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Soft contact lenses:
Rigid Gas Permeable for all prescriptions is also available.
Yes. A contact lens check doesn’t test for a range of health conditions that can only be detected at the back of your eyes. A contact lens check looks at the front surface of the eye and checks your vision with lenses in.
We also need to ensure that your prescription is up to date. Contact lens prescription are different from glasses prescriptions, as contact lenses sit on the surface of the eye whilst your glasses rest on your nose.
A contact lens prescription lasts for up to two years, but our optometrist will advise if you need to have more regular checks, depending on your individual eyes.
No, unless specifically told that you can by your eyecare practitioner. Sleeping in your lenses can be hazardous as it can lead to infection or damage to the cornea (front window of the eye).
It is important that you follow the advice of your practitioner. Not every solution will suit every patient, for the lenses they are wearing. If you do change your cleaning system for any reason, always inform your practitioner.
There are many kinds of contact lenses available now which will correct astigmatism, including daily disposable lenses, as well as other soft and gas permeable materials. Your practitioner may be able to fit you or may recommend a colleague if it is a specialist fitting.
No. There is a thin, transparent membrane which covers the inside of the eyelids and the outside of the eye. This forms a seal which prevents contact lenses – as well as grit, dust and other ‘foreign’ material – passing round to the back of the eye. It has been known for contact lenses to ‘hide’ beneath eyelids, but this is easily rectified.
Yes. Research has shown that many people who drop out from contact lenses can be successful with modern lenses. Lens technology is constantly evolving – ask us about the latest developments.
No. There are hundreds of different types of contact lenses and thousands of different fittings. Each lens type needs to be fitted to meet your individual requirements. Contact lenses are not interchangeable and you should never change your lens type or the way you wear your lenses without speaking to us first.
Yes, contact lenses have many advantages for sport because they provide all-round, natural vision, are more stable than spectacles and are not affected by rain, fog or reflections. They allow protective eyewear or sunglasses to be worn which means a lower risk of damage or injury. Soft contact lenses are generally the best choice for active sports as these tend to move less on the eye compared to rigid gas permeable lenses (RGP) and are less likely to be dislodged. For outdoor sports, your contact lenses can also incorporate protection from ultraviolet (UV) light.
It depends. If you are part of a contact lens scheme, the cost of your eye test and/or contact lens check is often included free. It is the advice of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) that contact lenses only be purchased and worn after a registered contact lens practitioner has undertaken an initial contact lens assessment, and issued you with a contact lens prescription. Buying contact lenses online from unregulated overseas websites may increase the risk of eye infections, corneal abrasion and even corneal ulcers.
Ask yourself these three questions when you wear your lenses:
If the answer to any of these questions is no, leave your lenses off and consult your contact lens practitioner immediately who will advise you what to do next.