Our eyes are as unique as our fingerprints, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to contact lenses. Comprehensive eye exams, contact lens exams, and contact lens fittings are all important parts of the contact lens process.

Improperly fitted contact lenses can cause discomfort and pose a safety hazard. They can compromise the clarity of your vision and even damage your corneas.

Want to know if contact lenses are a good choice for you? Request your contact lens exam and fitting appointment today.

Finding the Right Contact Lenses for You

During your contact lens exam, we will ensure that your medical history is up to date and examine your eyes. The exam allows us to determine if you have any eye conditions that could affect your ability to wear contact lenses. If we determine that contact lenses are a suitable option for you, we will verify your contact lens prescription and move on to the contact lens fitting.

Please note that your contact lens prescription is not the same as your eyeglasses prescription.

Now that we know contact lenses are a good choice for you, we will measure your eyes. Accurate measurements ensure that the contact lenses we prescribe are suitable for you based on your corneas’ size and shape.

Contact lenses come in a variety of diameters and curvatures, so it is essential that we find the right fit and style for you. This will ensure that your vision is clear, and your eyes remain healthy and comfortable.

At La Paz Optometric Center, we use a variety of different instruments to measure your eyes, including corneal topography, digital refraction, and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Once we have determined which style of contact lens is right for you, we will send you home with a trial pair in your contact lens prescription. This allows you to test out your new contact lenses, make sure that they are comfortable, and provide you with clear vision before we order you a supply.

We will meet with you again a week or two later to determine if you are satisfied with your lenses and confirm your eyes are adapting accordingly. If you are happy, we will provide you with a copy of your contact lens prescription and order a supply of lenses for you.

If the trial pair is not working out exactly as we’d hoped, we will try different styles, brands, and powers until we find a pair that provides you with clear and comfortable vision.

Specialty Lenses Available at La Paz Optometric Center

La Paz Optometric Center offers a wide variety of specialty contact lenses to suit your unique needs.

Scleral contact lenses are made of a rigid, gas-permeable material and vault over your entire cornea, resting gently on the white of your eye (the sclera). Scleral contact lenses are typically prescribed to individuals with irregularly shaped corneas, including individuals with astigmatism or keratoconus. Patients who have recently undergone corneal transplants may also be prescribed scleral lenses to act as a bandage and help them see clearly, while the cornea heals.

Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) or orthokeratology contact lenses (also called Ortho-K contact lenses) are rigid, gas-permeable lenses that are worn overnight. As you sleep, the lenses gradually reshape your cornea to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, providing you with clear vision the next day, without corrective eyewear. This change is temporary, so if you stop wearing your lenses, your eyes will revert back to their original prescription.

Multifocal Contact Lenses feature two or more prescriptions on the same lens and are typically prescribed to individuals with presbyopia. Presbyopia is a common condition that occurs naturally as we age and affects our ability to focus clearly on near objects. Multifocal contact lenses are similar to multifocal glasses, and allow you to see both distant and near objects clearly without needing to switch between different glasses or contact lenses. They either use concentric rings of distance and near powers or may be aspheric with a smooth transition between prescriptions.

Toric contact lenses are specifically designed for patients with astigmatism. While standard spherical lenses typically only feature one prescription toric contact lenses have different prescriptions along the horizontal and vertical axes. However, this means that the lenses must be orientated a certain way to provide clear vision. Toric lenses are weighted to prevent rotation throughout the day, providing you with clear vision.

Hybrid contact lenses feature a rigid, gas-permeable central zone surrounded by a soft zone made of hydrogel or silicone hydrogel material. This allows you to experience both the sharp vision of rigid lenses and the comfort of soft lenses.

Hybrid lenses are particularly popular amongst athletes since the larger diameter and thin edges mean they are less likely to be dislodged during sports and other high energy activities.

Are you considering switching to contact lenses or trying something new? Request your contact lens exam and fitting today.