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    Our office takes pleasure in providing contact lens services even for challenging cases such as high astigmatism, cosmetic soft lenses tinted to hide disfiguring scars or even adding a corporate logo--if you can think of it, we can do it!
   Custom designed soft lenses to correct large amounts of astigmatism, ultra-thin super gas permeable rigid lenses for high myopia, or new technology Biocompatible lenses (Proclears) or EXTREME H20s for those with dry eye symptoms are all options we might consider during a contact lens evaluation. And now SynergEyes hybrid lenses are available with a rigid gas permeable center and soft outer edges.
    Dr. Barr is certified in Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT), the newly FDA approved treatment for myopia
(nearsightedness) reduction using specially design contact lenses while you sleep! There are no age restrictions so this technique is especially useful in children who show increases in myopia every year. The best part about CRT is that it is reversible, unlike Laser Vision Correction. Check out www.paragoncrt.com.

If you have already had a comprehensive eye and vision examination, either in our office or elsewhere within the last year, we can do a contact lens evaluation. Otherwise the comprehensive exam is the first step. We don't want to be concentrating on contacts if there are underlying problems that have not yet been diagnosed.
Testing includes an infra-red scan of the cornea to determine its curvature. One size does not fit all when it comes to contacts. Refractive tests are performed both with and without diagnostic contact lenses to determine appropriate power. When your lenses arrive we will make sure you are well trained in their application and removal.

There are two ways to wear contact lenses:

DAILY WEAR
Lenses made to be removed before sleeping are considered daily wear lenses. They are available in soft, rigid and disposable designs. Daily wear is the safest way to wear contacts.

EXTENDED WEAR
Lenses made with enough oxygen transmissibility to allow overnight wear are considered extended wear lenses. They may still be used in a daily wear mode. They are available in soft, rigid and disposable designs. Until recently, the FDA had approved up to 7 days of wear before removal. Recently approval was granted for 30 days continuous wear for Focus Night and Day lenses. Not all eyes, however, are extended wear eyes regardless of the type of lens being worn. The risk of complications such as infection, ulcerative keratitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis and others is 10 times greater when sleeping in lenses.

There are several types of lenses:

SOFT
Conventional soft lenses are designed to last about 1 year and require thorough cleaning and disinfecting.

RIGID GAS PERMEABLE (RGP)
These lenses actually provide more oxygen to the cornea than soft lenses. They also provide a "retainer" effect which helps keep your prescription more stable. In fact this material is used to make the corneal molding lenses used in Corneal Refractive Therapy to reduce nearsightedness while you sleep. Astigmatism is usually well corrected with RGPs.
A new large design gas permeable called MACROLENS is now available which approaches the comfort of a soft lens with the crisp vision of a rigid lens! This lens is especially useful for problem corneas distorted from keratoconus or "discount" laser surgery.

HYBRID LENSES
SynergEyes have a rigid gas permeable center, and a soft skirt around it, for the clarity of a rigid lens and the comfort of a soft lens.

TORIC (ASTIGMATIC)
Astigmatism is a distortion of focus from a warped curvature of the eye. By creating a lens with a warp in the opposite direction we can cancel out the astigmatic blur. These lenses can be made in soft of rigid designs.

DISPOSABLE
Really all lenses are disposable, it's just a matter of how long before you dispose of them. We usually reserve the term for lenses replaced more than once a year. Typical design lives range from 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, quarterly to semiannually. This is based on a number of factors including your wearing schedule, the lens material, its ionic charge and ability to resist deposits.
Generally the more often you replace a lens, the healthier it is for your eyes.

TINTED
Tinted lenses are available in a number of standard colors, both opaque and translucent. Custom designs can be made to give you whatever you want. Custom lenses are on a case by case basis and are not reviewed individually by the FDA as they are custom medical devices. Cat eyes, stars in your eyes, spirals and other designs are available as "Wild Eyes" Check out the Wild Eyes by Ciba Vision web site at www.wild-eyes.com for the available styles and call us.

    Wearing contact lenses carries more risk than wearing spectacles. A small risk, but a risk none the less. A lens in contact with the eye must remain clean and free of infectious material. That's easy to do if you throw away the lens at the end of every day. There are cleaning and disinfecting products that help maintain the lens if it is to be re-worn. Eventually the lens will need to be replaced.
    Even with the most diligent cleaning, build up of proteins, lipids and calcium will eventually occur necessitating lens replacement. Replacement should occur before the wearer is conscious of any discomfort. If the lens reaches the stage of awareness it has already begun to compromise eye health.
    Problems which occur are usually associated with the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye where the lens rests. If there is too little oxygen available to the cornea, cells start to die. White blood cells may infiltrate into the area and cause scarring and even ulceration. This is 10 times more likely to occur when wearing lenses 24 hours a day.
    Infections may occur in the cornea or conjunctiva (conjunctivitis) or both. If a virus or bacteria sets up housekeeping on the lens surface it increases the chance that it will transfer to the eye.
    The tears contain protein which deposits on the lens surface. This protein can act as an antigen causing an allergic response from the eye and eye lid tissue.

Dr. Barr recommends contact lens wearers be seen in the office every 6 months. At that time the eyes should be re-examined under the biomicroscope. Signs of oxygen deprivation, white blood cell infiltration, blood vessel growth into the cornea, superficial punctate keratitis and other potentially sight threatening conditions can be diagnosed before any symptoms are present. The lens design, wearing schedule, or lens replacement schedule can then be modified in order to allow the patient to continue wearing contact lenses successfully.

Please submit any questions or comments to: drkenchu@drkenchu.com