Most people, who require vision correction, are candidates for contact lenses, if only for part-time wear, such as for sports or special occasions. With proper training and proper fit, contact lenses are widely accepted as a comfortable form of vision correction, and an alternative to glasses.

Contacts are generally categorized by material, wearability and correction ability. The greatest majority of contact lens patients wear soft lenses. Soft lenses come in a variety of disposable forms (daily, bi-weekly and monthly) as well as long-term wear lenses. Some soft lenses are considered "daily wear", which means they must be removed before sleeping; while others are "extended wear" and may remain in the eye for several days at a time. Hard and gas permeable lenses are long-term wear lenses only, and can be either "daily wear" or "extended wear".

Vision correction classifications for contact lenses are spherical, toric and bi-focal. Spherical contacts can correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. Toric lenses may be used to correct astigmatism. Patients with presbyopia may be able to wear bi-focal contacts to give them correction for both their distance and near vision.

A variety of specialty contact lenses are available for patients with cosmetic and/or vision needs. Cosmetic contacts may be used for everyday wear for changing or enhancing eye color, or for trauma patients who want a more even look between a healthy eye and an injured/damaged eye. Tinted contact lenses are also available for someone who needs color blindness correction.

Certain vision problems are better treated with contact lenses than glasses. Muscle problems and cataracts in younger people are easier to treat, and obtain better vision with contacts. Bandage or therapeutic lenses may be used for eyes that have been traumatized. Medication may be applied to the eye and then a contact lens inserted to keep the medication in place.

• Do wash, rinse, and dry your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses.
• Do clean, rinse and disinfect lenses after each wearing period if you will use them again.
• Do remove lenses immediately if they become uncomfortable.
• Do wear sunglasses with UV protection.
• Do have a pair of backup glasses.
• Do have a pair of backup of contacts.
• Do have a contact lens case and solutions available at all times.
• Do not put a lens into an eye that is red, irritated, or painful.
• Do not sleep in lenses without speaking with your Dr.first.
• Do not share contacts or solutions with family members or friends.
• Do not substitute water for saline solution.
• Do not reuse nighttime soaking solution, empty solution from case each morning.
• Do not mix different brand names of solutions at same time.
• Do not wear a ripped, torn, or cracked lens.

Contact lens prescriptions are valid for one year only. By the law we cannot dispense contacts once your prescription has expired. Since contacts are worn directly on the cornea it is necessary to have a routine exam yearly to ensure the health of the eye.

Training and cleaning procedures for new contact lens wearers. Once a patient has been examined and fit for contact lenses, the patient is taught how to put on, and then how to remove the contacts; and the proper cleaning methods. This training is conducted in the doctor's office by a licensed technician. Insertion and removal training customarily takes about an hour, and must be completed before a patient may receive lenses. The patient is urged to ask any questions about contact lenses during this period.