If you have a refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, you will need some form of correction to see clearly. The most common form of correction is eyeglasses; however, many people prefer contacts instead of glasses. If you are thinking about getting contacts, our team at Henderson Eye Center in Henderson can help.
What Are Contact Lenses?
Contact lenses fit directly over your cornea. They are designed to correct your vision in the same way that eyeglasses do, except they do not require an eyeglass frame. Most contacts need to be removed every night before bed, and many are disposable.
The Benefits of Contact Lenses
There are a few reasons why many people prefer contacts over glasses.
- Contacts provide a more natural appearance.
- Contacts won't obstruct your vision the way eyeglasses can. When you wear eyeglasses, your vision can be obstructed by the eyeglass frame or dirty lenses.
- Contacts are great for active people and athletes. When you wear contacts, you will not need to worry about wearing sports goggles.
Types of Contacts
There are several types of contacts available, and the one that you choose depends on your lifestyle and personal preference.
- Daily lenses are thrown away each night and you would put a fresh pair in every day.
- Weekly lenses are thrown away every week.
- Bi-weekly lenses are thrown away every two weeks.
- Monthly lenses are thrown away every month.
- Extended lenses can be worn for 30 days straight without needing to remove them.
Hard To Fit Contacts
Unfortunately, some people cannot wear soft contacts. There are certain conditions of the eye that make this difficult. These include:
- Dry eye syndrome
- Keratoconus
- Presbyopia
- Astigmatism
- Giant papillary astigmatism
If you have any of these conditions, there are special lenses available. These special lenses include:
- Rigid gas permeable contacts
- Scleral contacts
- Bifocal contacts
- Toric contacts
- Monofocal lenses
How to Get Contacts
If you are interested in getting contact lenses, you will need to schedule an appointment with one of our optometrists for a contact lens exam. Because contacts fit directly on the cornea and eyeglasses sit about an inch away from the eyes, the two prescriptions would be different. During the contact lens exam, our eye doctor will determine your prescription. We will also determine if your eyes are hard to fit for contacts, requiring us to fit you with hard to fit contacts.
Contacts & More at our Family Eye Care Center
If you are thinking about getting contacts, schedule an appointment with one of our optometrists at Henderson Eye Center in Henderson, TX. We are a full-service family eye care center and can fit you with the best contacts for your eyes and lifestyle. Call us today at to schedule an appointment.