Enjoy the convenience of ordering your contact lenses anytime and anywhere at our online store! Delivery is right to your door!
Orders through the Blaine Eye Clinic Online Store are confirmed by your eye doctor who will verify your contact lens prescription and make sure you are getting the correct lenses. We are proud to keep our prices competitive. You will find our prices to match or be lower than other online vendors, and your payment is made on our secure server.
Contact Lenses
Advancements in contact lens technology offer the potential of successful contact lens wear for most of our patients. A contact lens is a medical device that rests directly on your eye; therefore, it must fit appropriately to maintain good ocular health. A contact lens prescription can only be determined by the careful observation of the lens on the eye and the eye’s response to the lens. Follow-up appointments are essential to confirm that the contact lenses are fitting properly. It is your responsibility to keep all appointments and follow all lens care instructions.
Types of Contact Lenses
There are two major categories of contact lenses: Soft Contact Lenses and Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses. Within these two major categories, there are a number of types of lenses for solving different vision problems.
- Soft Daily Wear Contact Lenses
- Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses
- Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
- Disposable Contact Lenses
- Specialty Contact Lenses
- Decorative Cosmetic Contact Lenses
Soft Daily Wear Contact Lenses
Soft daily wear contact lenses are made of soft water-containing, flexible plastics, called “hydrogels”, that allow oxygen to pass to the cornea to maintain its health and clarity. Because they are soft, thin, and flexible, soft contact lenses are easier to adapt to and more comfortable than rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses.
Another type of soft contact lens is made of a “silicone hydrogel” material that allows an even greater amount of oxygen to reach the cornea, adding additional safety. Soft daily wear contact lenses require careful cleaning and disinfection, as they tend to attract deposits of protein from your tear film.
Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGPs) are more durable and resistant to deposit buildup, and generally give a clearer, crisper vision. They tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft contact lenses. They are easier to handle and do not tear, however, they can break. It can take several weeks of adaptation in order to get used to wearing RGPs as compared to only a few days for soft contacts.
Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
People who have astigmatism usually have an asymmetrical curvature of the cornea making it oval-shaped, like a football. Contact lenses that correct astigmatism are called “toric” lenses. Toric lenses are readily available in both soft contacts and rigid gas permeable contact lens prescriptions. Toric contact lenses require a greater degree of fitting expertise in order to obtain the most precise vision.
Disposable Contact Lenses
Today, most soft contact lenses are prescribed with a very specific replacement schedule. That is, the prescribing Blaine Eye Clinic eye doctor will give you instructions on how frequently to replace your lenses based on your tear film, how often you may be removing the lenses, and how quickly you soil the lenses, even after cleaning and disinfection. True “Disposable” contact lenses are worn only once and then discarded. In order to have a “daily wear disposable schedule”, a brand new pair of lenses is used each day.
Specialty Contact Lenses
At Blaine Eye Clinic, the vast majority of contact lenses prescribed fall into the categories as described above. There are some other types of contact lenses for some special purposes that you may wish to know about. Your optometrist will help determine the best lens for your specific needs.
Decorative, Cosmetic Contact Lenses
Another type of contact lens that has become popular among people who don’t even need for vision correction are contacts that have the sole purpose of changing the appearance of your eyes. These are sometimes called “Plano” or “non-corrective” lenses.
Wearers of these contact lenses can temporarily change the color of their eyes, and can even create different themes such as Halloween or characters like Dracula by modifying the eye’s appearance. Colored lenses are also available for those who do have contact lens prescriptions. Even these types of lenses require a contact lens fitting to determine the proper size and fit. It is important to not just order lenses online as eye injury and infection can occur.
Contact Lens Brands We Carry:
- ACUVUE®
- Alcon®(Formally Ciba Vision)
- Bausch & Lomb
- BIOMEDICS®
- CooperVision
- SynergEyes®
Comprehensive Exam and Contact Lens Fitting
Before a patient can be fit with contact lenses, a complete medical and refractive eye examination is necessary. This exam is critical to assure your eyes are healthy enough for contact lens wear and to rule out the possibility of any unsuspected, underlying condition that may prevent contact lens use.
