Contact Lenses
The Contact Lens Experts at Mid-Atlantic specialize in fitting contact lenses to suit your everyday needs. We provide fitting services for:
- Soft contact lenses, including those for astigmatism and presbyopia
- Medical contact lenses for those with corneal irregularities including but not limited to keratoconus, corneal scars, and corneal transplants
- Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses
- Scleral lenses
- Hybrid lenses
Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses
Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses are made of a durable plastic that allows for high oxygen transmission to the cornea. RGPs are small in diameter, and typically cover approximately 50 to 75% of the corneal surface. The rigid properties of RGPs allow them to create a new, smooth optical surface to mask the irregular corneal shape caused by conditions such as keratoconus, providing a far superior visual outcome as compared to a traditional soft contact lens.
Scleral Contact Lenses
Scleral lenses are large-diameter gas permeable lenses that rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera). They vault over the entire cornea, which allows them to create a new, smooth optical surface to mask the irregular corneal shape caused by conditions such as keratoconus, providing a far superior visual outcome as compared to a traditional soft contact lens or glasses.
Hybrid Lenses
Hybrid lenses have a rigid center surrounded by a soft silicone hydrogel skirt, which is the same material that makes up many soft contact lenses. This combination provides the excellent visual outcome of a rigid lens with the comfort of a soft lens.
Call our office today to schedule an evaluation to determine which type of contact lens is best for you!
Caring For Your Contact Lenses
The type of lens you have determines how you care for it.
Below are some easy steps to help keep your eyes healthy and your lenses clean.
1. Before handling contact lenses, wash and rinse hands. Use a mild non-cosmetic soap. Soaps with perfumes, oils, or lotions leave a film on the hands, which you may transfer to your lenses and cause eye irritation or blurred vision.
2. Dry hands with a clean, lint-free towel.
3. If you use hair spray, use it before you put in your contacts. It’s also a good idea to keep your fingernails short and smooth to avoid damaging your lenses or scratching the eye.
4. After your contacts are in your eyes, put on makeup so you don’t get any on your lenses. Take out contact lenses before you remove makeup for the same reason.
5. Different types of contact lenses require special care and certain types of products. Always use the disinfecting solution, eye drops, and enzymatic cleaners your eye care professional recommended. Some eye products or eye drops are not safe for contact lens wearers.
6. Never use tap water directly on lenses, and never put contact lenses in your mouth to "rinse" them. Microorganisms can live in even distilled water, causing infection or sight damage.
7. Clean each contact by rubbing it gently with your index finger in the palm of your other hand. Most multipurpose solutions don’t have “No Rub” on their labels anymore. Lightly rubbing your contact removes surface buildup.
8. Clean your contact lens case every time you use it with either sterile solution or hot tap water. Let it air dry. Replace the contact lens storage case every three months.