Who Makes the Best Candidate for Contact Lenses

Factors That Make Someone a Good Candidate

Your eyes must be generally healthy to wear contact lenses comfortably and safely. Conditions like dry eye, eye infections, or severe allergies can make contacts uncomfortable or unsuitable. However, some conditions can be managed with the right care and lens type.

Contact lenses require proper care, hygiene, and regular replacement. Ideal candidates are committed to following care instructions and keeping up with appointments to avoid infections or complications.

Active individuals or those who find glasses inconvenient often benefit from contact lenses. They are great for athletes, people with physically demanding jobs, or anyone who wants to go glasses free for cosmetic reasons.

Contact lenses can correct many common vision problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Thanks to advances in lens technology, there are now specialty lenses for more complex prescriptions and corneal conditions.

Why a Contact Lens Exam and Fitting is Essential

Even if you've worn glasses for years, switching to contact lenses involves more than just choosing a new form of vision correction. A contact lens exam is a specialized evaluation that goes beyond a routine eye exam. It includes a thorough assessment of your overall eye health, precise measurements of your cornea’s shape and size, and an evaluation of your tear film to ensure lenses will be comfortable. You'll also try on test lenses to check how they fit and how clearly you can see with them, helping your optometrist determine the best lens for your eyes and lifestyle.

Different Types of Contact Lenses

The type of lens that's right for you depends on your prescription, eye shape, lifestyle, and how often you want to wear them. Your optometrist will recommend the best option from several available types, including:

• Soft Contact Lenses: These are the most commonly prescribed lenses and are known for being comfortable and easy to adjust to. They're great for active individuals and come in daily, biweekly, or monthly options.

• Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses: These lenses provide crisp vision and are more durable, making them ideal for people with high prescriptions or astigmatism. While they take a little longer to get used to, they often last longer than soft lenses.

• Toric Lenses: Toric lenses are specially designed for people with astigmatism. They have a unique shape that helps correct uneven curvature of the eye for clearer vision.

• Specialty Lenses: Patients with specific eye conditions such as keratoconus or severe dry eye may benefit from custom or specialty lenses like scleral lenses, which offer both vision correction and therapeutic benefits.

Understanding your options and having a professional help guide the selection ensures your lenses not only correct your vision but also match your lifestyle and comfort needs.

Schedule Your Contact Lens Exam Today

If you have healthy eyes, are responsible with hygiene and care, and are looking for more flexibility in your vision correction, contact lenses may be the perfect solution. But the key to success lies in a comprehensive contact lens exam and professional fitting. This process ensures not only that your lenses fit well but that your eyes remain healthy and your vision stays sharp.

Schedule your eye exam with Winchester Optical and find the contact lenses are right for you. Visit our office in Winchester, Massachusetts, or call (781) 214-3990 to book an appointment today.