Contact Lenses
Why Choose Mackey Opticians for Your Contact Lenses?
As independent optometrists, Mackey Opticians are able to recommend to you from the widest range of contact lens possibilities to ensure that you get the best choice for your eyes and your lifestyle. When you book your appointment for a contact lens fitting we will discuss your needs, look at your eyes and then recommend what we believe to be the best solution for you. There are hundreds of possibilities and this page tries to explain some of the differences between various contact lenses.
Mackey Opticians offer corneal topography in many of our practices which allow us to create a 3D map of your cornea and also investigate your tear film and dry eye. This allows us to fit more specialised contact lens types including lenses for Keratoconus and other corneal irregularities.
We also offer easy payment schemes by direct debit and some manufacturers will offer home shipment if you prefer this.
Contact Lens Wearing Time
Until 1979, everyone who wore contact lenses removed and cleaned them nightly. The introduction of "extended wear" enabled wearers to sleep in their contacts. Now, two types of lenses are classified by wearing time:
Daily disposable lenses
With daily disposable lenses, no cleaning and disinfection is required after wear since the lenses are worn only once and thrown away. Do not re-use these lenses since disinfecting solutions will not be available and they are unsuitable for repeated use. Wearing daily disposables does not decrease the importance of regular check-ups.
Frequent Replacement lenses
Frequent replacement lenses are designed to be replaced regularly so that they never get covered in surface deposits that may cause allergy or encourage infection. Acuvue (Johnson & Johnson) lenses such as Oasys are normally replaced twice monthly while many other manufacturers replace lenses every month. Frequent replacement lenses require cleaning and disinfection every time they are worn.
Extended wear lenses
Extended wear lenses are designed for overnight wear and can be continuously worn for up to a week or a month at a time before being discarded. Extended lens wearers need more regular check ups than other wearers due to the increased risk of infection and other potential hazards.
Night Lenses
Night lenses are revolutionising vision correction, also known as Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses reshape the cornea overnight, providing clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses. This non-surgical approach offers wearers freedom from daytime vision correction, making it a popular choice for those seeking an alternative to traditional eyewear. Additionally, Ortho-K lenses may help control the progression of myopia, especially in children, further enhancing their appeal for vision correction.
When To Replace Your Contact Lenses?
Even with proper care, contact lenses (especially soft contacts) should be replaced frequently to prevent the build-up of lens deposits and contamination that increase the risk of eye infections. Soft lenses have these general classifications, based on how frequently they should be discarded:
Daily disposable lenses
Discard after a single day of wear
Frequent replacement lenses
Discard fortnightly or monthly, occasionally quarterly
Traditional (reusable) lenses
Discard every six months or longer
More Contact Lens Features
Bifocal contacts for astigmatism
These are advanced soft contacts that correct both presbyopia and astigmatism, so you can remain glasses-free after age 40 even if you have astigmatism.
Contacts for dry eyes
Are your contacts uncomfortably dry? Certain soft contact lenses are specially made to reduce the risk of contact lens-related dry eye symptoms.
Custom lenses
If conventional contact lenses don't seem to work for you, you might be a candidate for custom contact lenses that are made-to-order for your individual eye shape and visual needs.
UV-inhibiting lenses
Some soft contact lenses help protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet rays that can cause cataracts and other eye problems. But because contacts don't cover your entire eye, you still should wear UV-blocking sunglasses outdoors for the best protection from the sun.
Night Lenses
"Night lenses" are contact lenses that you wear while sleeping. They are specially designed to harmlessly, and naturally, re-shape the outer cell layer of your eye. Your eye naturally renews these cells every night into the lens to mould it into the correct shape. When you wake, you can enjoy the benefits of perfect vision* all day, without needing glasses or daytime contact lenses.
