Contacts & Solutions

Contact Lenses Contact lenses, when used properly, are very convenient and, with the latest advancements in technology, are extremely comfortable. Most of the time, you'll hardly know you're wearing them, though you'll certainly notice how clear and accurate your vision is. Contact lenses are small lenses worn on the surface of the eye, called the cornea, to correct vision. Lenses are sometimes worn for cosmetic purposes only. We recommend wearing contact lenses in conjunction with eye glasses. This allows you to best meet your overall lifestyle needs while protecting the integrity of your overall eye health. We'll discuss the option that's best for you. Many patients choose contact lenses for their primary vision correction and back-up glasses. Many patients who wear glasses have activities and events where they'd rather not wear their glasses and choose contact lenses for these times. We offer the latest technology in contact lense options: Conventional soft lenses Tinted lenses to enhance eye color Opaque tints to change eye color Toric lenses for astigmatism Oxygen permeable rigid lenses Bifocal contact lenses Planned Replacement lenses Disposable lenses -Clear -Tinted -Bifocal -Toric for astigamtism -One-Day Disposables Corneal Refractive Therapy - a non-surgical approach to vision correction Satisfaction Guarantee If you are a first-time contact lens user, click here for wearing instructions. Have you considered ordering your contact lenses online? Contact Lens Promotions Corneal Refractive Therapy Paragon CRT Bausch & Lomb, Ciba, Coopervision Rebates up to $60 when purchasing a one year supply of lenses. Contact Lens Types The types of contact lenses available have exploded in the past few years. There are contact lenses available for almost everyone. Many of our patients were told in the past that they couldn't wear contacts, or unsuccessfully tried contact lenses. You owe it to yourself to see what's new. We carry many options, and promise to do our best in selecting contact lenses that you'll love wearing. Choose from the following list for a brief look at some of the options available. Conventional Soft Lenses Frequent-Replacement Soft Lenses Disposable Soft Lenses Tinted Soft Lenses Bifocal Soft Lenses Toric Soft Lenses Extended-Wear Soft Lenses Rigid Gas-Permeable (RGP) Lenses Solutions Conventional Soft Lenses Soft lenses are very comfortable and come in a variety of types, depending on the wearer's needs. Conventional soft lenses are worn during the day and cleaned and stored at night. Usually once a week the lenses must be cleaned using an enzymatic cleaner, which removes protein deposits. These lenses can last for a year or more if your prescription stays the same and you take good care of them. back to types Frequent-Replacement Soft Lenses These lenses are similar to conventional soft lenses except they are replaced more frequently. Oftentimes, they are worn for one-month periods then replaced. Other frequent-replacement soft lens types are worn two to three months before they are replaced. Like conventional soft lenses, they have to be cleaned and stored at night and cleaned once a week with an enzymatic cleaner to remove protein deposits. back to types Disposable Soft Lenses Disposable soft lenses are much more popular than conventional soft lenses. These lenses are worn for a period of time then, of course, thrown away. The most well-known disposables last for two weeks. There are also one-week and one-day disposables. These are perfect for many patients who were told they couldn't wear contact lenses because of allergies or mild dry-eye conditions. They have a low cost per lens and are also popular for athletes and hobbyists who don't necessarily want to wear contact lenses every day. back to types Tinted Soft Lenses Next, you have tinted soft lenses, available in conventional, disposable, or frequent-replacement types. With tinted soft lenses, you can change your eye color or enhance your eye color. Even if you don't need corrective lenses, you can use "plano" tinted lenses to change your eye color. back to types Bifocal Soft Lenses Recent technology has greatly improved bifocal soft lenses. Many patients past their 40s who need bifocals can now enjoy the comfort and benefits of soft contact lenses. back to types Toric Soft Lenses Toric lenses are used to correct astigmatism. Astigmatism is a vision condition where an irregularly shaped cornea affects the vision. In the past, if you had astigmatism, your only options were either glasses or hard gas-permeable contact lenses. But toric lenses now offer an alternative. There are several types of toric lenses to choose from. back to types Extended-Wear Soft Lenses Extended-wear lenses are the result of new technology in lens materials that transmit more oxygen to the cornea of the eye. Some of these lens materials can be worn up to 30 days, day and night, without removal. Extended-wear lenses can last one week, two weeks, or one month, depending upon the lens material and the doctor's recommendations. back to types Rigid Gas-Permeable (RGP) Lenses As the name implies, these lenses are hard and gas-permeable. If you've been told you can't wear soft lenses, RGP lenses are often a great alternative. RGP lenses are available in specialized designs to correct just about any vision disorder. back to types Solutions There are a variety of solutions available from many different manufacturers. The important thing to remember is that not every solution is right for every type of contact lens. Some contact lenses require the use of multipurpose solutions, while others require separate solutions for the four steps in contact lens care: disinfecting, cleaning, rinsing, and enzyming. Use only the lens solutions that are recommended by your eye doctor. If you wish to change brands, check with our office first. back to types back to top of page Contact Lens Care Made Easy! Contact lenses are prescription medical devices. To make sure your eyes and vision stay healthy while wearing contact lenses, please follow these few guidelines or the instructions recommended by Dr. Garton. Warning: Ocular complications and/or long-term corneal damage are the consequences of contact lenses that are worn longer than recommended. Oftentimes, your lenses will still feel good even when you are over-wearing them. Do not wear your lenses overnight unless they are approved for extended wear and the doctor has discussed this with you. Overnight wear increases the risk of infection and other complications. Wearing Schedule Caring For Your Contacts What To Watch For Video for Insertion Directions Video for Removal Directions