Popular because of their supple nature, soft disposable contacts have become the lens modality of choice for many patients. When fit by a competent eye doctor, soft disposable contact lenses provide excellent comfort and are available in most prescriptions for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and bifocals. Contacts are also available to change the color or the eye to a wide variety of colors. Made of special water absorbing plastics, soft disposable contacts interfere very little with the normal “breathing” process of your cornea. This is important from an eye health standpoint because the cornea is the only external tissue in your body that must derive its oxygen supply from the atmosphere.

Soft lenses are larger than gas permeables contact lenses

Soft disposable contacts are similar to the old conventional soft contact lenses, except technology enables them to be manufactured at a fraction of the cost. By discarding the contacts on a regular, planned time period, infections and other wearing complications occur with less frequency. There are some cases that still require a conventional soft contact lens, but the vast majority of patients are fit with these disposables.

There are contact lenses approved for continuous, overnight wear. We discourage patients from sleeping in their contacts regularly overnight. We feel this wearing schedule is more prone to eye infections. We will discuss you individual situation at the time of your exam.


Types of Soft and Soft disposable Contact Lenses

  • Standard Single Vision Contact Lenses (2 wk to 1 month replacement)
  • Higher Oxygen Contact Lenses for dryer eyes
  • Toric Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
  • Vastly improved over previous contact lenses for correcting those patients with an astigmatism
  • Multifocal (Bifocal) Contact Lenses, these work very well for many patients over 40
  • Extended Wear Contact Lenses (for overnight wear)
  • Tinted Contact Lenses (wide array of lenses to change eye color)
  • Daily Disposable Contacts - These work for those who have a lot of allergies, or who only wear lenses part time, or who have very dry eyes.
Examples of different colored tinted contact lenses
 

Professional Fitting is Required
The fitting properties of a lens are determined by several factors including lens curvature, diameter and power.  The all important factor is that the contacts must fit well enough to center properly but not so tight as to prevent an adequate oxygen supply to the cornea. At Skowron Eyecare, we take photographs (corneal topography) of the eye to give us the exact curve of the cornea. We perform tear testing to ensure you have sufficient tears to support a contact lens.

Dr. Carr giving his advice on contact lenses

NOT ALL CONTACTS ARE THE SAME
There are many different brands or designs of Disposable contact lenses, each manufacturer claiming to be better than the next, and each doing their best to ensure that their lens is the lens that is chosen. Considerable professional judgment is required for proper contact lens fitting and related follow-up eye care.  Frequently, a contact lens must be worn several weeks to determine if the oxygen supply is sufficient and the eye is adapting properly. 

We only care about YOU!
At Skowron Eyecare, we have no allegiance with any manufacturer, and are not influenced by our choice of lens by any financial incentives proposed by the manufacturers.  It will be our professional judgement to determine which lens will be the safest for your eye, and provide you the best vision.

You'll Learn Proper Care And Handling
In addition to the initial fitting, we will give you thorough instructions on lens care and handling. This is something patients are frequently concerned about, but is easily mastered with a little practice.  The cleaning procedures are simple and will be explained and demonstrated during an instruction session with one of our staff members. We recommend Optifree Express by Alcon, ReNu by Bausch and Lomb, Clear Care by Ciba Vision, and Complete by Allergan. If by some reason, you need additional help, we will keep rescheduling additional instruction sessions at no additional charge until everyone feels comfortable and competent.

Dr. Streiff giving a patient a sample of a different type of contact lens solution, because during her follow up visit, it was determined the patient was allergic to her current brand.

Follow-up Care is The Key to Long Term Success
We also provide the most important ingredient for long term success with contact lenses--on-going professional care.  Like any medical device, contact lenses must be monitored on a regular basis.  This is to ensure that your corneas are healthy and the lenses are fitting properly. The number of follow-up visits may vary due to the complexity of the case.

Notice the bumps (dots) on the surface of this soft contact lens.This is from a patient not replacing their lenses in a timely manner. Ultimately, they will end up with an eye infection. That is why follow up care is so important to safe, healthy contact lens wear.

Photo taken by Skowron Eye Care (SEC)

OFFICE PROCEDURE FOR FITTING DISPOSABLE CONTACT LENSES:

EXAMINATION DAY
Eye/Health Examination

HISTORY
Thorough case history to rule out any pre-existing conditions that prohibit wearing lenses, such as allergies, sinusconditions, medications, and work or home environment (dryness, dust etc).

Amber performing autorefraction
 
Dr. John evaluating a contact lens fit

AUTOREFRACTION

  • Computer verifies your prescription so we can provide you with the clearest vision possible.
  • Also minimizes and in some cases eliminates the need to ask:“which is better, one or two?”

