Navigating Specialty Contact Lens Fittings

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Specialty contact lenses, such as scleral and hybrid designs, provide clear and comfortable vision for patients with irregular corneas or high refractive errors. These lenses are custom-engineered to vault over the sensitive corneal surface, resting on the white of the eye (the sclera) for maximum stability. This clinical solution is essential for patients who cannot achieve adequate vision with standard soft lenses or glasses.

Patients with conditions such as keratoconus, corneal scarring, or severe dry eye often experience “ghosting” or distorted vision. Because a scleral lens creates a perfectly smooth new surface for the eye, it masks the underlying irregularities of the cornea. The space between the lens and the eye is filled with a sterile saline solution, which keeps the cornea hydrated and comfortable throughout the day.

The fitting process at our  office utilizes advanced corneal topography to map the unique curvature of your eye. Unlike mass-produced lenses, specialty contacts are a bespoke medical device tailored to your specific anatomy. Whether you have had previous eye surgery or are managing a complex corneal disease, specialty lenses can often restore vision to a level that was previously thought impossible.

How Often Should You Replace Your Contact Lenses?

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Wearing contact lenses is a great way to make sure you can see clearly in your day-to-day life. But it’s important to keep up with a replacement schedule for your contacts, depending on the type you have. At Vision Source Family Eye Care, our eye doctors in Brunswick, St. Marys, and Jesup, GA, provide helpful info on when it may be time to replace your contacts.

Has Your Vision Changed?

No matter what type of lenses you have, you’ll need to replace them if your prescription changes. If your vision has become worse, we’ll recommend getting new contacts with the updated prescription.

What Type of Contacts Do You Have?

We offer different types of contact lenses in St. Marys, Jesup, and Brunswick, GA, for different situations. The replacement schedule for these varies based on type.

Rigid Gas-Permeable Lenses

You can wear these contacts every day until your prescription changes or they need to be replaced for other reasons, such as damage or wear and tear.

Soft Contact Lenses

You may be able to keep using these daily for a set period of time, such as monthly or weekly, before replacing them. With regular care, some can be used for months or years.

Daily Disposable Contacts

You replace these with a new pair every day. But how often you need to get new sets depends on how many are included and other factors.

Make an Appointment for New or Replacement Contact Lenses

Do you need new or updated contact lenses? We can help! Our eye doctors at Vision Source Family Eye Care offer contact lenses in Jesup, Brunswick, and St. Marys, GA, to correct your vision. Whether you wear gas-permeable lenses or daily disposable contacts, we can make sure you have the lenses you need.

Soft vs. Gas-Permeable Contact Lenses for Improving Your Vision 

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Do you want to switch from eyeglasses to contact lenses? Our eye doctors in Brunswick, St. Marys, and Jesup, GA, offer different types of contacts at Vision Source Family Eye Care. Here’s a better look at how two of the more common types, soft and gas-permeable, compare.

Comfort

Soft lenses are flexible, while gas-permeable lenses are more rigid. You may find soft contacts more comfortable to wear, though they can cause dry eyes in some people. If you’re prone to dry eyes, we may recommend gas-permeable contacts.

Lifestyle Considerations

Do you have an active lifestyle, such as playing sports? Soft lenses tend to be a better option for those who are physically active, since they’re much less likely to move or fall out.

Adjustment

Do you mind taking more time to get used to wearing contacts? Gas-permeable lenses often require a longer adjustment period.

Budget

Choosing contact lenses in St. Marys, Jesup, and Brunswick, GA, depends in part on your budget. Soft lenses typically cost less upfront, but they don’t last as long as gas-permeable contacts.

Vision Correction

Soft lenses are a good choice if you have mild astigmatism, farsightedness, or nearsightedness. But we may recommend gas-permeable for more severe vision problems.

Care and Maintenance

Both types of contact lenses need routine cleaning with a special solution and storage in clean cases when you’re not wearing them.

Set Up an Appointment for Contact Lenses

Are you exploring contact options for your eyes? At Vision Source Family Eye Care, we can help you choose the right contact lenses in Jesup, Brunswick, and St. Marys, GA, for comfort and clearer vision. Our optometrists consider different factors to help you make the best decision for your eyes!

