Contact lenses are typically prescribed for either cosmetic or medical treatment reasons. Cosmetic contact lenses are used to correct refractive error in place of glasses or refractive surgery. Cosmetic contact lenses can be of either soft (hydrophilic) or hard (rigid gas permeable) materials. Someone trained to fit contact lenses must fit these lenses to each individual’s eyes. Usually this is an optometrist or ophthalmologist with special experience and training in contact lens fitting. The ages for people to wear cosmetic contact lenses ranges between about 10 years old to usually about 70. Bifocal contact lenses are available for patients who usually wear bifocal spectacles. People wearing extended wear contact lenses (those that are worn while sleeping) require careful and frequent monitoring by an eye doctor since they are at increased risk for developing serious eye infections.
Medical treatment contact lenses are used to provide the best optical correction for people with diseases such as keratoconus as well as people who have had injuries to the eye causing irregular astigmatism, or for people who have had corneal transplants that have healed with irregular astigmatism. Medical treatment lenses are also used in myopia control for some individuals. Medical treatment contact lenses can be of soft (hydrophilic) or hard (rigid gas permeable) or prosthetic (hydrophilic with painted iris) material. Medical treatment contact lenses are often used for “bandage” purposes, or for treating “dry eyes.” In special instances, medical treatment contact lenses can be used as optical occluders to prevent double vision. In most cases where medical treatment contact lenses are needed, the ophthalmologist or optometrist who fits the lenses should have special training and experience.
Doctors who specialize in Contact Lens at Storm Eye Institute:
Stephen Morse, OD, PhD |
