Contact lenses offer the freedom many wearers love, but with so many options available, finding the right pair can feel overwhelming. Maybe you’ve tried contacts before and struggled with comfort, or perhaps you’re considering making the switch from glasses for the first time.
The key to choosing the right contact lenses is matching them to your specific lifestyle, daily activities, and eye health needs through a professional fitting process. Your optometrist at Orillia Optometry can help you navigate these choices and find contact lenses that work seamlessly with how you live and work.
Common Types of Contact Lenses
Contact lenses come in a variety of types based on material, wear schedule, and your vision needs. Your optometrist can help you determine the right pair for you, but here are a few of the types we consider:
Daily Disposable Lenses
Daily disposable lenses are among the most common contact lenses worn. They’re easy to use, as you put in a fresh pair every morning and throw them away at night. These lenses require no cleaning or storage, making them preferable if you wear contacts only occasionally or want the convenience of zero maintenance.
Weekly & Monthly Lenses
Hard lenses last longer but need daily cleaning and proper storage in contact solution. You’ll need to remove them each night, clean them thoroughly, and store them in a clean case with fresh solution.
Monthly lenses can be more cost-effective and durable if you wear contacts daily. However, you’ll need to maintain a strict cleaning routine to keep your eyes comfortable.
Toric Lenses
Toric lenses help correct astigmatism by staying in a specific position on your eye. They have a weighted design that prevents rotation, providing clear, stable vision throughout the day.
Multifocal Lenses
Multifocal contacts can help with presbyopia or anyone with multiple prescriptions. Much like bifocals, they let you see clearly at different distances without reading glasses.
Match Your Contact Lenses to Your Daily Activities
Once you’ve thought about when and why you’re wearing contacts, it’s time to consider what activities you’ll be pursuing with your contact lenses. Here are some examples:
Active Lifestyle & Sports
Your contacts need to stay put when you’re moving quickly or sweating. The right lens material and fit prevent slipping or discomfort during physical activity.
- Ideally, you should avoid wearing contacts in any water. If you must, daily disposables can be paired with tight-fitting waterproof goggles, as you can discard them immediately afterward.
- Try secure-fitting hard lenses for high-impact activities like basketball or soccer.
- Extended wear options are often more comfortable for long training sessions or outdoor adventures.
Professional Work Environment
Office environments present unique challenges for contact lens wearers. Air conditioning, computer screens, and long hours can all affect lens comfort throughout your workday. The 20-20-20 rule can help reduce digital eye strain while wearing contacts.
- Lenses designed for computer work help reduce digital eye strain during long screen sessions.
- Extended comfort materials keep your eyes feeling fresh through long office hours.
- Moisture-retaining designs work well in air-conditioned spaces that can dry out your eyes
Social & Evening Activities
You need lenses that feel comfortable from morning to night when you’re attending events or social gatherings. Look for options that maintain moisture and clarity even after 12–14 hours of wear.
Easy insertion and removal also matter when you have busy mornings or late nights. Some lens designs are more forgiving if your routine varies from day to day.
Consider Your Eye Health & Comfort Needs
While many eye conditions once meant wearing contacts wasn’t an option, modern optometry allows us to offer a range of lenses to suit specific needs.
Dry Eye
Scleral lenses can help if your eyes tend to feel dry during the day. These larger lenses create a reservoir against the cornea and can feel more comfortable for people with naturally dry eyes.
Lenses made with silicone hydrogel materials allow more oxygen to reach your cornea, which can reduce dryness and irritation. Your eyes need oxygen to stay healthy, especially during extended wear.
Sensitive Eyes & Allergies
Hypoallergenic lens materials reduce reactions for people with sensitive eyes. Daily disposables prevent allergen buildup since you’re not wearing the same lens for weeks or months.
If you have seasonal allergies, daily replacement lenses help prevent pollen and other irritants from accumulating on your lenses. This can make allergy season much more comfortable.
Previous Contact Lens Challenges
Past fitting problems don’t mean contacts won’t work for you. New materials and designs address many comfort issues that older lens types couldn’t solve.
Vision concerns such as blurriness or lens movement often result from improper fitting rather than contact lens intolerance. A proper professional fitting can resolve these challenges.
Why Professional Contact Lens Fitting Matters
Proper fitting matters when it comes to contact lenses. Small changes in lens type or fit can significantly improve comfort. Some of the factors we consider during a contact lens fitting include:
- Corneal Curvature: By mapping the exact shape of your eye surface, we can fit your lenses properly without being too tight or loose.
- Pupil Size Measurements: Knowing your pupil size helps determine the correct lens diameter.
- Tear Film Evaluation: Examining your tear film reveals how well your eyes maintain moisture.
After the fitting comes the trial period, where you can test different lens options to see how they feel during your actual daily activities before committing to a full supply.
Once you have your lenses, we recommend regular check-ups to monitor your eye health. Your eyes can change over time, and we need to evaluate your lens’s performance periodically. These appointments can uncover any developing issues early, before they affect your vision.
Find Your Perfect Contact Lenses Today
Orillia Optometry provides comprehensive contact lens fittings and ongoing support to help you find lenses that match your unique lifestyle needs. Our team’s knowledge of specialty contact lenses can help you achieve clear vision without sacrificing the activities you love.
Schedule your eye appointment today to explore the wide selection of contact lenses and discover how the right fit can help you get back to doing what you love most.
