A Sight for Poor Eyes: Types of Contact Lenses By Gordon Wong, OD on May 14, 2016

A contact lensPatients can put their trust in GW Eye Associates Inc. We have helped numerous people in and around San Diego achieve excellent vision, always focusing on custom care and ideal options for vision correction.

While many people turn to laser eye surgery and other advanced procedures for their eye care needs, prescription contact lenses are still popular and effective. We'd like to consider the different kinds of contacts out there and why some may be more ideal for you and your needs than others.

Different Contact Lenses for Different Needs

Each patient has unique needs when it comes to wearing contacts and corrective lenses. It's important that these needs be taken into account when prescribing contacts to a patient. Below we've listed various types of contacts that help improve vision and meet other patient needs in the process.

Soft Contact Lenses

One of the more popular kinds of contacts available, soft contact lenses are made of flexible, breathable polymers that help prevent eye irritation and patient discomfort when they are in place.

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses

While RGP contact lenses are not as comfortable as soft contact lenses, they do offer patients much clearer vision. This is one trade-off to consider.

Toric Soft Contact Lenses

Toric contacts are designed for the treatment of astigmatism. These contacts are similar to other soft contacts in that they are rather comfortable but they do not provide vision that is as clear or sharp as hard contact lenses.

Bifocal and Multifocal Contact Lenses

Bifocal contacts and multifocal contacts have different sections in them, allowing patients to see better for different distances. These are helpful contact lenses for dealing with presbyopia, an age-related form of farsightedness (hyperopia) that starts around middle age.

Daily Wear Contact Lenses

Daily wear contact lenses are designed to be worn for a day and then discarded. There are also disposable contact lenses that can be worn for longer durations of time.

Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Extended wear contact lenses allow a patient to wear contacts while awake and sleep, meaning that they do not have to be removed. With that said, these types of contact lenses tend to be less prescribed due to the risk of eye infection and other problems.

Colored/Cosmetic Contact Lenses

Colored and cosmetic contact lenses are designed to alter the color or appearance of the eyes. These are popular during Halloween, costume parties, and film or theater productions.

Making Sure You Get the Right Contacts for You

As you can see, there are many kinds of contact lenses out there, and it's important that you get the contacts that are right for you. During your visit, we can discuss various options for advanced eye care and which might be most ideal given your situation.

Learn More About Contact Lenses

To learn more about contact lenses as well as your many other options for advanced vision care and correction, be sure to contact our team of eye care specialists today. The team at GW Eye Associates Inc look forward to your visit and helping you achieve excellent eyesight.

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GW Eye Associates

Our team at GW Eye Associates in La Jolla and Del Mar can provide a wide range of high-quality eye care services. Dr. Gordon G. Wong and Dr. Wildon C. Wong have over 45 years of combined experience and belong to several prestigious organizations, including:

  • American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • American Optometric Association
  • NVISION

For more information about our services, contact our office online or call us at (858) 454-4699 today.

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