The Dangers of Wearing Your Daily Contacts More Than Once

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Are you tempted to wear your daily contacts in St Marys, GA, more than once? You are not alone. Many people are tempted to, or actually do, wear their daily contacts more than once. But what those people don’t know could cost them in more ways than one.

Let’s take a look.

The Dangers of Wearing Your Daily Contacts More Than Once

If you are tempted to wear your daily contacts more than once, keep reading. You don’t want to endure the consequences of this act just because you didn’t know about them.

  • Corneal Abrasion
  • Eye Irritation
  • Impaired Vision
  • Corneal Swelling
  • Eye Infections

The Dangers of Eye Infections

Eye infections like pink eye and microbial keratitis can become severe and ultimately cause blindness. So, you don’t want to take any chances by wearing your daily contacts more than once. It’s just not worth it!

The Symptoms That Indicate an Eye Infection

These are the symptoms of an eye infection you need to watch out for.

  • Red Eyes
  • Blurry Vision
  • Eye Pain
  • Excessive Tearing
  • Eye Discharge
  • A Feeling Like Something Is in Your Eye

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, you should see your optometrist in St Marys, GA, immediately before those symptoms turn into something that’s not reversible.

Other Bad Habits to Avoid If You Wear Daily Contacts

Wearing your daily contact lenses more than once isn’t the only bad habit you should avoid. You will want to avoid the following bad habits as well.

  • Don’t Touch Your Contacts with Dirty Hands
  • Don’t Sleep in Your Daily Contacts
  • Don’t Put on Your Makeup Before Inserting Your Contacts (then, as you apply your makeup, be careful not to get any into your eyes)
  • Don’t Insert Your Daily Contacts If Your Eyes Are Irritated
  • Don’t Put a Dropped Contact into Your Eye (if you drop a contact, dispose of it and get a new one)
  • Don’t Rub Your Eyes with Your Contacts In
  • Don’t Ever Put the Contacts in Your Mouth
  • Don’t Reuse Old Lens Solution

Are You Looking for an Optometrist in St Marys, GA?

If you need an optometrist, please Contact Vision Source Family Eye Care today to schedule an exam. We have been the leader and preferred provider of quality vision care and products since 1989 and look forward to serving you, too!

Why Gas Permeable Contact Lenses May Require an Adjustment Period

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Gas permeable (GP) contact lenses are a popular choice for people who have irregular corneas. Because they are made differently than your typical soft lenses, though, they may require an adjustment period on your end. We’ll look at why this is and what you can do to prepare for the first few weeks of wear.

The Basics of GP Lenses

GP lenses are made from hard plastic, but they’re still permeable enough to transfer oxygen to the eye. If you’ve been told that you can’t wear lenses before, you should know that GP lenses are often the solution. They solve this conundrum because they’re stable enough to adhere to the eye.

The Adaptation Period

There are a few major differences that set these lenses aside from their softer counterparts. Because GP lenses are smaller, they’re more prone to popping out. They move every time you blink, and all that motion can allow dust to become trapped behind the lens. The best thing that you can do at the beginning is to wear them regularly. This gives your eyes the chance to adapt to the movements, so they can adjust. Over time, you’ll find that these lenses are quite comfortable to wear.

Why Wear GP Lenses?

Despite the disadvantages, wearing gas permeable lenses in Jesup, GA may be the smartest move you’ve ever made. GP lenses cover less of the eye, which can limit the amount of irritation you feel throughout the day. They also provide excellent visual clarity because they have a smooth surface and a stable shape.

In addition, because they adjust with the eye —no matter where it moves or how you blink — you won’t have to worry as much about the lens sliding off. Whether it’s because you rub your eyes or found them watering after getting some pollen in your eye, soft lenses don’t always stay where they should.

Find an Eye Doctor in Jesup, GA

At Vision Source Family Eye Care, you’ll meet a staff who can tell you more about how different lenses will fit on your eye, and what you’ll need to know about wearing them. If you’re looking for an eye doctor in Jesup, GA, contact us today!