Contacts

Charleston Eye in Charleston offers many options for contact lenses.

There are a number of reasons why you might prefer contact lenses to standard eyewear: a glasses-free look, hassle-free vision correction, wearing non-prescription sunwear and goggles, or the convenience of not having to worry about misplacing your glasses. If you have a high prescription or astigmatism, contact lenses may provide more enhanced vision correction than glasses. Today, you can even replace your bifocal glasses with bifocal contact lenses.

Dr. Smouse can recommend the best contact lenses for you based on a complete eye examination and a review of your visual needs both at work and play. Since most people can wear more than one type of lens, it’s important to know what the choices are and the advantages and disadvantages to each.

Soft Lenses

Soft lenses are the most common type of contact lenses available today. They are comfortable to wear and must be replaced monthly, weekly or daily depending on the type. Soft lenses are often recommended for sports because they fit closer to the eye and are more difficult to dislodge. They can provide correction for most prescriptions including astigmatism. Today, with the introduction of newer materials like silicone hydrogels, which allow more oxygen to the eye, patients find it easier than ever to wear soft lenses comfortably.

Rigid Gas-Permeable (RGP) Lenses

Made of moderately flexible plastics, RGP lenses offer sharp vision and correct most vision problems. They are more durable than soft contact lenses and can be easier to handle and care for but require a longer adaptation period and consistent wear to maintain adaptation.

Multifocal Lenses

In both soft and RGP designs, multifocal lenses offer patients both distance and near vision correction similar to progressive glasses. These lenses use concentric rings of differing powers allowing the wearer to see distance and near simultaneously.

Color Contact Lenses

Enhance your eye color or even change it completely. Colored contact lenses are fun and come in a variety of colors for both light and dark eyes. Air Optix has recently released a color contact lens and has a virtual studio located at www.airoptix.com where you can upload a photo of yourself and try on the color choices. Check it out and let us know if you are interested in these lenses.