Contact Lenses Specialist

What types of contact lenses are available?

There are several types of contact lenses, each made of unique materials and designed to support specific vision needs and eye conditions. They include:

Soft lenses

Soft lenses are made from a special type of plastic known as hydrogel. They’re thin and bendy, so they attach perfectly to your eye’s front surface.

Silicone hydrogel lenses

These lenses are a more porous form of soft lenses and allow a great amount of oxygen to reach the cornea.

Gas permeable lenses

Gas permeable lenses are rigid but porous enough to allow a good amount of oxygen to pass through. They may offer crisper vision than soft lenses, especially for people with astigmatism.

Can I sleep with my contact lenses in?

Contact lenses come in a variety of “wear times” to fit your lifestyle. At Valley Eye Professionals, the following types are offered:

• Extended wear, which you can sleep in
• Daily wear, which should be removed every night for cleaning
• One-day disposable, which involve a new pair every day

With extended wear and daily wear, a set of contacts usually lasts two weeks to a month before you need to switch to a fresh pair.

What are multifocal contact lenses?

Multifocal contact lenses can correct multiple vision problems; each lens has different power zones that can correct for nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as astigmatism. Bifocal contacts are a type of multifocal lens that help with the age-related decline of near vision and other vision issues.

What are monovision contact lenses?

Monovision contact lenses can lessen your need for reading glasses, especially if you already wear contact lenses for nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. With monovision, you wear contact lenses with two different prescriptions. One side corrects your near vision and the other corrects your distance vision.

Monovision contacts are an alternative to bifocal contact lenses and may be a better option for some people. Your optometrist can help you determine which type is best for your vision needs.

To learn more about your contact lens options, call Valley Eye Professionals or book an appointment online.