HEALTH & MEDICINE :: FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007
New Advancements in Contact Lenses…Which Lens is Right for You!
Custom Fitted Contact Lenses & Family Eye Care
Contact lenses can be a wonderful way to improve vision with minimal effort. During a thorough eye exam and contact lens fitting your doctor will take customized measurements of the curvature and size of your eye in order to fit you properly for contact lenses.
Many people who have previously been contact lens intolerant are now able to wear contact lenses successfully because of newer advanced lens de-signs and materials. About 80% of people who wear contacts choose soft disposable lenses and are generally more comfortable. We are now able to offer people a wider array of prescriptions in contact lens correction for distance vision, astigmatism (where your eye is shaped like a football, more curved in one direction than the other) and bifocals for both distance and up close reading. The newest advancement in contact lens technology is the daily disposable lens that contains lubricants which keep the eye moist all day long. A new lens every day yields the highest safety profile of any kind of contact lens with no chance of solution sensitivity. These lenses are especially convenient for travel, sports or social events.
An improved two week soft disposable lens, which is higher in oxygen transmission and better in its ability to hold moisture, is making people forget they are wearing contacts at all. If you dislike cleaning lenses every day, you can sleep in a new 30 day disposable.
Another lens to consider, if you have a very high astigmatism, is a rigid gas permeable lens. The material of the lens is thicker and less flexible than soft contact lenses and provides greater visual acuity. There is less likelihood of allergies and they offer a longer life than soft contact lenses.
Finally, if you’re looking for freedom from glasses and daytime contacts, Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) may be another option. CRT is a non-surgical process that reshapes the cornea of your eye while you sleep. By simply removing the lenses when you wake-up you can enjoy good vision all day without any correction. Teenagers can also benefit from this technology. It is completely reversible and can be refined if prescription changes occur.
Because of the many different types of lens advancements there are many happy people who choose to correct their vision with contact lenses.
To keep your contacts functional and eyes healthy, it is important to maintain them properly, and schedule periodic check-ups.
Dr. Mirra graduated from Penn State in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1977. Dr. Mirra is a member of the American Optometric Association and a past President of the Delaware Optometric Association. Dr. Mirra served in the Army Reserve and retired after a tour of duty in Desert Storm.
With a special interest in contact lenses, Dr. Mirra has extensive experience in all aspects of contact lens fitting and care. Using the latest techniques of computer analysis, Dr. Mirra has great success with many patients who had previously been unable to wear contact lenses comfortably. Dr. Mirra has been in practice for over twenty-five years, and is frequently consulted for complicated refractive and muscle balance problems. Dr. Mirra has expanded his practice in fitting patients with specially designed therapeutic contact lenses that reshape the cornea as an alternative to refractive surgery. Committed to continuing education, Dr. Mirra was one of the first optometrists in Delaware to be certified in the use of therapeutic drugs
For further information or to schedule an appointment please call 302-652-3353.
~The Dos & Don’ts of Contact Lenses~
Do - Handle your contact lenses with clean hands. Use a perfume and dye-free soap.
Do – Insert your contact lenses at least 4 hours before your appointment with your doctor.
Do – Keep your contact lens case and solution with you when you are away from home.
Do – Stick to a pattern when inserting and removing your contact
lenses. This will eliminate confusion and ensure you are matching the
right eye with the right lens.
Don’t – Allow soft contact lenses to dry out in their case.
Don’t – Forget a yearly routine eye exam is important to screen for infection or disease.
Don’t – Extend your wearing time beyond what is instructed. Doing so increases your risk for eye infection and corneal ulcers.
Don’t – Hydrate your lenses with anything except the contact
lens solution recommended for your type of lens.
Don’t – Reuse contact lens solution.
Don’t – Ignore discomfort. Adjust lens placement and clean lenses when they are giving you trouble. If discomfort continues, stop wearing your lenses and schedule an appointment with your doctor.