The goal of contact lens fitting is to find the most appropriate contact lens for each patient’s optimal vision and comfort. Blaine Eye Clinic offers a wide variety of types, materials, sizes, and colors of contact lenses.
We are committed to taking the time and effort to ensure your contact lenses fit properly and comfortably. Although many patients will need only one fitting session, sometimes this process requires several appointments. All first-time contact lens wearers must go through the contact lens fitting process. We will not finalize the contact lens prescription until both the patient and the doctor are satisfied with the fit and visual acuity of the contact lens.
Learning to Use Your Contact Lenses
Blaine Eye Clinic will provide you with personalized instructions concerning the safe care, insertion, and removal of your new contact lenses. If additional time is needed, it will be necessary to schedule a second 30-minute training session at a different time. Upon completion of successful insertion and removal, the patient may begin wearing the contact lenses and we will schedule the first follow-up appointment within two weeks.
Follow Up Care
Follow-up appointments are necessary to assure several things:
- The contact lenses are fitting and moving well
- The prescription is providing the best possible vision
- The eyes are remaining healthy
- There are no problems with insertion or removal
- The patient understands and complies with the recommended wearing schedule
Contact Lens Exam
All contact lens patients are required to come in for a contact lens exam every two years. This is necessary to confirm that your eyes are healthy and the contact lenses are still fitting well. If we are seeing you for the first time, and you have had a contact lens prescription from another office, we must have a copy of that prescription before your exam in the office. Otherwise, we will consider it a new fit, which we may not have time to complete in your initial visit, and additional costs will apply. Contact lens exams or fittings have a separate charge that is NOT included in your medical exam.
Contact Lens Care
- Always make sure contact lenses are not inside out before insertion. The edges should “roll-up” at the lens profile. If the edges are flared slightly the contact may be inside out. An inexpensive magnifier can be very helpful with this evaluation.
- Wear lenses for 4 hours on the first day and increase wear by 2 hours each day until a maximum of 12-14 hours has been reached.
- After removing contacts, clean properly, and place in the contact lens case, using a new solution every day. Lenses should be stored at least 4-6 hours for complete disinfection (except for one-day disposables).
- Do not allow soft lenses to come in contact with water. Only use a solution that is compatible with soft contact lenses.
- Do not sleep in contact lenses unless you have been fit with contacts specifically designed for this.
Note: If you have long fingernails, consult an optician for contact lens insertion and removal.
Some adaptive symptoms are normal for the first couple of weeks. These symptoms include a slight headache, foreign body sensation, dryness, and mild itching. These symptoms should clear up when all-day wear is achieved.
Abnormal symptoms include persistent pain, burning, and excessive tearing, redness that does not clear up. A hazy vision that remains more than one hour after removal, and abnormal sensitivity to light. If these symptoms occur at any time, you should remove the lenses and call our office (763-757-7000).
Note: Do not sleep in your lenses unless you were specifically fit with extended wear lenses. Should you fall asleep in your lenses, be sure to lubricate them well to loosen them before removal. Once the lens is moving freely on the eye, it can be removed. If only minor discomfort or a dry feeling exists, you can resume normal wear in 24 hours. If abnormal symptoms exist, contact our office.
Cleaning Solutions and Drops
There are different types of cleaning solutions available. We will provide you with the best solution for your needs.
Rewetting drops may be important for lubricating the eye and keeping the contact hydrated. To promote comfort, the lens must be well hydrated. Rewetting drops also keep debris from building up under the contact lens. The frequency of rewetting drop use varies from patient to patient.
If you do a lot of close work, such as reading or working on a computer, you may experience more dryness because of the reduction in blinking. Certain medications such as antihistamines, diuretics, and birth control pills contribute to dryness as well. Do not use an eye drop that is not specified for contact lens use.
