CONTACT LENSES
Technological advances over the years have made it easy for almost everyone to enjoy the freedom of contact lenses.
Contacts touch the sensitive ocular tissue. To minimise complications, lenses must be fitted and prescribed accurately, handled and worn appropriately and maintained (cleaned and disposed of) as instructed.
WITH OUR OPTOMETRISTS
INITIAL CONSULTATION:
Assessment of your eye health, vision and measurements of your prescription.
FITTING:
Our optometrist will ask questions about your lifestyle to ensure that you are getting a lens that provides clarity,comfort and optimal cornea health. We then select the most suitable contact lens type for your needs and assess the way the lenses fit on the eye.
DELIVERY:
Training in insertion and removal of lenses, giving advice and cleaning of lenses.
AFTERCARE:
Assessment of the performance of the lenses, the response of your eyes to the lenses and addressing any issues that may arise. Aftercare appointment should be every 12 months to ensure the ongoing health of your eyes.
Medicare bulk billing may apply for high prescriptions. If you do not qualify for medicare, private consultation fees will apply.
TYPES OF CONTACT LENSES
SOFT CONTACT LENSES:
The most common contact lens option, made of soft thin plastic. The newest material available is called silicone hydrogel and allows superior oxygen flow into the eye for maximal health.
DAILY DISPOSABLE:
Daily disposable are thrown out at the end of the day. It is the most hygienic option because they are regularly replaced.
FORTNIGHTLY DISPOSABLE:
Fortnightly lenses are thrown out after 14 wears. They need to be Taken out and cleaned every night.
MONTHLY DISPOSABLE:
Monthly disposable lenses are thrown out after 30 wears. These are made of silicon hydrogel, a material which allows better oxygen permeability for overnight wear in consultation with your optometrist.
RIGID CONTACT LENSES (RGP):
RGP lenses are made of rigid plastic. They are smaller than soft contact lenses. Suitable for people with high prescriptions, keratoconus and corneal grafts.
TORIC CONTACT LENSES:
These lenses are specifically designed for people with astigmatism. They are available in daily, fortnightly and monthly lenses.
MULTIFOCAL CONTACT LENSES:
These lenses are specifically designed for people aged 40+. Focusing at close objects becomes increasingly harder with age, this is normal age related process called presbyopia.
Multifocal contact lenses provides clear vision for long distance as well as close up. They are available in daily and monthly lenses.
COLOURED CONTACT LENSES:
Coloured contact lenses are a good way to change, enhance or illuminate your natural eye colour. They are available in prescription and non-prescription and can be daily or fortnightly lenses.
ORTHO-K
Orthokeratology is the use of contact lenses to remould the shape of the cornea (the front surface of the eye) to reduce or correct myopia (short-sightedness) as well as astigmatism (irregular shape of the cornea).
In many ways it is similar to using braces to straighten teeth, although whilst teeth usually hold their corrected position, the cornea will always return to its original shape once the moulding forces have been removed. Thus, retainer lenses are required after the ideal corneal shape has been achieved and are typically worn 2 to 5 nights per week.
Orthokeratology allows those normally requiring glasses to be free of both spectacles and contact lenses for most of their waking hours. This is ideal for those participating in contact sports, swimmers and those working in dusty or dirty environments. Many benefit from being free from optical aids during the day, enabling greater freedom to pursue activities without hindrance.