Contact Lens Exam
Contact Lens Pricing Sheet |
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Remember, contact lenses are a Medical Device specially fitted to sit on your cornea. Proper care and following your doctor-recommended wearing schedule is very important to the health of your eye. Click here for warnings from the FDA
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Are you interested in enhancing your natural eye color with colored contacts? Click here to visit the Air Optix Colors Virtual Studio.
That's right! You can upload your photo and see how different lens colors look on you! Schedule your comprehensive eye exam and contact lens exam today! Have a current contact prescription? We keep several powers in stock! Do you have a high astigmatism prescription? Schedule your BioColors consultation today! |
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FAQs answered by the University of Iowa
Why can't I use my glasses prescription to get contact lenses?
There are a number of reasons why the glasses prescription cannot be used for contact lenses. Contact lenses classified by the FDA as a medical device and are therefore regulated differently than glasses. Because you are actually putting a contact lens on the surface of the eye, there are risks for infections, ulcers, and other complications that are not present with glasses.
When contact lenses are fitted to the eye, much more is taken into account than just the numbers from the glasses prescription. The curvature of the cornea (the clear tissue at the front of the eye that the contact lens sits on) is one important measurement that is taken. The diameter of the contact lens with respect to the diameter of the cornea is looked at as well. Position of the eyelids can affect contact lens choice. Additionally, health of the surface of the eye and the surrounding lids is taken into account.
People often notice that the contact lens prescription differs from the glasses prescription in the numbers. This is because glasses sit about 12 mm from the eye, and contact lenses sit right on the eye. In order to account for this distance between the glasses and the eye, a mathematical calculation is made to determine the appropriate contact lens power.
I have always wanted to change my eye color. What are my options with contact lenses?
The exciting thing about colored contact lenses is that you don't have to even need visual correction to wear these lenses! You can have great eyesight and still be fit with lenses. It is important to remember, though, that contact lenses are a medical device. Because of this, the fitting process for colored contact lenses is the same as non-tinted lenses. Measurements must be taken of the eye in order to determine the proper fit. Assessment of the fit of the lenses on the eye and the impact that could have on eye health must be evaluated. Once a good fit is achieved, then the fun with colors can begin! It is important to actually try on the colors in which you're interested because different colors have different appearances on each individual.
There are many colors available from a number of different lens manufacturers. Some of the colors include the more traditional blue, brown, green, and hazel. There are also colors like violet, honey, gray, and aqua. There are colored lenses available in spherical power lenses. (Please call our office to discuss the possibility of colored lenses for high astigmatism prescriptions.)
I have astigmatism. What exactly is that and can I wear contact lenses?
Astigmatism is typically a result of the cornea (the clear dome-shaped part that covers the colored part of the eye) being shaped more oblong like a football than round like a basketball. Because of this variation in curvature, when light enters the eye, it focuses in more than one place. To correct for this, we put two powers in the glasses or contact lenses in order to allow all the entering light to focus in one spot to give you the best, clearest vision possible. With today's technology, most people can successfully be fit into soft toric lenses or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses.
How would I know if I have an eye infection or a corneal ulcer?
Wearing contact lenses puts you at a higher risk for infections and ulcers. A good "rule of thumb" to keep in mind is the RSVP rule:
I wear bifocals or reading glasses - can I still wear contact lenses?
In most cases, yes! Around the age of 40, give or take, the focusing system of the eye becomes less flexible, a normal aging process called presbyopia. When this occurs, there are a number of contact lens options available to people interested in contact lenses
.
Some people prefer to have both eyes corrected for distance vision and have a pair of reading glasses to wear over the contact lenses in cases where clear near vision is needed. Another option some people are successful with is called monovision. Monovision is where one eye, typically the dominant eye, is corrected fully for distance, and the other eye is slightly undercorrected in order to see up close. Although the eyes arenít fully working together at all times, the brain learns to adapt, and many people very successfully wear monovision.
There are also bifocal contact lenses available. In general, these lenses provide patients with good vision most of the time, at most distances, and in most lighting conditions.
