Contacts Specialist

What are the benefits of contacts?

Contacts give you the freedom to participate in activities such as sports where eyeglasses aren’t always the most practical choice. Some of the biggest benefits of wearing contacts include correcting vision problems that include:

• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Presbyopia (blurry close-up vision as a result of aging)
• Astigmatism (blurred vision far away and up close)

Since contacts sit directly on your eye, they provide a wider field of vision than glasses, and there’s no risk of breaking them while you’re exercising or participating in a leisure activity, like sports or dancing for example. Contacts don’t fog up like your glasses often do in changing temperatures, either.

Contact lenses give you the freedom of seeing clearly without the worry that they might not look good with the outfit you’re wearing, such as a formal occasion where you don’t want the inconvenience of glasses. Contacts are often so comfortable that you forget you’re wearing them, and you’re able to see naturally in nearly any situation.

What types of contacts can I choose from?

Depending on your individual prescription, lifestyle, and eyes, your physician at Whitson Vision can recommend a few types of contacts for you to choose from. After a thorough eye exam in which your physician evaluates your eye health and measures your eyes for contacts, she suggests the options that will deliver the best vision correction, comfort, and ease of maintenance.

Common types of contact lens options include:

• Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses
• Daily, weekly, or monthly soft, disposable lenses
• Extended-wear soft or RGP lenses
• Toric lenses to correct astigmatism
• Multifocal contacts
• Colored lenses to change the color of your eyes

Contacts are a personal decision, and you can generally try out a few different types before you decide which ones are your favorite in terms of providing clear vision and comfort, as well as ease of maintenance. The team at Whitson Vision orders trial pairs so you can wear them for a few weeks before you come back for a follow-up visit.

Should I still have glasses if I get contacts?

Yes, you should always have a backup pair of glasses just in case you lose your contacts, don't have enough to make it to a refill, or in the event of an eye infection.

Another reason could be that you might choose to wear glasses at work because you see the computer screen best with your glasses prescription, but you may opt for contacts when at the gym or going out for a special occasion.

As long as your eyes are in good health and you’re a candidate for contacts, your physician can write prescriptions for both contacts and glasses so you have the latest in custom-fit eyewear for every occasion.

Call Whitson Vision today to learn more about contact lenses.