Contact Lenses
Soft Contact Lenses
Soft contact lenses are made from flexible water containing materials that drape over the cornea. They are comfortable almost immediately, suit most prescriptions including astigmatism, and are replaced daily, fortnightly or monthly.
Soft lenses are what most people mean by contact lenses. They are comfortable from the first insertion because the material is flexible and conforms to the eye, and adaptation takes hours rather than the days a rigid lens requires.
The material matters more than most wearers realise. Silicone hydrogel, now standard in better lenses, transmits substantially more oxygen to the cornea than the older hydrogel materials, which makes longer wearing days considerably healthier for the eye. In a dry climate that oxygen transmission and the lens water content interact in ways that make material choice genuinely consequential.
They also suit sport well, because they are larger than the cornea and sit more securely than a rigid lens, making them much harder to dislodge.
What is included
- Fitting and lens material selection
- Trial lenses before committing to a supply
- 30 day unlimited warranty on lenses purchased
- Starter kit for new wearers
- Handling training and follow up
What this does not do
- Soft lenses correct less irregularity than rigid designs, so they are not the answer for keratoconus.
- They hold less oxygen than rigid lenses, so wearing times need respecting.
- Monthly lenses require consistent cleaning discipline that dailies do not.
Questions and answers
Daily or monthly?
Dailies are more hygienic, need no cleaning solution, and suit allergy sufferers and occasional wearers well. Monthlies work out cheaper for daily full time wear and offer a wider range of specialist designs. The decision usually comes down to how often you wear them.
Can I sleep in soft lenses?
Not unless they are specifically approved for extended wear and your optometrist has agreed to it. Sleeping in a lens not designed for it substantially raises infection risk.
Do they correct astigmatism?
Yes, with toric designs. These are weighted to stay rotationally stable so the correction stays aligned as you blink and move.
What if they feel dry by the afternoon?
Say so at your follow up. It usually means the material, the replacement schedule or the wearing time needs adjusting, or that an underlying dry eye needs addressing. It is not something to put up with.
Talk to someone about soft contact lenses
Appointments are scheduled two per hour, so there is time to answer questions properly. Call (480) 706-3937 or request a time online.