The process for fitting bifocal contact lenses can be time consuming because the fit of the lenses, the vision in the distance, and the vision up close all must be considered. If you and your doctor decide that this is the best option for you, be patient with lens changes because the final outcome will be worth it.
What is the best soft bifocal contact lens available on the market?
There is no one "best" soft bifocal contact lens. Different soft bifocals work differently for different people. There are a number of designs available, including lenses that have the distance portion in the center and lenses that have the reading portion in the center.
Your eye care practitioner will select the best option for you based on the measurements of your eyes and your specific visual demands. The fitting process may take several visits in order to find the lenses that work best for you.
I have diabetes. Can I still be a successful contact lens patient?
Diabetes has an effect on the eye, as it does the rest of the body. Most diabetics are familiar with the risk of diabetic retinopathy, complications inside the eye from the disease. It also affects the front surface of the eye, or the cornea. Patients with diabetes may notice dryness more often and more severely than non-diabetic patients.
In some patients, this dryness is not severe enough to prohibit contact lens wear. But dryness is only the initial concern. Diabetics tend to heal more slowly than individuals without diabetes. This is true for the eye as well as other tissues of the body. Contact lenses increase the risk of corneal ulcers and infections, both of which are of more concern to a diabetic patient due to the lengthened healing time.
This does not mean that individuals with diabetes canít wear contact lenses. Make sure to let your eye care provider know if you have diabetes as it may impact the choice of lenses or solutions. It is also important to remember to follow the wearing and care schedule your practitioner gives you in order to minimize the increased risk contact lenses have for patients with diabetes.
Sara Butterworth, O.D. and Christine Sindt, O.D. University of Iowa Hospital
Courtesy of uihealthcare.org
Why can't I use my glasses prescription to get contact lenses?
There are a number of reasons why the glasses prescription cannot be used for contact lenses. Contact lenses classified by the FDA as a medical device and are therefore regulated differently than glasses. Because you are actually putting a contact lens on the surface of the eye, there are risks for infections, ulcers, and other complications that are not present with glasses.
When contact lenses are fitted to the eye, much more is taken into account than just the numbers from the glasses prescription. The curvature of the cornea (the clear tissue at the front of the eye that the contact lens sits on) is one important measurement that is taken. The diameter of the contact lens with respect to the diameter of the cornea is looked at as well. Position of the eyelids can affect contact lens choice. Additionally, health of the surface of the eye and the surrounding lids is taken into account.
People often notice that the contact lens prescription differs from the glasses prescription in the numbers. This is because glasses sit about 12 mm from the eye, and contact lenses sit right on the eye. In order to account for this distance between the glasses and the eye, a mathematical calculation is made to determine the appropriate contact lens power.
I have always wanted to change my eye color. What are my options with contact lenses?
The exciting thing about colored contact lenses is that you don't have to even need visual correction to wear these lenses! You can have great eyesight and still be fit with lenses. It is important to remember, though, that contact lenses are a medical device. Because of this, the fitting process for colored contact lenses is the same as non-tinted lenses. Measurements must be taken of the eye in order to determine the proper fit. Assessment of the fit of the lenses on the eye and the impact that could have on eye health must be evaluated. Once a good fit is achieved, then the fun with colors can begin! It is important to actually try on the colors in which you're interested because different colors have different appearances on each individual.
There are many colors available from a number of different lens manufacturers. Some of the colors include the more traditional blue, brown, green, and hazel. There are also colors like violet, honey, gray, and aqua. There are colored lenses available in spherical power lenses. (Please call our office to discuss the possibility of colored lenses for high astigmatism prescriptions.)
I have astigmatism. What exactly is that and can I wear contact lenses?
Astigmatism is typically a result of the cornea (the clear dome-shaped part that covers the colored part of the eye) being shaped more oblong like a football than round like a basketball. Because of this variation in curvature, when light enters the eye, it focuses in more than one place. To correct for this, we put two powers in the glasses or contact lenses in order to allow all the entering light to focus in one spot to give you the best, clearest vision possible. With today's technology, most people can successfully be fit into soft toric lenses or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses.
