Find your
neighborhood
TSO doctor.
  Select your doctor


  Enter your zip code below :
 

     
 About TSO
 Eye Care Information
  Annual TSO Exams
  New Advances in Contacts
  Laser Vision Correction
  Frames to Fit You & Your Life
  Today’s Lens Choices
  Common Vision Problems
  Tips for Proper Contact Care
  FAQ on Care of Your Vision
 Join the Network of Doctors
 Career Opportunities
 Contact Us
 TSO Vision Plan
 e-Network
 TSO Scholarship Program
 Flex Plan Alert

New advances make contacts an easy choice
With the advances in contact lenses over the past decade, patients are faced with many options in their efforts to correct their vision. This is where your TSO Doctor of Optometry can help you in the decision making process so the contact lens choice you make is the right one.

Types of Contacts

Soft contact lenses are made from flexible, water-absorbent plastics. Some soft lenses are designed to be replaced daily, weekly or every other week depending on the recommendation of your TSO Doctor of Optometry. They are usually easy to insert and fit comfortably and securely.

Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses are made of special, firm plastic that allows the passage of oxygen and other gases. These lenses are very durable and typically last longer than soft lenses. RGP lenses give you crisp vision and are often recommended for people with high degrees of astigmatism (blurry vision at all distances). While they may take a little longer to get used to, regular wearers find them to be comfortable and the visual acuity outstanding.

Contact Lens Choices

Daily wear contacts are removed each day for cleaning and should be taken out before sleeping. They require a daily maintenance schedule to keep the lenses clean and free from deposit build up and bacteria.

Extended wear contacts can be worn continuously for up to 30 days and nights and are designed with breathable materials so your eyes stay healthy and your vision stays clear.

Disposable soft contacts are rapidly growing in popularity because they can be worn for a single day or up to one year, depending on the wearing schedule prescribed by your TSO Doctor of Optometry. The more your contacts are replaced, the smaller the risk of long-term deposits that can build up on the lenses. Disposables can be purchased in multi-packs for a continuous supply of fresh lenses. Many patients enjoy the comfort of disposable lenses in addition to convenience, clear vision and healthy eyes. They're easy to insert and fit comfortably and securely. With disposable contacts, the hassle of caring for daily wear contacts is eliminated.

Colored contacts
If you've ever thought of enhancing or changing your eye color, consider another popular trend with colored contacts. The color is seen on your eye, but does not affect the color of what you see. The advancement in the color quality of the lenses today make them look as natural as Mother Nature intended.

Toric contacts
Toric contact lenses are designed for patients who have astigmatism, an eye condition which results in blurry vision at all distances. Toric contact lenses are designed to have two powers in them, created with curvatures at different angles (one for astigmatism, the other for either nearsightedness or farsightedness). There's also a mechanism to keep the contact lens relatively stable on the eye when you blink or look around. To provide crisp vision, toric contact lenses cannot rotate on your eye.

Multi-focal contacts
If you are 40 or older, you're likely to have presbyopia. Presbyopia is a condition that is the result of the aging process. When the eye's natural lens grows older, it begins to lose some of the elasticity necessary to switch focus between seeing near and far.

One type of contact lens is designed similar to bifocal



back to top

Copyright © 2004 Texas State Optical

Notice of Privacy