2009 July | Eye Contact Guide

Archive for July, 2009

Blurred Vision You May Need Bifocal Contact Lenses – What Are Presbyopic contact lenses

If you’ve been wearing contact lenses for ages and hitting middle age then you might notice that things seem fuzzier than they used to at a distance. That’s because as the body ages our far sightedness starts to go. Now not only can’t you see things up close, but items at a distance seem blurry too.

The traditional treatment for this condition, called presbyopia, is a pair of bifocals. Bifocals have a different level of magnification in different areas of the lenses allowing a person to focus at all distances. Luckily contact lenses are keeping up with glasses. Now you can get bifocal or presbyopic contact lenses.

Presbyopic contact lenses have the adaptability of bifocals with the convenience of contact lenses. There are several different designs that work in different ways.

A translating lens is typically a gas permeable contact, or semi rigid contact. These aren’t as comfortable as regular soft contact lenses but work about the same. These lenses have two different prescriptions built into the lens. A magnifier for up close reading located along the bottom of the lenses and then the distance portion along the upper half of the lens.

The concentric ring designs have different prescriptions radiating out from the center of the lens to the edges. You have to train your eyes to know which area to focus on for the right prescription power.

Aspheric lenses typically work more like progressive lens glasses. They have the near vision prescription concentrated along the center of the lens and then the far prescription along the outer perimeter. Like with the concentric ring design you’ll have to train your eyes where to look when selecting the proper power setting.

Selecting presbyopic contact lenses is a big decision. You’ll need to talk with your optometrist about what’s the perfect choice for your eyes. With a little bit of time and effort you’ll be seeing like new in no time.

What are Implantable Contact Lenses? (ICL)

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If you have severe vision issues that can’t be corrected with normal contact lenses and you don’t want to wear Coke bottle glasses then an implantable contact lens might be the solution you are looking for.

Implantable contact lenses, also known as intra ocular lenses or ICL’s are a way to correct the more severe forms of bad vision that can’t be helped through laser surgery or normal contacts. Unfortunately this is a little bit more invasive than just popping a contact lens onto your eye. It involves micro surgery.

If you’re not an ideal candidate for laser surgery either due to corneal thickness or those who have already had cataract surgery then an ICL might work.

This surgery requires a little bit more recovery time than traditional radial keratotomy or Lasik. With this surgery an incision is made on the side of the eye and the lens is slipped behind the cornea. The patient then has to rest for about an hour before being released to go home. There isn’t instant vision improvement like with laser corneal shaping. Instead this heals up gradually over about two weeks. You’ll have to go back to the Dr. the day after surgery to insure that there are no complications.

One other concern is that for safety reasons you can’t get lenses implanted in both eyes at the same time. Instead you’ll have to wait a week or two after the first surgery to make sure there’s no risk of rejection or infection. The last thing you want is to have problems with both eyes.

So if contact lenses and laser correction aren’t available for your particular vision issue and you’re tired of wearing glasses then implantable contact lenses might be just the thing to restore your vision back to normal and free you from glasses.

Don’t Let The Sun Destroy Your Eyes – All About UV Contact Lenses

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Contact lenses have literally changed the way we see.

They were introduced over 100 years ago as hard shell lenses that fit in the eye.

Today soft contact lenses account for the majority of the market.

Soft contact lenses can be found to treat almost any vision problem from astigmatism to the more common myopia. You can even find lenses that are designed just for theatrical effect like pure silver or cats eyes.

One of the newest advancements in contact lenses is the introduction of ultraviolet radiation protection, more commonly called UV Contact Lenses .

UV contact lenses not only give you good eyesight they protect you from harmful UV rays. UV rays can damage the skin and eyes and is one of the leading factors of skin cancer. Additionally, prolonged exposure to UV rays has a direct relationship to the development of cataracts, a clouding on the eye lens leading to blurry vision or in severe cases blindness.

The first thing to realize is that you won’t even notice the UV coating. It doesn’t change the color of objects that you are looking at. You won’t even notice the protection until decades later when all your friends are getting cataract surgery and you don’t need it.

Even though UV contact lenses can protect the eye it’s important to remember that contacts only cover around the iris. You’ll still want to wear sunglasses when going outside to make sure your eyes are completely protected. The whites of the eye can be damaged just as easily as your skin.

