Contacts

contact room

Iowa Eye Center Optical professionals are board certified and fully knowledgeable about all aspects of contact lenses and their use and care. We fit our patients with numerous types of quality contact lenses and provide care and expert advice. We can also ship your contact lenses to you, if you like.

About contact lenses

Contact lenses are made of different materials – soft and rigid gas permeable. They come in a range of powers, base curves and diameters. Each type of contact lens has its own design and characteristics which affect the fitting and visual qualities. Types of contact lenses include:
* Soft
* Rigid gas permeable
* Disposable
* Bifocal
* Multifocal
* Monovision
* Toric
* Specialty or Custom

Types of contact lenses:

Traditional soft contact lenses – These are made of hydrogel polymers (soft plastics that contain water). The plastic is not oxygen permeable, so the water carries the oxygen through the contact lens to the eye. The replacement schedules include yearly, monthly, every two weeks and one-day disposable.

Silicone hydrogel contact lenses – These lenses use both their water and polymer content to transmit oxygen to the eye. Silicone is oxygen permeable and contains less water than traditional hydrogel lenses. Silicone hydrogel contacts have a replacement schedule that can varies from one-day disposable to every two weeks to monthly.

Toric contact lenses – Toric lenses are made in soft and rigid gas permeable materials. Soft contact lens materials can be hydrogel or silicone hydrogel. Torics have two powers in them created with curvatures at different angles (one for astigmatism, the other for myopia or hyperopia). Correctly fitting a toric lens takes more time and expertise than regular contacts, so expect a fitting for torics to be more expensive than a regular lens fitting. The lenses also cost more than spherical lenses. Torics are available as frequent replacement, every two weeks and one-day disposal.

Multifocal contact lenses – These are designed for people with presbyopia. Multifocal contacts are available in both soft and rigid gas permeable materials. Soft multifocal contact lenses are available in monthly, every two weeks and one-day disposable options.

Colored contact lenses – Contact lenses come in a variety of colors and enhancers. Your Iowa Eye Center Optical professional can guide you through the many choices of colored lenses and how they will affect your appearance and vision.

Tips for contact lenses:

Wash your hands before handling lenses – lotions or make-up can contaminate them; germs can cause eye infections.
Never expose soft contact lenses to water – no swimming or bathing with them.
Clean, store and replace lenses according to your eye care professional’s instructions.
Remove your lenses if they’re uncomfortable, which can be an early warning sign.
Schedule yearly eye exams to keep your prescription accurate and keep your eyes healthy for contacts.
Replace lenses with new ones as often as recommended. Old lenses can get deposits and scratches, leading to discomfort, decreased vision and possible harm to your eyes.
Consult your eye care professional before sleeping in contacts.
Use the right lens solution, which our Contact Lens Department will help you with.
If your eyes are irritated, call us – red, irritated eyes are a warning sign for a number of things such as over-wear, allergy, infection, protein build-up, corneal ulcers, dry eyes or poorly fitting lenses.