Which Contact Lens Option Is Right for Me? By Monterey County Eye Associates on January 17, 2020

A pair of contact lensesYou’ve tried wearing glasses for a while, but now you may want to switch to contacts. Getting the right contact lenses can be easier said than done. That’s where Dr. Eric J. Del Piero and Dr. Leland H. Rosenblum can help. Countless patients in the Salinas and Monterey, CA area have come to their vision centers for contact lenses.

Below, we’ll go over a few different concerns when it comes to finding the right contact lenses for your eyes. You’ll learn why it’s so important to speak with an eye doctor about these matters.

Types of Contact Lenses

There are two basic kinds of contact lenses: soft contact lenses and rigid gas-permeable contact lenses. The vast majority of people (around 90 percent) wear soft contact lenses.

A Question of Contact Lens Comfort

In terms of comfort, the advantage goes to soft contacts, which patients can wear occasionally if they choose, opting for glasses when their contacts are not in.

Rigid gas-permeable contact lenses take a little getting used to, and they have to be worn daily in order to patients to feel comfortable with them on.

How Contacts Affect Vision Clarity

While rigid gas-permeable contact lenses are less comfortable, they can provide much greater vision clarity. If you want crisp, sharper vision, rigid gas-permeable contact lenses are ideal for you.

With soft contact lenses, you trade clarity for comfort. You’ll see just fine with soft contact lenses, but the quality will be different from that of hard contacts.

Considering Eye Conditions You Have

Certain kinds of contact lenses may be more ideal if you have certain vision conditions or issues with your eye health.

  • If you suffer from astigmatism, you may benefit more from having rigid gas-permeable lenses rather than soft lenses.
  • If you suffer from chronic dry eye, soft lenses or special scleral lenses may be recommended, though you may benefit most from not wearing contacts at all.
  • For people who wear bifocals, there are multifocal contact lenses available that can help you see objects at various distances clearly.

The above are just a few examples of how there are different kinds of contact lenses for different patient needs.

What About Disposable Contact Lenses?

Disposable soft contact lenses are used for a short amount of time and discarded, which means you do not have to worry too much about the daily cleaning of your contacts. If you benefit more from hard contacts, keep in mind that you must keep these contacts clean to prevent eye infections and discomfort.

We Are Here to Help

There are so many contact lens options available. For many people, it’s not clear what kind of contact lens would be best for them. This is why it’s important to stop by our practice for a consultation.

Our vision specialists can go over your medical history and perform a full eye exam. We will carefully assess the health of your eyes, the shape of your eyes, and other factors that may affect the choice of contacts for your needs.

Contact Monterey County Eye Associates

If you would like more information about contact lenses and which type may be ideal for your vision and health concerns, be sure to contact our skilled team of eye doctors. We are here to help. You can reach us in Monterey by calling (831) 375-5066, in Salinas by calling (831) 424-1150, and on Upper Ragsdale Drive by calling (831) 372-1500.

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The team of doctors at Monterey County Eye Associates

Monterey County Eye Associates
Leland H. Rosenblum, MD - MBEC
Eric J. Del Piero, MD

Our team of ophthalmologists provides state-of-the-art eye care using the latest technology. They are proud to be affiliated with: 

  • AAO: American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • ABO: American Board of Ophthalmology

To schedule an appointment, please call us at one of our four ophthalmologist office locations in Monterey, Ryan Ranch, Salinas, and King City, or contact us online.

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