UV protection is a great added benefit to contact lenses. It can help reduce damage to your eyes over time. Protecting your eyes is important for years of clear sight. Just because you may have blurred vision doesn’t mean you have to let it get cloudy with cataracts.

How does Diabetes Affect Your Eyes

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Diabetes is an insidious disease. It can sneak up on you and damage major organs if not caught and regulated.

There are two main types of diabetes, type 1, and type 2.

What’s important to know though is that both types interfere with the body’s ability to break down starches and sugars and turn them into energy.

For mild cases, it can be managed by diet but more severe cases require insulin injections. There are quite a few health risks associated with the disease. One of the biggest problem areas is in the eyes. But exactly how does diabetes affect your eyes?

The biggest concern is inside the retina. Diabetes can cause the blood vessels in your eyes to leak and collapse, a condition called retinopathy. This condition can lead to blindness. What happens is the blood vessels weaken and collapse. The body will form new vessels but unfortunately they are much weaker. As the blood leaks out of these vessels it starves the retina of blood flow. With repeated damage these vessels will eventually build up scar tissues that can cause the retina to detach.

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes then it’s important to get yearly eye exams. If you’re at risk for blindness you want to do everything in your power to stop it. An eye doctor will be able to assess your overall eye health and can quickly tell if you’re developing symptoms of retinopathy.

Some of the warning signs to look out for are suddenly blurred vision in one or both eyes, black spots or cobwebs swimming in your vision, and the big one sudden onset of blindness.

Taking proper care of your eyes is important. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes then make sure to book an eye exam to see if you are at risk.

What are Enhancement Tint Contact Lenses?

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Contact lenses have literally changed how we see the world. If you have bad vision a set of contact lenses is just the thing to help restore your eyesight back to 20/20. You can even buy contact lenses, with a prescription, for purely cosmetic reasons. One way to really bring out your eye color is to use a set of enhancement tint contact lenses.

Enhancement tint contact lenses work just like any other contacts for vision correction but they have the added benefit of accentuating your natural eye color. They work best with light colored eyes such as blue, hazel, and green.

These lenses don’t radically alter your eye color. Instead they make blues bluer and greens greener. They bring out the natural beauty of your eyes.

If you have dark brown eyes and are looking to change your eye color then you are better suited to an opaque tint lens that’s designed for changing eye color. Unfortunately enhancement tint lenses won’t work as well for you.

You care for these contact lenses the same way you would any pair of disposable lenses. Just remove them at the end of the day. Clean them with a multipurpose solution and store in a sealed case overnight. They have about the same longevity as normal wear disposable lenses do.

So if you’re looking for a new set of contact lenses why not check out ones with enhancement tint. You’ll be able to see clearly and have a great new look that will turn heads whenever you enter a room. All you need to do is make an appointment with your eye doctor and get fitted for a great new set of lenses. You’ll be amazed with not only how clearly you can see but at how these lenses compliment your natural eye color.

What are Opaque Tint Contact Lenses?

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There are all sorts of different contact lenses out there, from hard gas permeable lenses to the more common soft disposable ones. Any lens will correct your vision and help you get rid of the hassle of glasses.

Contact lenses have come a long way in just a few short years. What was once strictly for vision correction can now be used as a cosmetic. If you are looking to change your eye color then opaque tint contact lenses are just the thing you are looking for.

Opaque tint contact lenses can change any eye color even deep dark browns. They have a unique structure that allows you to see normal color range but change what your eyes look like. You can go from brown to green hazel or blue just by putting in a different lens.

These lenses require the same amount of care as any other extended wear disposable lens. You still need to remove them at night, clean them, and store them.

Opaque tint lenses don’t lose their color over time either. You don’t have to worry about a tinted dye bleaching out. They will look exactly the same at the end of the month as the 1^st day you put them in.

Like all contact lenses these will require a prescription even if you don’t need vision correction. Only an eye doctor can find the lens that is just the right fit for you.

If you’re looking to change your appearance subtly or dramatically then opaque tint contact lenses are a great starting point. You can find them in every shade from natural to outrageous. You can even order a set of red ones to use around Halloween.

All you need to do is make an appointment with an optometrist and show up for a quick vision check and fitting. You’ll love the dramatic effect the lenses will have.