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Consider contacts!!

New technology in contact lens wear and care is making contacts the easiest and most efficient option for vision correction. There are new daily wear and disposable lenses, and contacts for those of us with astigmatism and other vision problems--patients once excluded from the benefits of lenswear. And if you've always secretly wanted to change those baby blues to gorgeous greens, contacts can provide that convenience as well.

Do you lead an active lifestyle?
As any athlete can testify, contacts are ideal for an active lifestyle. Many sports enthusiasts are finding that contact lenses are more practical than glasses because they offer improved depth perception and enhanced peripheral vision. Additionally, contact lenses won't steam up from perspiration, and they don't smudge or get foggy if you go from cold to warm temperatures.

Do you need bifocals or reading glasses?
Well put them on and read ahead -- there are many other options! When reading and close-up work start to become more difficult, it usually means that presbyopia -- "aging eyes" -- is setting in. Presbyopia is a natural occurrence that starts around the age of ten and affects nearly everybody by the age of 40. Ask your doctor about bifocal contact lenses --segmented lenses, simultaneous vision and monovision lenses-- and free yourself of "granny glasses".

Consider Contacts!

The flexibility and convenience that contact lenses provide are leading more and more people to contacts as science provides us with greater options in contact lens wear. And because there are so many options, it is important to discuss the matter fully with an eyecare professional, who will consider your overall vision problems, the health of your eyes, and your specific visual needs and motivations. So don't forget to ask your doctor about contact lenses; they may fit your lifestyle just right!

TYPES OF COLORED CONTACT LENSES

• Opaque lenses -- Opaque lenses have a colored ring that covers the iris. Light passes through a clear hole in the center (for the pupil) that you see through. Since this hole stays the same size and your pupil changes depending on the light source, it is important to ask your doctor if these are right for your visual needs. Many of the dramatic, patterned lenses are opaque.

• Medium tints -- These lenses are used to enhance natural eye color, so they work best on lighter colored eyes. Sometimes it is difficult to notice the change if a tinted medium lens is placed on a darkly pigmented eye.

• Soft colored lenses vs. RGP colored lenses -- Soft colored lenses cover the iris while RGPs tend to be slightly smaller than the iris making the color change less complete.

• Tinted lenses for handling-- These lenses are slightly tinted so they are more visible if dropped or misplaced. The tint does not effect eye color or vision.

blue lenses	green lenses	violet lenses

NON-CORRECTING COLORED CONTACT LENSES

You don’t have to have vision problems to wear colored contacts. Some people simply want to change their eye color. It is essential, however, that contact lenses be professionally prescribed and fitted. Contact lenses are an FDA-regulated medical device.

Contact lenses that don't fit correctly or are used by more than one individual can cause serious eye infections, sometimes resulting in permanent eye damage, or worse.

Colored contacts have become so popular that people have been trading lenses among themselves, particularly in the teenage population. This can be extremely unsanitary and dangerous to one’s eyesight.