Find Your Perfect Contact Lens Fit in West Cary
Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses for individuals who prefer the flexibility of frameless vision correction. They offer subtle vision correction that doesn’t smudge, fog up, or get impacted by rain.
A contact lens prescription is unique from your glasses prescription, as the contact lens sits directly on your eye. It is important to get a proper fitting from an optometrist who can not only measure your prescription, but also map the curvature of your eye for a precise fit.
From daily disposables to specialty lenses for keratoconus, dry eye, astigmatism, and more, we’ve got you covered. Book an appointment with our clinic for a contact lens exam and fitting focused on finding you clear, comfortable vision.
What to Expect During a Contact Lens Exam
A contact lens exam follows the same structure as a comprehensive eye exam, with a few additional measurements.
We measure the curvature of your eye with the Medmont Topographer, which maps the surface of your eye for an exact fit. Then, we’ll determine your contact lens prescription. Your contact lens prescription lasts for 1 year, and you can reorder your contact lenses without an appointment during that time.
Your fitting includes a trial in the clinic of your new lenses. If you are a new contact lens wearer or have switched to a new lens style, we’ll schedule a 2-week follow-up to check the fit.
How to Care for Contact Lenses
If you’re new to wearing contact lenses, we’ll walk you through the essential care tips to keep your contact lenses hygienic and protected throughout their lifespan. Depending on the style of lenses you wear, you may need to clean and store them overnight in contact lens solution.
Follow these general guidelines when wearing contact lenses:
- Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing your contact lenses.
- Carefully and regularly clean your contact lenses as directed by your optometrist.
- Store your contact lenses in the proper lens storage case. Keep the case clean and dry between uses.
- Replace as directed by your optometrist. Overwearing your lenses can damage your eyes.
- Always use fresh solution to clean and store your contact lenses. Never reuse old solution.
- Remove contact lenses before swimming, showering, or hot tubbing.
- Visit your optometrist for annual eye exams.
Common Mistakes Made with Contacts
As contact lenses sit directly on your eyes, wearing contact lenses does increase your risk of eye infections. Following proper handling and cleaning practices keeps your lenses hygienic and decreases this risk; however, there are some mistakes that can impact your eye health.
Here are some common mistakes to avoid while wearing or caring for your contact lenses:
- Do not use cream soaps before handling lenses. They can leave a film on your hands that can transfer to the lenses.
- Do not use tap water to wash or store your contact lenses.
- Do not shower, swim, or go in a hot tub or other body of water while wearing contact lenses. This can introduce harmful bacteria into your eyes.
- Do not use homemade saline solutions. Only use professional contact lens solutions as directed by your optometrist.
- Do not share contact lenses with others.
- Do not sleep in your contact lenses.
- Do not wear contact lenses that have not been prescribed by your optometrist, such as costume or colored contact lenses. These can damage your eyes.
Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus and Dry Eye
Scleral lenses are uniquely shaped, with a large diameter that covers more of the eye than a standard lens. They are designed to sit on the white of the eye (the sclera) and vault over the cornea without touching it.
As scleral lenses do not touch the cornea, they provide a comfortable alternative for individuals with keratoconus and other corneal irregularities. They also help to improve vision, as the scleral lens provides a smooth surface to refract light into the eye.
For individuals with dry eye, scleral lenses may provide relief. The lens is filled with a saline solution before insertion, creating a fluid reservoir between the eye and the lens that provides hydration throughout the day. As well, the wide diameter covers more of the eye’s surface, preventing discomfort from dry air, wind, and other irritants.
Our Other Specialty Contact Lenses
Our team will work closely with you to determine the right lens style to match your visual needs and lifestyle. Whether you find soft contact lenses most comfortable or prefer the longevity of rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses, we have a standard or specialty lens option available for you.
In addition to the materials (soft or RGP), we also offer a variety of prescription styles and shapes that tailor towards individuals with astigmatism, corneal irregularities, and other vision needs that require more than a standard lens. Read more about the different specialty lenses we offer.
Aspheric lenses have a varying curvature across the surface of the lens, changing from the centre to the edge. This allows aspheric lenses to provide clearer vision for those with astigmatism or other corneal irregularities that are not corrected by standard, spherical lenses.
Hybrid lenses combine the comfort of soft contact lenses with the visual sharpness of RGP lenses. They include an RGP centre and a soft, silicone hydrogel skirt that sits on the eye, improving both comfort and vision. They can be a great option for individuals with astigmatism.
Multifocal contact lenses include multiple prescription powers to provide clear vision at near, intermediate, and far distances. Just like progressives, bifocals, and multifocal eyeglass lenses, multifocal contact lenses are a good option for individuals with presbyopia.
Myopia control refers to the practice of slowing myopia progression during childhood through specially designed eyewear and medicated eye drops. Myopia control contact lenses are specially designed to include multiple powers that send signals to the eye to slow growth and reduce myopia progression.
Ortho-k or orthokeratology lenses are the backbone of our Overnight Sight program. These custom-made lenses work by gently flattening the cornea (the clear, front part of the eye) overnight as you sleep. In the morning, you remove the lenses and enjoy clear vision, lens-free throughout the day. Ortho-k lenses can also be used in myopia control.
Toric lenses have a special design, shaped like a slice of a donut with a weighted side to keep the lens from shifting when you blink. Toric lenses are ideal for those with astigmatism, as the weighted side prevents distortions caused by standard lenses when they rotate.
Contact Lenses for All Ages
We offer standard and specialty contact lenses for all ages, from kids to adults. Our optometrists can fit children for contact lenses as soon as they are mature enough for the responsibility. We typically recommend daily disposable lenses for kids to reduce the pressure of cleaning and storing the lenses properly.
Whether you are considering trying contact lenses for the first time, interested in trying a new style of lens, or your child is asking about contacts, we can assist. We’re here to guide you through the process, offer our professional opinion, and provide you with recommendations tailored to your lifestyle, prescription, and eye health needs.
Ready to try contact lenses? Book your exam and fitting with us today.
Visit Our Location
Find us on the corner of Carpenter Fire Station Road and Cary Glen Boulevard. Parking is available in the lot behind the medical office building.
Our Address
Contact Information
- Phone: 919-465-7400
- Email: info@caryfamileyecare.com
Hours of Operation
* Closed for lunch from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Mondays through Thursdays
