disposables: One day
- Two-week lenses: 14 days
- Monthly/extended wear: 7 to 30 days
- Frequent replacement soft lenses: 1 to several months
- Reusable hydrogel/silicone hydrogel lenses: Up to one year
- Rigid GP lenses: Several years with proper care
Can I take a shower with my contact lenses?
No. The FDA recommends never exposing contact lenses to any water except contact lens solution. This includes showers, baths, pools, and natural bodies of water. Put your contacts in after showering, not before.
Can you swim with contact lenses?
We strongly advise against it. Water can harbor dangerous organisms, like Acanthamoeba, that attach to contact lenses and cause severe eye infections. If you want to see well at the beach, bring your glasses instead.
How long can contact lenses stay in solution?
If stored in a closed lens case with multi-purpose solution, your lenses can be safely stored for up to 30 days.
What if I can’t wear regular contact lenses?
We offer specialty lenses for nearly every vision need, including toric lenses for astigmatism, bifocal lenses for presbyopia, and custom options for post-surgical patients or complex prescriptions.
Can I take a nap in my contact lenses?
Everyone occasionally falls asleep watching TV while wearing contacts. Brief, accidental naps happen. However, avoid sleeping overnight in your lenses whenever possible.
How long can I wear my contacts each day?
While some extended wear lenses are approved for 30 days of continuous wear, we recommend inserting your contacts each morning and removing them every night before bed. This reduces infection risk and gives your eyes a chance to rest and breathe. The optimal wearing time is 10-12 hours per day maximum.