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Toric Contact Lenses

Sep 15
Posted by Billy Cartwright in Contact Lenses

If you have astigmatism you probably wear toric contact lenses.  Toric contact lenses are specially made to correct for astigmatism.   Astigmatism is caused when the cornea is oblong shaped instead of perfectly round.

To correct the vision problems caused by astigmatism you must wear toric contact lenses, which are specially shaped to offset the the effects of an oblong cornea.  These contacts must be inserted in a certain way.   As such, toric contacts have tiny little marks on them so that you can be sure you are  inserting them properly.  Many toric contact lenses can auto-correct themselves if they are inserted incorrectly.  They are beveled in just a way that they will automatically adjust themselves to the right positioning within about 20 minutes after insertion.

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Types of Contact Lenses

Sep 12
Posted by Billy Cartwright in Contact Lenses, Cosmetic Contact Lenses, Costume Contact Lenses

There are two main types of contact lenses and we’re about to break them down for you.

Cosmetic Contact Lenses

Cosmetic contact lenses are designed to change the appearance of the eye.   This can be a subtle change, such as changing your brown eyes blue, or it can be a drastic change, such as making your eyes look like they have fireballs in them.   Cosmetic contacts can be obtain with or without a vision correction, but it is important to note that even if you want cosmetic contact lenses with NO vision correction (plano) you STILL need a prescription from a doctor to purchase them.  So, if you’re thinking about getting yourself some nice and scary costume contacts for Halloween, don’t forget to visit your doctor first.

Corrective Contact Lenses

These are the most common type of contact lenses.  Corrective contact lenses are meant to improve vision.  Corrective contact lenses may also be cosmetic contact lenses, but they don’t have to be.   Contacts for vision correction are great for a few reasons:  1) They improve vision, 2) They allow you to wear normal sunglasses, 3) They are discreet, 4) They are affordable and can be easily maintained.

With both corrective and cosmetic contacts it is very important to follow proper care and cleaning protocols.  Contacts go directly on the surface of your cornea, so you definitely want to be sure your contacts are clean before inserting them.   The last thing you want is to develop a corneal infection because you didn’t clean your contacts properly.

For information on contact lenses bookmark us and check back often!   Thanks for visiting!

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Contact Lenses – Some History

Sep 11
Posted by Billy Cartwright in Contact Lenses

Believe it or not, contact lenses have a pretty long and interesting  history.   Leonardo Da Vinci has even been credited with the first conception of contact lenses in  his 1508 Codex of the Eye, Manual D where he mentions altering the power of the cornea by submerging the eye in a bowl of water.   But some argue that he was not proposing this mehtod for correcting vision, only for learning a bit more of how the eye worked.

In 1887, German ophthalmologist Adolf Gaston Eugen Fick made the first official contact lens that was able to be fitted directly onto the surface of the eye.   And get this…it was made out of blown glass!  You definitely wouldn’t want to get into a fight while wearing those contact lenses!   His first test subjects for these contact lenses were rabbits.  However, since rabbits eat so many carrots they didn’t real need vision correction, so he then experimented on himself. and a small group of volunteers.  Can you imagine that call for volunteers?   Hey, I need a bunch of people who well let me shove blow glass in their eyes!   These blown glass contact lenses actually fit over the entire surface of the visible eye…whites and all!

It wasn’t until 1949 that the corneal contact lens was invented.   Instead of covering the entire eye, these contacts only covered the cornea.   This is when contacts evolved into a form more recognizable to us today.  With some refinement, these contacts became very popular through the 1960′s.

As you might imagine, these early contacts were pretty fragile.   But in 1971 the United States FDA approved “Soflens” material which allowed contacts to be made soft and flexibly, thereby extended their life pan and usability.

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Halloween Contact Lenses

Sep 10
Posted by Billy Cartwright in Contact Lenses, Costume Contact Lenses, Halloween Contact Lenses

Halloween is coming up so you better get ready!   A perfect addition to any costume is some nice and freaky costume contact lenses.   There are a few companies out there who make them.  One of the most popular is Wild Eyes.  They offer a wide variety of crazy looking contact lenses.  A new player in the costume contact lenses game is Gothika.  These guys actually made contacts for the Twilight movies!

One thing to keep in mind is that – at least in the United States – costume contact lenses are considered medical devices by the FDA.   Therefore, even though your costume contacts may not be used for vision correction, you still need to get a prescription from an eye doctor before you can purchase them.  It is good that you know this NOW before you go shopping so that you aren’t disappointed.

As with any pair of contacts, you should take care of them carefully.  Make sure you clean them before and after you wear them, and don’t wear them for prolonged periods of time.  No matter how wild and crazy your Halloween party might get, don’t forget to remove your costume contacts before going to bed!

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