WHAT IS CONTACT LENSES?
Contact lenses are a thin lens placed directly on the surface of the eye. They are worn by 150 million people worldwide, mainly for vision correction but also for cosmetic and therapeutic reasons. Broadly speaking, they are suitable for anyone. Vision correction is no longer a limiting factor. Regardless of whether you are long or short sighted, or even have astigmatism, almost everyone who needs eyesight correction can now wear contact lenses. There are also multifocal options for those who need different lens powers for distance and close work or only have reading glasses.
CONTACT LENS ASSESSMENTS
People have many different prescriptions, eye types and routines and ensuring that everyone gets the right contact lenses for them requires some expertise. During your contact lens assessment, an optometrist will examine your eyes to confirm you can safely wear lenses and gather all the information they need to provide you with the right ones. We leave plenty of time for each appointment, so your optometrist can get to know you and help you find a contact lens solution that suits your lifestyle.
THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF CONTACT LENSES
Contact lenses are now more comfortable, easy to apply and remove, and better for your eyes. We stock a wide range of contact lenses so people with different prescriptions and routines can find something that works for them. Soft contact lenses are easy to use and comfortable right from the beginning, making them a popular choice. They can be used as daily or monthly disposables. Gas permeable and varifocal lenses are also available and may be recommended depending on your eye type and prescription. Whatever your lifestyle requirements, we will pay close attention to make sure you get the right lenses.
DAILIES
Daily disposable contact lenses are the healthiest lens for your eyes and with no solution and no cleaning comes no hassle. Simply put in a new lens each day and recycle the worn and used lens–it couldn't be easier! Dailies are also a great choice for those who are prone to allergies as they avoid day-to-day build-up of dust, pollen and other irritants. They also allow great flexibility with wearing patterns and are ideal for sport and those who love the outdoors.
MONTHLY'S
Monthly contact lenses are a popular choice among patients that want to wear lenses full-time. Monthly disposable contact lenses allow significantly more oxygen into the eye, making them more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. They are worn daily and removed each night for up to one month. Monthly lenses are often more cost effective for full-time wearers, but the nightly cleaning can be seen as more inconvenient by some individuals.
TWICE MONTHLY
Twice monthly contact lenses can be worn for up to two weeks. They are removed every night so they can be cleaned, and they are also much more cost effective than daily disposables if you wear your lenses frequently as you won’t need to open a new set every day. Our most popular twice monthly lens is AcuveOasys by Johnson and Johnson, and it is considered one of the most comfortable fitting lenses available due to the high levels of Oxygen that reach the eye.
MULTIFOCAL
One of the most recent developments in Contact Lenses is the introduction of Daily Multifocal Contact Lenses. These lenses, also known as Varifocal Lenses, allow for distance, intermediate and reading correction all within one lens. This means that no additional pairs of spectacles are required, for example, reading glasses over a pair of distance contact lenses. As we age gracefully, our eyes find it more difficult to focus on objects close. This is called Presbyopia and means that we’ll start to need different prescriptions for different lifestyle activities.
TRANSITION
We've all seen spectacle lenses that change in colour depending on the light they are in–most known as Transitions. Well, now you can contact lenses that also react to the light, enabling you to squint less, and see more! This lens is produced by leading manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and seamlessly changes from clear to dark to reduce the impact of light on your eyes. It also provides the highest levels of UV Protection and blue light filter.
MYOPIA CONTROL
Near-sightedness, also known as myopia, is when you can see objects near to you clearly, but objects farther away are blurry. Myopia can start at a young age and therefore at Urquhart's, we are one of the few providers of MiSight Contact Lenses (each optician must be trained and approved) by Cooper Vision which is a pioneering contact lens which clinical studies demonstrate, slows the progression of myopia in children. Slowing this progression in turn reduces the likelihood of conditions such as Glaucoma and retinal detachments later in life.
AFTERCARE & ADVICE
Coming in for aftercare appointments and following the simple instructions for contact lens use will help to keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear. With aftercare we can help you make the most of your contact lenses by staying up-to-date with your prescription, monitoring the health of your eyes and letting you know about new information that could be helpful for you.