Can I wear soft contact lenses if I have astigmatism?
Can I wear soft contact lenses if I need bifocals?
Is a contact lens prescription different than a glasses prescription?
If my 2 week disposable lenses are still comfortable and in good condition beyond 2 weeks, can I continue to wear the same pair?
If I only wear my 2 week disposable contacts part time, do I still have to replace them every 2 weeks?
My lenses are advertised as 2 week disposable, but my doctor says I can wear them for 4 weeks. Which is correct?
What's the difference between rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses and soft lenses?
Can I swim with my contact lenses in?
Why is it necessary for contact lens wearers to have regular eye exams even if their prescription hasn't changed?
I wear contact lenses and in order for me to read, I have to wear reading glasses over them. Are there any other alternatives whereby I don't have to wear glasses at all?
Do colored contact lenses work on dark eyes?
Do I still need a prescription if I just want contacts to change my eye color?
Can anyone wear contact lenses?
I have dry eye problems. Can I wear contact lenses?
Can contact lenses be "blinked" out?
Is it OK to swim while wearing contact lenses?
Is it OK to play sports while wearing contact lenses?
Which type of lens care system is best??>
Can my contact lens be "lost" behind my eye?
Can contact lenses block ultraviolet light?
How do I know if my contact lenses are `worn out`?
Why does plane travel make my contact lenses uncomfortable?
I wear contacts only occasionally, at most once or twice a week. Which type of contact lens may be best for me?
Disposable lenses are supposed to be discarded after a single use. Can I continue to wear my lenses if they are still comfortable after the recommended wearing period?
What`s the difference between daily-wear and extended-wear lenses?
Can children wear contact lenses?
Is it usual to experience discomfort or pain when using contact lenses?
What is the procedure for inserting soft lenses?
Are my contact lenses inside out?
Why use sterile saline and not tap water?
Why do I need a annual contact lens check up?
GLOSSARY OF COMMON EYE-RELATED TERMS
Aspheric - a thin contact lens with gradually changing power
Astigmatism - condition in which the cornea has an irregular curvature, often but not always occurring with hyperopia or myopia
Axis - precise location of the point where correction is needed on the eye
Base Curve - a number between 7.0 and 10.0 or a phrase, such as steep or flat, that describes the curvature of the eye
Bifocal - contact lenses with two or more viewing zones
Cleaning Solution - a liquid solution that aids in removal of debris from contact lenses
Colored lens - a contact lens with a tint or color added, either for handling/visibility purposes or to enhance or change eye color
Colorblends - brand name of colored lenses, Freshlook Colorblends
Cornea - referred to as the "window of the eye," it is the outermost layer of the eye
Corrective lens - see contact lens
Contact Lens - thin plastic material designed to fit over the cornea for the correction of a refractive error.
Cylinder - measurement of how much correction is needed for patients with astigmatism
Daily wear Contact Lens - contact lenses that are worn for one day
Deposits - accumulations of substances (usually protein) onto the contact lens
Diameter - the width of the eye, measured in millimeters
Diopter - measurement unit of the refractive correction of a contact lens
Disinfecting Solution - used to disinfect contact lenses
Enzyme cleaner tablets or Solution - see Solution
Eye Care Provider (ECP) - see Optometrist, Opthalmologist, or Optician
Flat medium - a base curve of 8.6 or 8.7
Farsightedness - see Hyperopia
Glaucoma - a condition in which the pressure inside the eye is elevated to a point that can damage the optic nerve and cause a loss of peripheral vision, or blindness
Hyperopia - a condition in which a person can see clearly at a distance but not up close
Light filtering tint - designed for sports use, these tints help objects stand out against a background
Monovision - technique to limit the effects of presbyopia by correcting one eye for hyperopia and the other for myopia.
Multifocal - a contact lens with more than two viewing zones
Myopia - also known as nearsightedness, a condition in which a person can see clearly up close but not at a distance
Nearsightedness - see Myopia
OD - Oculus Dexter, Latin for right eye
OS - Oculus Sinister, Latin for left eye
Opthalmologist (MD) - medical doctor who specializes in eyes. Can perform exams, treat disease and perform surgery
Optician - not a medical doctor, but licensed to fit and dispense eyeglasses and contact lenses following written prescription from ophthalmologist or optometrist
Optometrist (OD) - performs exams, diagnoses and treats disease. In some areas they prescribe, fit and dispense eyeglasses and Contact Lenses
Oxygen permeability - the amount of oxygen diffusing through contact lens material under specified testing conditions
Power - see Sphere
Presbyopia - also known as farsightedness, a condition in which a person can see clearly at a distance but not up close
Rewetting Solution - used as a lubricant to increase comfort
RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable) lens - a contact lens made of slightly flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the eyes
Rinsing Solution - liquid solution that removes debris from contact lenses in preparation for use
Rx - prescription
Solution - there are many different types of solutions, made for different types of contact lenses
Sphere - a measurement of how much correction is needed, it is a number between -20 and +20.
Steep medium - a base curve of 8.3 or 8.4
Tint - depending on the contact lens, there are different types of tint such as a handling or visibility tint, light filtering tint, enhancement tint or color tint
Toric - contact lens designed to correct astigmatism by bearing two different powers at right angles
Visibility Tint - lightly tinted lenses for easier insertion and removal
Visitint® - brand name, lightly tinted lenses for easier insertion and removal
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