Contact lenses adjust the way light enters your eye to focus on your retina, allowing you to see clearly. They are medical devices and should only be fitted by a licensed practitioner.

The most common contacts are made of soft, oxygen-permeable materials. Rigid gas-permeable lenses are also available and are better suited for certain vision concerns.

Farsightedness

The eyes of normal people have a smooth curve when light enters them, which bends and sharpens images on the retina (the layer of cells lining the back of the eye). When you’re farsighted, your cornea or lens isn’t properly shaped so that nearby objects appear blurry. Scientists don’t know what causes this, but heredity seems to be a factor.

If you’re farsighted, contact lenses correct the problem by bending light entering the eye. There are many options, including daily disposables such as Bausch + Lomb ULTRA, Biotrue ONEday, and SofLens Daily Disposable. There are also bi-weekly and monthly contacts for those who prefer to wear their lenses longer. An optometrist will determine the right type of contact lenses for you based on your prescription and lifestyle needs.

Astigmatism

If you have astigmatism, a common refractive error, you may need to wear special contact lenses. Your cornea is shaped like a round dome but doesn’t curve evenly in all directions, causing light to focus incorrectly and leaving you with blurry vision.

Our doctors can fit you for toric contact lenses that correct this problem. Toric lenses have different optical powers in the horizontal and vertical meridians of the lens to compensate for your irregular eye shape. They come in a range of soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP) lens options, including daily disposables.

Dry eyes

A dry eye condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) can make it uncomfortable to wear contact lenses. The condition occurs when the tear film can’t provide enough water, oil and mucin to keep the eyes lubricated.

When this happens, a person can experience pain, itching and blurry vision when they wear contacts. A number of lifestyle changes, rewetting drops and other treatments may help alleviate the symptoms.

Practicing good lens hygiene and following a recommended replacement schedule can reduce the risk of dry eye symptoms. It’s also a good idea to use preservative-free contact lens solution and rinse the case with fresh, clean water before using it again. Then, you’ll have a cleaner and more comfortable lens to wear.

Glaucoma

Although contact lenses may increase the risk of glaucoma by causing eye pressure to rise, they do not cause the condition itself. Contact lens wearers should ensure that they follow recommended wearing periods and hygiene practices to reduce their risks. Additionally, if the person is using eye drops to lower their intraocular pressure they should make sure that these are applied without the contact lens in place as prolonged exposure to both the medication and the preservative can cause irritation and other complications.

Patients with glaucoma should see their eye doctor regularly as these appointments are essential for monitoring the progression of the disease and to update their contact lens prescription. However, some glaucoma patients who undergo laser surgery (like trabeculoplasty or MIGS) or drainage surgeries like tube shunt or trabeculectomy are not allowed to continue to wear contact lenses due to the pocket the eye surgeon creates under the surface of the cornea.

Contact lenses for other conditions

Contact lens wearers need to carefully follow the care and maintenance instructions provided by their eye care provider. These include the proper handling, cleaning, and wearing schedules of the lenses as well as the prescribed eye drops and other palliative treatments.

Other conditions that affect contact lens wearers can result in discomfort, blurred vision and even loss of the lenses themselves. These can include eye infections (including microbial keratitis, which can lead to blindness in severe cases), allergic reactions, and dry eyes. These can all be relieved by temporarily discontinuing lens wear or using the prescribed eye drops as directed. In some cases, the eye care provider may recommend a different type of contact lens to improve comfort or vision. They may also suggest wearing an over-the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatory drop.