WHAT ARE CONTACT LENSES? Contact lenses are small medical devices designed to correct refractive errors that are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. As with all prescription/medication products, contact lenses can only be dispensed pursuant to the eye care practitioner’s written or printed consent with a limited supply of lenses to be purchased before the expiration date of 1 year from your most recent eye exam.
WHAT IS THE CONTACT LENS EVALUATION / FITTING FEE? A contact lens evaluation monitors the health of your cornea, tear film, and lid structures as well as your prescription to determine if you are eligible to wear contacts. There is an annual fee for this evaluation separate from the annual exam.
WHAT IS I & R TRAINING / FEE? Contact lens Insertion and Removal Training (I & R) is a service provided to educate and train patients that are new to contact lens wear in the proper treatment and handling of contacts. The I & R fee is a non-refundable, one-time charge. We allot 30 minutes for the initial fitting. Patients can return as many times as needed until successful.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET USED TO WEARING CONTACTS? There is no standard number of hours or days before a person gets used to wearing contact lenses. If after a week, you are still having discomfort wearing your contacts, you may want to get in touch with our office. The doctor may recommend a different type of contact lens that might be more comfortable for you.
HOW LONG CAN YOU WEAR CONTACT LENSES? Most people can wear their contact lenses for up to 16 hours a day. However, if you feel like your eyes are dry or your contacts are irritating your eyes after only 8 to 10 hours, you may want to remove them.
*Keep in mind that contact lenses have recommended life spans as well. Some contact lenses are good to wear for 2 weeks to a full month whereas others are good for 1 day. Following the instructions about the wear lifetime of your contacts can help reduce your risk of eye irritation and infections.
CAN CONTACTS BE CLEANED WITH TAP WATER? NO. Your contact lenses absorb whatever liquid they encounter. Water can contain impurities that your contacts could absorb. If you put a contaminated contact lens into your eye, you could develop a serious eye infection. Stick to the sterile contact lens solutions and cleansers that are recommended for your contact lenses.
CAN I WEAR MAKEUP IF I WEAR CONTACTS? Contact lenses can be worn comfortably with makeup but be sure to insert them before applying your products. Always wash your hands before handling lenses. If your eyes feel irritated when wearing contacts and makeup at the same time, try non-allergenic makeup products instead.
CAN I SLEEP IN MY CONTACTS? It’s best not to sleep in contact lenses at all—even for an hour or so. Every time you snooze with your contacts in, your risk of infection goes up. If you really do want to sleep with contact lenses in, do it the safe way: extended wear lenses. These types of lenses are made of materials with higher oxygen permeability and can be worn for several uninterrupted days. Ask us about extended wear contacts if sleeping in your contacts is a priority.
DO:
– Wash and dry your hands before handling your contact lenses
– Thoroughly rinse your lenses
– Let your contact case dry completely before refilling with lens solution
– Replace your contact lenses regularly
– Use fresh solution to clean and store your lenses every day
– Attend your eye doctor appointments and schedule regular eye exam (we recommend every year)
DON’T:
– Insert your lenses with unclean hands
– Go swimming or take a shower with contact lenses in
– Top up your contact case with solution – rinse and refill instead
– Store your lenses with tap water
– Wear for longer than recommended
– Share your contacts with others.
– Skip your routine eye appointments.
Emergency Information: We can be reached at (901) 458-2020 for eye emergencies. Leave us a message and we will return your call. Please report any significant loss of vision or unusual vision changes. If your eye hurts, becomes very red, extremely sensitive to light, or develops a type of discharge, remove your contact lens immediately. Please do not re-insert a contact lens in your eye until contacting our office. WHEN IN DOUBT, TAKE THEM OUT!
