CONTACT LENS SERVICES

IS IT TIME TO MAKE THE SWITCH TO CONTACTS?

For millions of Canadians, contact lenses are the perfect solution for their vision correction needs. Where eyeglasses change your appearance (even the stylish ones), contact lenses are discreet and invisible once inserted. Affordable, easy to wear, comfortable, and suitable for nearly any prescription, there’s no denying the versatility and convenience offered by contact lenses.

Ideal for Athletes

A tremendous benefit that contact lenses have compared to glasses is the ability to be worn in situations where glasses simply can’t be, or where glasses would be an obstruction or inconvenience. This makes them ideal for athletes: enjoy your sport without having to worry about frames.

Enjoy a Larger Field of Vision

Contact lenses sit directly on the cornea. Because they are in direct contact with your eye, they offer a complete field of vision. They also do not fog up on cold days or when in humid areas.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CONTACT LENSES

A contact lens exam/fitting accomplishes two things: first, it ensures your eyes are healthy and suitable for contacts; second, it determines the shape and size of your eye, ensuring we choose contact lenses that are the ideal shape for comfort.

Who can wear contact lenses?

Contact lens technology has advanced dramatically since their introduction decades ago. Today there are options for nearly every corrective prescription, including people with astigmatism. If you have an eye disease, such as dry eye syndrome, contact lenses may not be a fit for you. Wearing contact lenses can aggravate pre-existing conditions and worsen symptoms.

Types of Contact Lenses

There are different types of contact lens options available to you depending on your need. Most people will choose a disposable soft lens, while those with challenging prescriptions or astigmatism may choose rigid gas permeable or toric contact lenses.
 

• Soft contact lenses come in nearly every available configuration available today and are the most popular choice.
• Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are made of a plastic that allows gas (oxygen) to pass through to the eye while also remaining rigid and retaining their shape. These lenses are ideal for people with allergies or where soft contact lenses will not adequately correct their vision.
• Bifocal or multifocal contact lenses are available that provide identical functionality as multifocal eyeglass lenses.
• Toric contact lenses are suitable for people with astigmatism. These hard lenses retain their shape while still allowing the eye to “breathe”. Scleral contact lenses are suitable for people with dry eye (or other eye conditions) that make traditional contact lenses unsuitable.
• Scleral contacts sit over the top of the cornea, resting on the sclera (the white part of the eye). Despite being considerably larger than traditional contact lenses, scleral lenses are quite discreet and not noticed when worn.
• Orthokeratology contact lenses gently reshape the cornea. They are worn overnight and removed during the day. This process corrects vision, albeit temporarily (its effects tend to wear off after 10-12 hours), without the need for always-in contact lenses.

Daily, Disposable, or Extended Wear – Which is Right For You?

You can choose contact lenses offered in an assortment of wear/replacement schedules. The most common are:

• Daily wear lenses – These lenses and are replaced daily.
• Disposable lenses – These lenses are replaced on a set schedule (daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly). The wearer removes them before sleeping, storing them in a special solution that keeps the lenses clean and sanitary. These lenses are thrown away at the end of their cycle.
• Extended wear lenses – We do not recommend extended wear lenses due to their potential impacts on corneal health.

We stock a large selection of contact lenses from leading brands. Whether you need a mild visual touch-up, or a multifocal lens to correct your presbyopia prescription, there’s a contact lens available at Listowel Vision Care that’s perfect for the job. If you’re unsure of what you’re looking for, just ask… we’re always happy to help!