You might wear contact lenses for aesthetic reasons, or maybe you have an active career or lifestyle where eyeglasses would get in the way. Whatever your reason for wearing contact lenses, you can count on Dr. Wallace Goldban, MD, at Desert Ophthalmology in Palm Springs and Palm Desert, California, to provide expert contact lens exams and fittings so you can see clearly and comfortably. Call or schedule an appointment online today.
request an appointmentHow do contact lenses work?
First, consider how your eyes work. When light enters your eye, it passes through a lens that focuses it and directs it toward your retina and optic nerve. When you’re nearsighted (myopic) or farsighted (hyperopic), the light focuses too early or too late in your eye and causes distorted vision.
Contact lenses, like eyeglasses, focus the light coming towards your eye to make up for the weakness in your natural lens. Contact lenses are thinner than glasses because they rest directly on your tear film instead of a one-half inch or so away, which reduces the amount of corrective power needed.
Another benefit of contact lenses is that they move with your eye and provide corrected vision in all directions.
What kinds of contact lenses are available?
The doctors at Desert Ophthalmology provide a wide range of contact lens options to ensure comfort and clear vision for everyone. Depending on your prescription and vision needs, they may recommend a specific type or brand of lenses.
Soft contact lenses
Soft contact lenses are made of soft plastic and are usually provided as disposable lenses. They’re available in daily, weekly, and monthly varieties to fit your lifestyle and budget.
Gas permeable lenses
Rigid gas permeable lenses (RGP) are made of hard plastic and are slightly smaller in diameter than soft contact lenses. These lenses allow oxygen to pass through them to reach your eye. RGP lenses are resistant to bacteria and the deposits that often build up on soft lenses and are made to last for a year or longer, providing clear, crisp vision.
Toric lenses
Toric lenses are weighted to help them stay in the correct position on your eye. They’re suitable if you have astigmatism.
Multifocal lenses
Multifocal lenses combine two different prescriptions and are used when you need different strengths of correction to see far away and close-up. They provide a gradual change between prescriptions and prevent the necessity of wearing reading glasses.
How do I know which contact lenses are right for me?
Your doctor at Desert Ophthalmology recommends the lenses that will best correct your vision and fit your lifestyle. Contact lens prescriptions are good for a year, then you should have your eyes examined again at a regular checkup.
If you’re due for an eye exam, need new contact lenses, or want to try them, call Desert Ophthalmology or make an appointment online today.