Eye with alphabets

Contact Lenses Mississauga

Millions of people across Canada wear contact lenses, which allow them to see the world without needing to wear unsightly glasses. While glasses are effective at correcting a person’s vision, contact lenses provide the same benefit without any of the drawbacks. No matter the amount of correction that needs to be made, contact lenses might be the right solution for you. The following provides you with an extensive look at contact lenses and how beneficial they can be for you.

How contact lenses work

Contact lenses are small and thin prescription lenses that come into contact with your eye. If you are experiencing refractive errors with your vision, contact lenses can correct your vision whenever the lenses are worn. Once placed in your eye, the contact lens will remain in place on the surface of your cornea.

These lenses work by focusing and refracting light, which makes it easier for you to see clearly. Contact lenses are able to move with your eyes because the tear fluid that’s present on the surface of your eyes keeps these lenses in place. There are several different types of contact lenses that you can select from.

Man applying contact lens
Two contact lenses

How contact lenses work

The ones you choose depend on how often you want to change your lenses and what vision problems you suffer from. While disposable contact lenses are designed to be replaced on a daily basis, other lenses are meant to be worn for one month before being replaced. Certain lenses can also be worn 24/7, which means that you don’t need to remove the lenses before going to bed each night. In most cases, however, you should remove your lenses each night so that they can be disinfected in a contact solution.

The exact contacts that you’re prescribed with can depend on your current vision problem. For instance, some contacts are designed to be worn specifically by people who have been diagnosed with astigmatism. You can also find contact lenses that are made for nearsightedness and farsightedness.

Toric lenses are the ones designed to correct astigmatism. These lenses are notable for being weightier at the bottom. The lenses that help correct farsightedness and nearsightedness are known as spherical lenses. As the name implies, these lenses have a perfectly spherical shape to them. Multi-focal, bifocal, and mono-vision lenses are also available if you require them for your vision problems.

How to Properly Apply and Remove Contact Lenses

Many of our first-time patients have found it somewhat difficult to place contact lenses in their eyes when they first get them, which is perfectly normal. If you’re wondering how to properly apply and remove contact lenses, you should begin by washing your hands with some kind of soap. Once you’ve rinsed your hands off, dry them with a clean towel.

Girl applying lens

To place the contact lens in your eye, put the lens directly on your finger tip. Use your other hand to keep your upper eyelid in place, which will help you avoid blinking at an inopportune moment. From here, pull down the upper eyelid with your nearest finger. Move the lens to the middle of your eye in a slow and gentle motion. Make sure that you’re looking upward as this happens. Once the contact has been placed in your eye, release your eyelid. You should then close your eye for a few seconds to settle the lens. Repeat these steps with your other eye.

woman holding contact lens and container

How to Properly Apply and Remove Contact Lenses

When you first start wearing contact lenses, you’ll likely find that this is the most difficult aspect of wearing them. Removing your contact lenses should be comparably easier to get used to. Just like you do before applying your contact lenses, it’s important that you thoroughly wash your hands before removing your contact lenses. From here, use your middle finger to pull your lower eyelid down. You should then place your index finger on the edge of your contact lens before sliding the lens downward.

Once the lens has reached the white portion of your eye, you should gently squeeze it with your index finger and thumb to remove it. These steps should then be repeated with your other lens. In the event that you wear disposable contact lenses, the lenses should be thrown away when you first remove them. As for bi-monthly or monthly contact lenses, these should be placed in a contact solution every time you remove them.

How to Properly Apply and Remove Contact Lenses

Now that you know how to apply and remove your contact lenses, it’s important that you understand how to clean contact lenses, which is relatively simple and straightforward. As was mentioned before, it’s essential that you wash your hands before you touch your contact lenses. When you want to clean your contact lenses, it’s important that you use the right solution that will effectively get rid of all of the impurities that can be found on the lenses.

Never use a saline solution or sterile water to clean your lenses. Instead, you should use a contact lens cleaning solution, which you can find in practically any supermarket or pharmacy. Use your fingers to rub and rinse the contact lenses with your cleaning solution of choice. Make sure to do so in a slow and gentle motion.

Contact lens lubricant
Girl lubricating contact lens

How to Properly Apply and Remove Contact Lenses

It’s also important that your fingernails don’t touch the lenses, which could cause the lenses to tear. Once cleaned, your lenses should be placed in a lens case that contains fresh solution. Keep in mind that your lens case should also be cleaned regularly. Some additional tips for keeping your contact lenses clean include:

  • Avoid smoke and similar pollutants that can irritate your eyes
  • Don’t wear any contact lenses for longer than one month
  • Use a different contact lens case every 2-3 months

Benefits of Getting Contact Lenses Mississauga

There are many notable benefits that come with wearing contact lenses, the primary of which is that you won’t need to wear eyeglasses. If you play sports of any kind, contact lenses won’t get in your way, which you definitely can’t say about eyeglasses. Since contact lenses move with your eyes, you should never have difficulties seeing something that’s in your peripheral vision.

While glasses can get fogged up when you’re out in the snow or rain, this problem doesn’t occur with contact lenses. No matter what type of vision problem you’re currently suffering from, contact lenses should be able to provide you with the same level of vision correction that you would get from eyeglasses.

Girl smiling and showing contact lens
Girl showing contact lenses and and glasses

Benefits of Getting Contact Lenses Mississauga

The main aspect of the exam is the visual acuity test, which requires you to sit in front of a basic eye chart. This chart contains letters that become much smaller as you progress from line to line. The point of this test is to determine how well you can see. You’ll cover each eye separately before reading as many letters as you can see. You’ll then repeat the process with your other eye.

 

Another aspect of the exam is the refraction test, which involves flipping between different lenses with a phoropter instrument. You’ll be asked which lens provides you with better vision. This process allows our optometrist to fine tune the prescription. Once every test has been completed, you’ll be provided with a prescription, which typically lasts for one year before an additional vision exam is needed.

What to Expect From Your Vision Exam

Before you’re provided with contact lenses, you’ll need to go through a vision exam, which is a simple and relatively short examination that tests your vision. Make sure that you take some sunglasses with you to prepare for the exam. It’s possible that you’ll be provided with eye drops in the course of the vision exam. These drops can make your eyes more sensitive to light, which is why sunglasses are recommended.

eye test with specialist

Another aspect of the exam is the refraction test, which involves flipping between different lenses with a phoropter instrument. You’ll be asked which lens provides you with better vision. This process allows our optometrist to fine tune the prescription. Once every test has been completed, you’ll be provided with a prescription, which typically lasts for one year before an additional vision exam is needed.

woman optician during eye exam

What to Expect From Your Vision Exam

The main aspect of the exam is the visual acuity test, which requires you to sit in front of a basic eye chart. This chart contains letters that become much smaller as you progress from line to line. The point of this test is to determine how well you can see. You’ll cover each eye separately before reading as many letters as you can see. You’ll then repeat the process with your other eye.

Another aspect of the exam is the refraction test, which involves flipping between different lenses with a phoropter instrument. You’ll be asked which lens provides you with better vision. This process allows our optometrist to fine tune the prescription. Once every test has been completed, you’ll be provided with a prescription, which typically lasts for one year before an additional vision exam is needed.

Contact Lens Brands We Partner With

When you request our contact lenses, you’ll find that we partner with numerous contact lens brands, each of which has a sterling reputation. The main brands that we partner with include Acuvue, Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, and Cooper Vision. We can help you determine which contact lens brand is right for you.

If you’re interested in contact lenses and believe that they would help correct your vision, call us today to book your first appointment.

Brown eyes girl applying contact lens