Drs. Julie Carlson and Meghan Geiger are optometrists specially trained to handle all of you contact lens needs including bifocal, toric, gas permeable (gp), keratoconic, and post surgical fittings.  They work with all types of soft lens and gas permeable lens designs.  They are committed to optimizing your vision, comfort and eye health.  With the latest lens designs and materials, many patients who were not candidates in the past can now be successfully fit in contact lenses.http://www.aoa.org/

The same type of contact lens is not ideal for everyone.  Our doctors consider the unique characteristics of your eye including your glasses prescription, the curve of your cornea, and your lifestyle.  Both gas permeable and soft lenses can be used to correct near sightedness, far sightedness, astigmatism, and bifocal prescriptions.  Gas permeable lenses are made of a sturdier material that maintains its shape as it sits on the center of the cornea.  Soft contact lenses are made of a more flexible material that drapes over the front surface of the eye.  Because a soft lens hugs the cornea, the adaptation time for a soft lens may be less than the time required to get used to a gp lens.  For some patients, the gas permeable lens can provide “crisper” vision than a softer material option.  There is also a third option called a hybrid lens which is a gas permeable center surrounded by a soft ring of material.  This lens can give a patient the crisp vision of a gas permeable lens and the shorter adaptation time of a soft lens.  Additional information about the types of contact lenses can be found at the American Optometric Association website http://www.aoa.orgx765.xml.

FAQ:

Q:  Can I wear contacts if I have astigmatism?
A:  People with low amounts of astigmatism are typically fit in regular contact lenses that have no added correction for the small amount of astigmatism included in their glasses prescription.  For individuals with three units of astigmatism or more (.75D or higher) there are two options.  A soft toric lens is a lens made from a soft contact lens material and corrects astigmatism.  A soft toric lens must have minimal spinning or “rotation” on the eye to provide you with good vision.  After first placing the lens in the eye it may take a few minutes for the lens to “settle” or rotate into the appropriate position that matches your prescription.

The second option is a gas permeable lens.  These lenses keep their shape when placed on the center of the cornea.  This “rigidity” helps to correct the astigmatism by allowing the tears to fill in the space between the back of the lens and the front of the eye.  This can result in clearer vision for a contact lens wearer with astigmatism.  Gas permeable lenses are an especially good option for patients with astigmatism who are interested in trying multifocal contact lenses.

Q:  Can I sleep in contact lenses?
A:  There are some lenses on the market that have been approved by the FDA for up to 30 days of continuous wear.  Not all patients can tolerate this wearing schedule, so those wanting to sleep in these lenses may be closely monitored at for any signs of eye inflammation or infection.  We generally recommend that those sleeping in their lenses take them out once a week to clean them.  No matter what the lens material, sleeping in any contact lens increases the risk for infection.

Q:  Can I wear contacts if I use multifocal spectacle lenses?
A:  Mutifocal contact lenses exist in both gas permeable and soft materials.  There are several designs, and certain types may work better than others for each individual.  It can take a few visits to find out which design and power will work best for you.  Typically, the vision through multifocal contacts will not be as crisp as the vision through your glasses, but multifocal contacts can be a wonderful option for presbyopes looking to be free of glasses for everyday activities.  A second option is called monovision, where a patient’s dominant eye is set for distance and their non-dominant eye is set at a near distance for reading.  This option works for many people, but others find that their depth perception can be affected.

Q:  How do I insert and remove by contacts?
A:  At Koziol – Thoms Eye Associates, the fitting process includes a session with one of our technicians who will sit down and work with you until you are comfortable putting in and removing the lenses.  The following website can also provide some helpful hints:  http://clecontactlenses.com/guide.htm1

Q:  How can I tell if my contact lens is right side out before I insert it?
A:  When placed on the tip of your finger, the edges of a soft lens should point upwards, similar to a teacup.  If the edges appear wilted, curved outward, or sagging, the lens is inside out.  With today’s materials this still may be hard for some people to see.  A second technique is called the “taco test”.  Place the soft lens between your thumb and forefinger.  Gently pinch the center of the lens.  If the edges fold inward like a hard taco shell, the lens is right side out.  If the edges resist moving toward one another and fold around your fingertips, the lens is inside out.

Q:  What solution should I use?
A:  For many contact lens wearers, a multipurpose solution provides adequate cleaning and disinfection.  Multipurpose means that the same solution is used to clean, disinfect, and rinse the lenses.  Even though many of these solutions say “No Rub” on the packaging, we always recommend gently rubbing the contact in the palm of your hand for ten seconds before soaking overnight for optimum cleaning.

For those who tend to get protein deposits on their lenses or for those who suffer from ocular allergies, a stronger cleaner such as Clear Care or Ultracare may be best.  This is a hydrogen peroxide based cleaner and requires a minimum soaking time of several hours.  Care must be taken not to insert the lens in the eye unless it has soaked for a minimum amount of hours required.  If the cleaner is accidentally used just prior to insertion, the cornea may get a chemical burn.  Remove the lens immediately and flush the eye for 15 minutes with water or sterile saline.  Call your eye doctor immediately.

Always pour out used solution and rinse and air-dry your contact lens case while the lenses are in your eyes.  Do not “top off” your solution.  This will not provide adequate disinfection for your lenses and increases your risk for eye infections and ulcers.
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Q:  How often do I change my contact lenses?
A:  Your eye doctor will tell you how often you should change your lenses.  Most soft lenses are approved for two weeks or one month of daily wear.  There are also daily disposable lenses which should only be worn for one day and then discarded.  Gas permeable lenses usually last one to three years.

Q:  Can I lose a contact in my eye?
A:  It is physically impossible for a contact lens to get “lost” behind the eyeball.  The layer of tissue known as the conjunctiva provides a barrier from any foreign object getting behind the eyeball.  A contact lens can be decentered underneath the upper or lower lid and can be difficult to remove from the eyeball.  If you cannot remove your contact because it has gone too far off center in the eye, feel free to call our office and one our doctors can make sure the contact is out of the eye.

Q:  What should I do if my eye is red or painful?
A:  NEVER WEAR YOUR CONTACT IS YOU EYE IS READ OR PAINFUL!  Eye redness, eye pain, increased sensitivity to light, and sudden decreased vision can all be signs of infection or inflammation that can be related to your contact lenses.  Wearing the contact lens when your eye is in an irritated state can dramatically worsen the situation.  Seek immediate care with our office if you experience any of the “RSVP” symptoms:
Redness, Sensitivity to light, loss of Vision, Eye Pain

Q:  What can I do to help contact lens related dryness?
A:  For occasional dryness we recommend using preservative free artificial tears (such as preservative free Refresh tears) or rewetting drops such as Blink, Aquify, or Replenish.  Some of the newer contact lens materials have also been shown to help dryness, so we may suggest changing the brand of contact lens.  Punctal plugs, medicated eye drops, and eyelid hygiene may also be suggested depending on the cause and severity of dryness.