Other lenses

Other contact lens variations include:
TORIC SOFT LENSES are a type of soft lens that corrects astigmatism.

CUSTOM DESIGN LENSES are specially made to fit the cornea exactly. They can either be soft or rigid.

ORTHO-K LENSES are specially designed to be worn whilst sleeping, and during this period your eye is gently moulded to a normal shape. On waking, they are removed and your vision is greatly improved, leaving you correction-free until late in the evening! More info.

CONTINUOUS WEAR LENSES represent a real alternative for anyone who wants clear round-the-clock vision, but may be reluctant to undergo laser eye surgery. They have been designed for up to 30 days continuous wear, before being disposed of and replaced with a fresh pair.

At a practical level this means no more of the ‘hassle’ associated with standard contact lenses (including cleaning and daily fitting), which makes them are a popular choice for anyone with a busy schedule. Of course laser eye surgery is another option, however it isn’t suitable for every condition, as it carries more potential complications.

Extended wear contact lenses aren’t new to the marketplace, but these new designs, are made with silicone hydrogel - a material which allows up to six times more oxygen to the cornea than standard lenses. This effectively means the eye can ‘breathe’ (even while sleeping), which makes the lenses both more comfortable, and much less likely to irritate the eye.

Over the past decade the technology behind extended wear contact lenses has been revolutionised, and manufacturers are keen to let everyone know that things have moved on substantially. They are suitable for both myopics and hypermetropics and patient’s with astigmatism.

BIFOCAL AND PROGRESSIVE LENSES Presbyopia tends to first affect people in their forties, when the ageing lens loses some of its elasticity. The result is that the eye has difficulty in switching easily between focussing on a near object (such as a restaurant menu) and a distant object (the waiter in the background). The only way to correct the problem is to provide the eye with two different prescriptions, either with a different strength lens in each eye (monovision contact lenses) or with simultaneous vision lenses.

Simultaneous vision lenses enable the eye to focus on near and distant objects at the same time by dividing the lens into two or more prescriptions, either gradually, as a series of concentric circles, or divided horizontally (as with traditional bifocals). It’s then left up to the eye to ‘learn’ which part of the lens to use at which distance, which it does remarkably quickly.

Monovision lenses typically take a little longer to get used to, but may be more effective for certain conditions. One of the main drawbacks of Monovision lenses is that, as each eye is focussing on a different depth, binocular depth perception can be affected, but it is often a simple, elegant solution to a complex issue.

Bifocal contacts are now available as hard rigid gas permeable lenses and soft lenses, including daily disposable lenses.