At Alderwood Optical and Canyon Park Vision Clinic, we are committed to helping you see better through our high-quality vision correction services. Many patients prefer contact lenses to other corrective eyewear options because of the distinct functions and benefits contacts provide. We offer different types of contact lenses to address specific visual acuity needs. Read on as your reliable eye doctor discusses each type.
Gas-Permeable Contact Lenses
Originally, contact lenses were made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a rigid material. While these contacts provided exceptional optics, they did not allow oxygen to pass through. This caused visual discomfort, eye irritations, and even corneal abrasions in some patients.
To counteract these problems, gas-permeable (GP) contact lenses were developed in the 1970s. Like PMMA lenses, they are made of durable plastic, but they allow gas penetration to give you better visual comfort and clarity.
Scleral Contact Lenses
With diameters ranging from 14.5 mm to 24 mm, scleral contact lenses are larger than regular contacts. Your expert eye doctor explains that this wide surface area enables scleral lenses to cover your entire cornea, making them an ideal treatment option for patients with keratoconus and other corneal irregularities like scars etc.
Hybrid Contact Lenses
Hybrid contact lenses have a gas-permiable (GP) material in the middle and a soft outer skirt. These lenses are ideal for patients that prefer the comfort of a soft contact lens but the vision of a GP lens.
Toric Contact Lenses
Astigmatism is a condition that results from having an irregularly shaped cornea and hinders both near- and far-range vision. Your trusted eye doctor may prescribe toric contact lenses to correct this refractive error. Toric lenses feature a unique sliced donut design, which compensates for your eyes’ structural infirmities, allowing you to see clearly at varying distances.
Bifocal and Multifocal Contact Lenses
Bifocal and multifocal contact lenses contain several prescriptions in a single lens, ensuring your near- and far-range viewing ease. Patients with presbyopia, an age-related vision condition that impairs close-range vision, often benefit from this option.
To learn more about our contact lenses, call us at (425) 771-8472 for Alderwood Optical or (425) 485-0430 for Canyon Park Vision Clinic. We serve patients from areas like Redmond and Kirkland, WA. as well.