Wearing Schedule It will take at least a few days for your eyes to get used to wearing contact lenses. The best way to insure maximum visual comfort and keep your eyes healthy is to patiently and faithfully adhere to this wearing schedule. Day Gas Permeable Lenses Soft Lenses 1 4 hours 6 hours 2 6 hours 8 hours 3 8 hours 10 hours 4 10 hours 12 hours 5 12 hours 12 hours DON'T wear your lenses longer than 12 hours a day until your first follow-up visit with your doctor, unless Dr. Garton has specifically told you otherwise. DON'T continue use of contact lenses if your eyes become red, irritated, painful, or if your vision gets worse while wearing lenses. Immediately take out the lenses and clean them. Let your eyes get back to normal and if the problem persists, contact our office. DON'T exceed the wearing times suggested, even if your lenses still feel comfortable. Studies have proven that the eye needs time to adapt to contact lenses, and your wearing schedule is based on those studies. DO always remove your contact lenses at least one hour before going to bed to allow for proper oxygen nourishment to the cornea. DO schedule and keep follow-up appointments with Dr. Garton. DO wear your contact lenses for at least 4 hours the day of your follow-up appointment unless you are experiencing discomfort. Please Note: If you complete your wearing schedule for a given day and take out your lenses for at least 2 hours, you can wear them the same day for another 2 to 3 hours after cleaning and disinfecting them. back to caring Caring For Your Contacts Deposits and infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses-etc., can build up on the surface of all contact lenses. For this reason, it is very important to keep them clean and disinfected. There are four steps in contact lens care - follow the care prescribed for your lenses: Cleaning removes dirt, mucous, and other debris that gets on the lenses during wear. Disinfecting kills bacteria (germs) on the lenses. Disinfecting is essential to prevent serious eye infections. Rinsing removes the other solutions from the lenses and prepares the lenses for wear. Enzyming uses enzyme drops or tablets to remove protein and other deposits that build up over time on the lenses. The best way to properly care for your lenses is to develop a care routine, then stick to that routine! Remember to: Follow the directions outlined by Dr. Garton. Oftentimes instructions are also listed on the packaging or the package insert for the contact lens solutions prescribed for you. Multi-purpose solutions can be used for more than one step in contact lens care. Read the label to see which functions the solutions can be used for. Many solutions can not be used together, and not all solutions are appropriate for all types of lenses. Only use solutions recommended by Dr. Garton, and check with our office if you want to switch brands. When you remove your lenses, they must be cleaned, rinsed, and disinfected before they are worn again. Enzyming and cleaning do not substitute for disinfecting. Lenses that have been stored for more than 12 hours may need to be cleaned, disinfected, and rinsed again. Make sure solution containers are kept closed tightly, stored upright, and kept in a clean, dry, cool place when you're not using them. Keep your case clean and replace it every 2-3 months to prevent bacterial growth. Don't touch container bottle tips to any surface to prevent them from becoming contaminated. Throw away expired solutions (Look on the bottle for the expiration date!). Use new solution in your contact lenses case every day. Discuss with Dr. Garton care for your lenses if you wear them while swimming in a pool or hot tub. Only use approved rewetting drops for lubricating or wetting your lenses. Never place the lenses in your mouth. Do not use tap water to rinse soft contact lenses. Be careful with makeup, lotions, creams and sprays - consider putting on lenses before makeup and remove them before removing makeup. Also, water-based makeup is less likely to damage lenses than oil-based makeup. back to caring Signs of Danger Complications with contacts are uncommon, but they can become serious if not treated immediately. Here's what you need to watch for: Redness, blurriness, light sensitivity. Remove your lenses if you are experiencing any of these 3 things. If your eyes have not returned to normal after 24 hours, please contact our office. If you have any change in vision, comfort, or irritation, immediately remove your lenses. If there is no improvement within a couple of hours, please contact our office. In rare situations, failure to act immediately if any of these symptoms arise could result in sight-threatening infections or loss of vision. back to caring back to top of page Considering ordering your contact lenses online? Did you know that as a patient at our office, you have the convenience of ordering replacement lenses anytime - simply by registering with us through our website? That's right, from any computer, any time, seven days per week. It's quick, easy and convenient - you simply choose how many boxes you want us to ship to you and which credit card to use! Here at our practice, unlike telemarketers or volume retailers, we understand your specific eye health needs and can verify that you receive the right products. We also give you the option of receiving your lenses directly at home or for practice pick-up if that's what you prefer! You don't pay more for this kind of personal service, either. Our most recent study indicates that our replacement lens prices are not only competitive, but often less than the leading retailer! All for the same price or LESS than the telemarketers at mail order houses! Save time, save money - order your lenses online at: www.drGarton.com At our office, we strive to provide you with the best service possible and that includes providing our patients with the convenience their lifestyle demands! Using our web service, you can reorder your contact lenses 24 hours a day in a secure environment. Simply call or email us at our office to sign-up for the service. All we need to activate your online reordering is your email address and the month/date of your birth. You'll receive a password and instructions for ordering online, within minutes of our receiving your request. Patient email requests received during non-business hours will be processed the next business day. It's that easy! We value our relationship with you and want to assure you that we take online privacy seriously - your email address will not be given to third parties and will only be used to fulfill your online orders and by our staff to contact you.