SLIT LAMP EVALUATION (microscope)

  • Document and monitor any existing conditions that would prevent successful wear
  • Enables us to monitor unwanted growth of blood vessels
  • To check for any corneal inflammation

TEAR EVALUATION
Tear testing to ensure the proper quality and quantity of tears are available to provide comfortable lens wear.

CORNEAL TOPOGRAPHY (photos/mapping of the front of the eye)

  • One of our higher tech instruments that maps out the shape of the eye
  • Enables us to accurately design the shape, size, and curvature of the contact lens
  • Determines proper fitting alignment
  • Detects any unwanted distortions or warpage, which would indicate a needed contact lens change.
 
Carol performing Corneal Topography
Dr. Skowron explaining the responsibilities needed for safe, healthy contact lens wear.



CONSULTATION
After compiling all the data, we will discuss:

  • All your contact lens options
  • What your chances of success may be
  • What your expectations should be
  • After being thoroughly informed, WE will make the decision together, whether contact lenses are the option you would wish to pursue.



Kathy giving instructions on contact lens insertion

 


INSTRUCTION DAY
30-45 Individual session to instruct you on:

  • Insertion and removal
  • Wearing schedule (we start with a few hours a day and gradually increase)
  • Care of your contact lenses (how and what types of solution to use)
  • Follow up evaluation scheduled in one week





What to Expect from
Soft Disposable Contact Lenses

Comfort - At first there will be a slight sensation….almost like a tickle  Soft contact lenses become barely noticeable after a few days. If they remain noticable, then there needs to be a change in your regimen. That will be addressed at your follow-up visits.

Vision - Regular disposable soft lenses should provide almost immediate clear vision. Toric lenses that correct for astigmatism, and bifocal lenses may take a couple of weeks or so to fully clear.  Excessive close work, may cause the lenses to blur more, as they may dry out due to a patients lowered blink rate while reading or working on the computer.

Four Elements Necessary
For Successful Contact Lens Wear:

  1. Motivation
    Your desire to wear the lenses and your willingness to go through the normal adaptation period.  This includes adjusting to not wearing glasses, as well as adapting to contact lenses.
  2. The Right Type Eyes for your Contact Lenses
    Naturally, your eyes must have the proper  physical characteristics in terms of corneal curvature and lens prescription.  All patients are carefully evaluated before contact lenses  are recommended.
  3. A Good Fit
    Simply put, a good fit is dependent on the clinical expertise of your eye doctor.

    CORNEAL WARPAGE FROM A POORLY FITTING CONTACT LENS
     
    Notice the clear rings on the cornea on the left vs. the out of round or warped rings on the right from a poorly fitting lens

    Photos taken by Skowron Eye Care (SEC)

  4. Your Cooperation
    You must adhere to the prescribed wearing schedules, lens handling techniques, and cleaning procedures.

MAKEUP TIPS FOR CONTACT LENS WEARERS

Contact lens wear can be hindered by many factors, including one that is often overlooked – eye makeup.  Here are a few tips that can lead to more successful contact lens wear.

  • Avoid hair spays and spray deodorant as the spray may go into your eyes.
  • Use only water based mascara and eye makeup remover labeled hypoallergenic or for sensitive eyes.  Avoid waterproof mascara as it contains mineral spirits and petroleum distillates which are irritating.
  • The safest eye shadow is a cream product, since the creams do not create particle fallout like powdered shadows.
  • Put your contacts in before applying cosmetics to avoid picking up makeup residue.
  • Eyeliner must not be applied to the inner eyelid margins as it can cause pore blockage.  Soft crayon-type pencil liners are less apt to cause flaking than liquids.
  • Use of the proper eye makeup remover is critical.  A water-based product will help avoid the accumulation of grease around the eye and do an excellent job of thoroughly removing water-based mascara.
  • See our complete section on make-up tips for contact lens wearers.

TIPS ON WHY YOUR SOFT CONTACT LENSES TEAR

If your contact lenses tear in the middle or just when you take them out, chances are you damaged the lens with your fingernail when you took the lens out of the case or blister pack. It might be just a partial tear and will not fully tear for a few days.

  • Try spilling the solution out of the case and very gently, try grabbing the edge of the lens. Even very slight pressure from your fingernails can tear a lens. The contacts can be stretched, but are very weak to any perpendicular object, almost like a knife going through soft butter.

If your contacts tear on the edge, chances are you are getting the contact lenses caught in the case when closing.

  • Try putting the contact in the case irst, and then filling the case to the point where the lens is submerged. Don't fill the case up to the top.

Of course, there is always the possibility of getting a bad batch. If you are having problems, please call the office and we will do whatever it takes to remedy the problem.

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