Contact Lens Exams and Options at Andrew Stone Optometry
Contact lenses can be a great vision correction option for many people who either don't like glasses or engage in physical activities that make glasses problematic. But one contact lens does not fit all needs, and modern optometry provides a wealth of different types of lenses to choose from. Here at Andrew Stone Optometry, we can provide the necessary contact lens exams and options to help you make that choice.
The Contact Lens Exam
It might surprise you to learn that you need a separate exam above and beyond standard vision testing if you want contact lenses. While the vision testing can help us determine your corrective lens prescription, we still need to collect precise data about the eye structure. Our optometrist, Dr. Stone, will measure your iris and pupil diameters to make sure the contact lenses you receive are sized perfectly.
We must also measure the contours and curvature of the corneal to ensure a safe, comfortable fit and proper vision correction. A technique called keratometry can give us a basic idea of the curvature by sampling one pat of the cornea. But for exact measurements of the entire cornea, including any tiny pits or other irregularities found in conditions such as astigmatism, we need to use a technique called digital topography. Digital topography employs computerized 3-D mapping to obtain detailed information on your corneal contours.
Contact Lenses Available from Our Columbia MO Optometrist
Even after taking detailed eye measurements, we still need to evaluate your eye health and lifestyle before pointing you toward a specific type of contact lens. If you have dry eye syndrome, for instance, you might need lenses made of a special material called hydrogel that retains eye moisture. If you suffer from an eyelid irritation called giant papillary conjunctivitis, you may be better off with single-use disposable lenses (instead of extended-wear lenses, which tend to collect the proteins that cause irritation). Other contact lens options to consider include:
- Toric lenses - Toric lenses don't rotate on the cornea when you blink. This makes them an excellent choice for correcting astigmatism.
- Multifocal lenses - If you have presbyopia, multifocal lenses serve as the equivalent of bifocal or trifocal glasses, correcting near, intermediate and distance vision.
- Rigid gas permeable lenses - These lenses are firmer than ordinary soft lenses, but they still transfer oxygen to the eyes. They're the best choice for strong prescriptions.
- Scleral lenses - Scleral lenses vault completely over the cornea.This makes them useful for correcting severe corneal deformations such as ketaroconus (a cone-like bulging of the cornea).
Take Advantage of Our Contact Lens Expertise
Now that you understand the range and depth of our contact lens expertise here at Andrew Stone Optometry, why not put it to work for you? Call (573) 445-7750 today to schedule a contact lens exam and discuss the various options with our Columbia MO optometrist!
