It is estimated that 40.9 million Americans wear contact lenses, and that more than $8.5 billion is spent on contact lenses worldwide each year.
Soft contact lenses are lenses made up of plastic that enable oxygen to pass through the contact lens and to your cornea. The cornea is the front part of your eye which allows light to enter your eye, and allowing oxygen to pass through the lens is important for both comfort and safety.
A variety of soft contact lens modalities are available nowadays, including daily contacts, biweekly contacts, and monthly contacts. The purpose of LASIK surgery and contact lenses is the same, which is to improve distance vision. That’s what the majority of contact lenses are used for.
At our full scope medical eye care clinic in Bellflower, we offer a wide range of contact lenses for all patients and ages. Our team spends time with the patient during a contact lens exam to understand your needs and provide you with the contact lenses that will provide you with the best vision and comfort.
What conditions can soft contact lenses correct?
Soft contact lenses can correct the following visual conditions:
What are the different types of soft contact lenses?
Bifocal contact lenses
Most contact lenses correct either distance or near vision, however, as we all age it gets harder for us to see close up, which is an eye condition known as presbyopia. Such patients need correction for both distance and near. That’s where bifocal contact lenses come in handy. These lenses have two powers within them. While these are great, they are not comfortable for everyone. For some patients, the transition from distance power to reading power and the way it fits on the eye may be uncomfortable initially.
Multifocal contact lenses
Multifocal contact lenses can have more than two prescriptions. They're great for anyone who needs clear vision at near, far, and intermediate distances, especially those who have presbyopia and frequently use computers. Nowadays, these lenses are available in a variety of modalities, which wasn't always the case. It is available in daily, biweekly, and monthly wear options.
Toric contact lenses
The other type of specialty contact lenses that take a bit longer to adjust to is for patients with astigmatism. These are called toric contact lenses. You need to find the perfect fit and modality for you, not one size fits all. We always inform our patients that getting used to it takes time. If you need any changes in any way to get perfect and comfortable vision, we try to make that happen for you by making necessary adjustments. Toric lenses can be single vision or multifocal.
