I was told I have astigmatism. Can I still wear contact lenses?

Yes you can!  Astigmatism correcting (toric) contact lenses are available in monthly, two week and even daily replacement options.  They offer the same comfort and crisp vision that non-astigmatism wearers enjoy!

I wear reading/bifocal glasses - what are my contact lens options so that I don't have to wear glasses?

Good news!  There are bifocal contact lenses available as well as an option called monovision.  As patient's reach their 40's, many begin to notice a decline in their reading vision.  This is a normal aging process called presbyopia.  Fortunately, contact lens wearers have a couple options to deal with their changing eyes:  

1. Monovision contacts

2. Bifocal/Multifocal contacts

Monovision contacts mean one eye has a contact lens that corrects the distance vision and the other eye has a contact lens that corrects the near.  Typically there is an adjustment period to these lenses and patients may notice a slight reduction in their depth perception.

The second option is bifocal contacts.  These lenses have the distance and near correction in both eyes.  They have grown in popularity over the past several years as technology has improved and there is roughly an 8-9 out of 10 person success rate.  In both monovision and bifocal contacts, the vision is not as sharp as it is in your glasses but many patients to well and find they only need to use reading glasses for very fine print.  Depending on your lifestyle and visual demands, one of these options may work better than another.

Talk with Dr. Swartz, Dr. Yang, or Dr. Przislicki to see which option would be best for you.

Can a contact lens get lost behind my eye?

No way!  It is physically impossible for a lens to get lost behind your eye.  There is a thin membrane that connects your eye to your eyelid so rest assured, your lens won't travel anywhere but your eye.

What happens in a contact lens exam/fitting?

During a contact lens evaluation, your prescription and curvature of your eyes are measured. Dr. Swartz, Dr. Yang, or Dr. Przislicki examine the cornea, tear film and eye lids to determine what type, base curve and design to use for each patient.  There are many types and designs of contacts and each patient has different needs.  The contact lens evaluation ensures that we are matching your individual needs with the contact lens option that will best meet those needs.  If trial lenses are available in the office, you may be able to go home with lenses the same day.  However, depending on your prescription or the curvature needed, the trial lenses may need to be ordered and follow up appointment will be scheduled.

I've never worn contacts before. Will someone teach me how to put them in?

Of course!  If you are a new contact lens wearer, there are important things to know before putting this medical device on your eye.  We will schedule you for a contact lens class where you will work with one of our contact lens technicians.  They will teach you everything you need to know about how to put them in, take them out, and properly care for them.  

How old does my child have to be to wear contacts?

Many teens and even pre-teens can tolerate contact lenses, but whether or not they should wear them depends on their maturity level.  Because wearing contact lenses can increase your risk for eye infections if not worn/cleaned properly, it is important that the child be responsible and have good personal hygiene habits.  Talk it over with your eye doctor to see if contacts are right for your child.

I have keratoconus. Are there contacts that can help me?

Yes!  Dr. Swartz has fits hundreds of keratoconus patients and specializes in hard to fit corneas and other specialty lens fits. For more information on Keratoconus, please click HERE to visit the National Keratoconus Foundation.

For more information on scleral lenses, please click HERE to visit the Scleral Lens Education Society

I have allergies/dry eye. Can I still wear contacts?

Yes!  There is no doubt that allergies and dryness can make wearing contact lenses difficult.  However, many of these patients do better when they are wearing a daily disposable contact lens.  Talk with Dr. Swartz, Dr. Yang, or Dr. Przislicki to see what daily contact lens options are best for you.

How much does a contact lens evaluation cost?

Contact lens evaluation fees are separate from eyeglass examination fees and the cost depends on the complexity of your diagnosis.  However, some insurances will cover the contact lens evaluation fee.  Be sure to check with your insurance company prior to your visit to determine if you have coverage for this fee.  The contact lens evaluation fee includes the initial evaluation, all trial lenses and all follow-up visits used to help determine proper fitting and vision correction with the contact lenses for a period of 60 days after the initial visit with Dr. Swartz or Dr. Yang.

What contact lens brands do you carry?

Too many to name.  We have thousands of contact lenses in stock and carry many different brands.  Acuvue, Alcon/Ciba Vision, Bausch & Lomb, and Cooper are some of the most well known brands but we have many options beyond that!