CONTACT LENS ASSESSMENTS

Modern contact lenses are more convenient and more comfortable than ever before, allowing many people freedom from wearing spectacles. At Scartho Eyecare Ltd, Grimsby, you will be able to try contact lenses both in the consulting room and in your own environment. As we are an independent opticians we are able to source contact lenses from many manufacturers to find the most suitable for your eyes. Before your contact lens assessment you will need to have had an eye examination within the last year. If this has been performed at another opticians you will be required to bring the prescription with you.

The optometrist will discuss with you your contact lens requirements to assess the most suitable contact lenses for your lifestyle. The optometrist will then make a detailed examination of the eye surface and lids; assess the tear film and record any corneal measurements that are necessary. A pair of trial contact lenses may then be applied to the eyes, and after a short period to allow them to settle on the eye, determine their fit and how well you can see.

The next step is to give you confidence on taking the lenses in and out, and the appropriate care and hygiene of the lenses. You will be given time to practice with the optician, and will learn about contact lens do’s and don’ts’. Once fully confident a pair of trial contact lenses and solutions will be issued for you to try in your own environment for approximately one week.

On the follow up appointment you will be required to attend wearing the contact lenses so that the optometrist can review their fit and your vision, and make any necessary changes.

At the end of the consultation period you may wish to take advantage of the Scartho Eyecare Contact Lens Scheme. This is a monthly direct debit which gives discount on both spectacles and contact lenses, and covers all future contact lens checks and eye examinations.

BRANDS

As an independent company we are free to source any lens available on the market today, of course we have suppliers that over the years we have found provide an overall better service and quality of products and they are the lenses that we recommend first.

We are proud to supply many different types of lens, from the straight forward daily disposable, to Gas permeable lenses, through to newly released Myopia control lenses. Our Optometrists will guide you through the products that are available to you and recommend the perfect solution.

Contact lens brands we supply are Coopervision, Alcon (was Ciba), Johnson and Johnson, David Thomas, No. 7, Menicon and Bausch + Lomb.

DAILY LENSES

These lenses are a one time only wear lens, so are perfect for patients who want a fresh brand new pair every day, also great for patients who want the convenience of a new set every time as there is no cleaning involved.

Daily lenses are also perfect for casual wear, sports wear, nights out and holidays when you would like a break from your eyewear.

MONTHLY LENSES

Monthly lenses are very popular for Patients that want to wear contact lenses for more than 4/5 days a week as they are better value than daily lenses.

Monthly lenses need to be cleaned after every wear.

These lenses are also very popular for higher and more complicated prescriptions as there is much more availability in comparison to daily wear lenses.

GAS PERMIABLE / HARD LENSES

Often now seen as a more traditional solution and for a lot of patients, daily and monthly soft lenses are the perfect solution. However, these harder lenses for the correct patient can provide a far superior solution and should still be considered.

SPECIALISED LENSES

At Scartho Eyecare we know that the one size fits all approach to contact lens fitting does not suit everyone. Investment in the Antares Topographer allows us to map the surface of the eye which provides information on any peaks and troughs on the cornea which preclude the fitting of a standard contact lens. These irregularities may be due to surgical procedures such as laser corrective surgery and corneal graphs, or physiological conditions such as Keratoconus. Once the surface of the eye has been mapped we can liaise with our chosen contact lens manufacturers to provide the most suitable lens for the eye.

Often specialist contact lenses can provide a patient with better vision than in spectacles. This can include:

High Prescriptions - contact lenses reduce the magnification or magnification often experienced with spectacle lenses.

Anisometropia - where there is a significant difference in the spectacle prescriptions in each eye, often leading to a feeling of imbalance. Specialist contact lenses can aid a much better tolerance of vision.

Aphakia - where the eye’s natural lens is absent due to injury, complicated cataract surgery or congenitally, which results in a very high spectacle prescription. Specialist contact lenses will help with such high prescriptions.

Scleral Contact Lenses are large diameter contact lenses that completely vault over the cornea and rest on the sclera (white of the eye), which is a much less sensitive area. As well as being used for irregular corneas and high prescriptions, scleral lenses are an excellent option for dry eye. A number of the reasons are listed below:

1 Comfort - Standard soft lenses are often very irritating for dry eye patients as they sit on the cornea and act like sponges soaking up the moisture from the surface. Scleral lenses do not touch the corneal surface making them much more comfortable.

2 Constant Eye Hydration - the space between the surface of the eye and the cornea is filled with preservative free saline, giving constant hydration to the surface of the eye, and relief to the patient.

3 Corneal Protection - dry eye can leave the cornea more sensitive and open to damage. Even blinking can cause friction on the surface of the cornea causing injury. Scleral lenses act as a shield on the eye.

4 Better Appearance - dry eyes often look red and bloodshot, partly due to the condition and partly due to irritation from blinking and / or lack of hydration. In acting as a shield and a source of hydration the lens acts therapeutically and helps the eye retain a healthier appearance.

5 Eyedrops and Artificial Tears - preservative free eyedrops and artificial tears can still be used with a scleral lens, although artificial tear usage is often less frequent, or only required after removal of the lens at night.

6 Improved Quality of Life - dry eye patients suffer a constant struggle of pain, discomfort, eye fatigue and confidence issues due to red eyes. Scleral lenses reduce pain and discomfort by acting as a shield, reduce redness by hydrating the eye and provide visual correction thus improving quality of life.

COSTS