How would I know if I have an eye infection or a corneal ulcer?
Wearing contact lenses puts you at a higher risk for infections and ulcers. A good "rule of thumb" to keep in mind is the RSVP rule:
- Redness -- can be one eye or both
- Secretions -- can be tearing, clear stringy mucous, yellow or green sticky mucous
- Vision changes -- typically mild to moderate decrease in vision or blurring
- Pain -- may be aching, sharp, dull, or just uncomfortable
I wear bifocals or reading glasses - can I still wear contact lenses?
In most cases, yes! Around the age of 40, give or take, the focusing system of the eye becomes less flexible, a normal aging process called presbyopia. When this occurs, there are a number of contact lens options available to people interested in contact lenses
.
Some people prefer to have both eyes corrected for distance vision and have a pair of reading glasses to wear over the contact lenses in cases where clear near vision is needed. Another option some people are successful with is called monovision. Monovision is where one eye, typically the dominant eye, is corrected fully for distance, and the other eye is slightly undercorrected in order to see up close. Although the eyes arenít fully working together at all times, the brain learns to adapt, and many people very successfully wear monovision.
There are also bifocal contact lenses available. In general, these lenses provide patients with good vision most of the time, at most distances, and in most lighting conditions.
The process for fitting bifocal contact lenses can be time consuming because the fit of the lenses, the vision in the distance, and the vision up close all must be considered. If you and your doctor decide that this is the best option for you, be patient with lens changes because the final outcome will be worth it.
What is the best soft bifocal contact lens available on the market?
There is no one "best" soft bifocal contact lens. Different soft bifocals work differently for different people. There are a number of designs available, including lenses that have the distance portion in the center and lenses that have the reading portion in the center.
Your eye care practitioner will select the best option for you based on the measurements of your eyes and your specific visual demands. The fitting process may take several visits in order to find the lenses that work best for you.
I have diabetes. Can I still be a successful contact lens patient?
Diabetes has an effect on the eye, as it does the rest of the body. Most diabetics are familiar with the risk of diabetic retinopathy, complications inside the eye from the disease. It also affects the front surface of the eye, or the cornea. Patients with diabetes may notice dryness more often and more severely than non-diabetic patients.
In some patients, this dryness is not severe enough to prohibit contact lens wear. But dryness is only the initial concern. Diabetics tend to heal more slowly than individuals without diabetes. This is true for the eye as well as other tissues of the body. Contact lenses increase the risk of corneal ulcers and infections, both of which are of more concern to a diabetic patient due to the lengthened healing time.
This does not mean that individuals with diabetes canít wear contact lenses. Make sure to let your eye care provider know if you have diabetes as it may impact the choice of lenses or solutions. It is also important to remember to follow the wearing and care schedule your practitioner gives you in order to minimize the increased risk contact lenses have for patients with diabetes.
Sara Butterworth, O.D. and Christine Sindt, O.D. University of Iowa Hospital
Courtesy of uihealthcare.org
A Word of Warning about Contacts (from the FDA)
What do I need to consider when buying contact lenses?
What do I need to consider when buying contact lenses?
- Is your contact lens prescription current? You should always have a current, valid prescription when you order contact lenses.
- If you have not had a check-up in the last one to two years, you may have problems with your eyes that you are not aware of, or your contact lenses may not correct your vision well. (See link below for Colorado specific information on Contact Lens prescription)
- The expiration date for your prescription is currently set by your state. Some require a one-year renewal, some a two-year renewal. If your state has not set a minimum expiration date, Federal regulation sets a one year date unless your eye care professional determines that there’s a medical reason for less than one year.
- From the Colorado Secretary of State website: An expiration date of one year from the issue date of the prescription, unless a shorter expiration date is warranted based on the medical judgment of the prescriber with respect to the ocular health of the patient.
- To be sure that your eyes remain healthy you should not order lenses with a prescription that has expired or stock up on lenses right before the prescription is about to expire. It’s safer to be re-checked by your eye care professional.
