Contact Lenses
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Sanderson Eye Clinic
Ophthalmologists & Optometrists located in Edina, MN
More than 30% of Americans use contact lenses to improve their vision. That includes many residents of Edina, Minnesota, who trust Sanderson Eye Clinic with their eye health. These devices can make a world of difference in your daily life and numerous technological advancements that make contact lenses even more effective and comfortable. If you are ready to give contact lenses a try, contact Sanderson Eye Clinic today.
Contact Lenses Q & A
Can contact lenses address nearsightedness and farsightedness?
Contact lenses correct refractive errors, including nearsightedness and farsightedness.
Nearsightedness
If you’re nearsighted, you may have trouble focusing on distant objects. Corrective lenses bend the light to enter the top and bottom of the lens, adjusting the focal point to the retina.
Farsightedness
When you are farsighted, you may have difficulty focusing on close objects. Corrective lenses distribute light from the center portion of the lens, spreading it outward and changing the focal point.
How do contact lenses work?
Contact lenses are incredibly thin plastic discs worn directly on the surface of your cornea. They improve your vision by correcting refractive errors.
Contact lenses move with your natural eye movement without line of sight issues, a common problem with eyeglasses.
Contact lenses have two categories: soft and hard. Hard contact lenses hold their shape well while still allowing oxygen to flow to your cornea.
Soft contact lenses are a comfortable and versatile option. Wear extended-wear soft lenses overnight, daily-wear lenses for multiple days, and replace disposables frequently.
What are toric contact lenses?
Toric contact lenses have a specific design to correct astigmatism. Astigmatism occurs when your cornea has a football shape instead of a rounder shape. The shape of your cornea changes the way light hits the cornea and passes through the eye.
Toric contact lenses are usually made of a soft hydrogel material, although rigid gas permeable options are available. Toric lenses differ from spherical lenses in two critical ways.
Ability to bend light
Toric contact lenses are thicker in some areas and thinner in others. That feature allows the lenses to provide customized correction for your astigmatism.
Orientation requirements
Spherical lenses offer the same light-bending properties throughout, so rotation caused by blinking doesn’t create an issue. Because toric lenses bend light differently in specific areas, they must maintain proper alignment with the area of your cornea that requires correction. Some toric lenses have weights along the bottom portion to prevent rotation.
Because toric lenses are so complex, they cost more than spherical lenses. These lenses also require a skilled professional to ensure an optimal fit. Call to schedule your specialized contact lens fit.
