Contact lenses – Are they right for me?

Many of us notice that beginning in our 40s, our near vision is blurred. Many can’t read, sew or work on the computer comfortably without reading glasses. This condition is called, presbyopia. Luckily, we have many options to correct for presbyopia. One form of vision correction is contact lenses.

What are contact lenses?
Contact lenses are thin, plastic, prescription-engineered discs that are placed directly on the eye. Contact lenses are held firmly and comfortably in place by the natural layer of tears that lies between the lenses and the surface of the eye.

What type of contacts are available?
There are numerous choices available and your optometrist will discuss all your options after a thorough eye examination. There are two basic categories of contact lenses: Rigid and soft. Rigid contact lenses (gas permeable) allow oxygen to pass through the lens to the cornea. They are ideal for patients with large amounts of astigmatism. Soft contact lenses are flexible and tend to be more comfortable than rigid lenses.

Are there contacts to treat Presbyopia?
In addition to treating near-sighted, far-sighted and astigmatism, presbyopia can be treated with either rigid or soft contact lenses. There are bifocal contact lenses that offer both distance and close range capabilities and monovision lenses. Monovision is a highly successful technique that involves fitting different lenses for each eye. The lens in the dominant eye (determined by your optometrist) is prescribed for distant vision while the non dominant eye is fitted with a lens for close vision.

Contact lenses offer an alternative to glasses and are suited for people with active lifestyles. They offer similar corrections as glasses but with more comfort and greater peripheral vision.

To schedule an appointment, please contact Sonoma Eyeworks Optometry at 707-578-4200.