Contact Lenses

Everyone has a personal reason for choosing contact lenses. No matter why you prefer them to eyeglasses, you can count on the team at Vistasite Eye Care in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, New York, to offer a wide selection of today’s most advanced contact lenses. They also protect your eyes by teaching you how to use and care for your contacts. If you’re ready to learn more about contact lenses, call the New York City office or book an appointment online today.

What are contact lenses?

Contact lenses are thin, curved discs that you place directly on your eyes. The lenses improve your vision by bending light, so it focuses on the back of your eye (retina).

Contacts correct the same vision problems as eyeglasses:

• Nearsightedness (far away objects look blurry)
• Farsightedness (nearby objects look blurry)
• Astigmatism (far away and nearby objects look blurry)
• Presbyopia (age-related changes make it hard to see up close)

You can also get specialty contact lenses to improve other eye problems.

What specialty contact lenses can I get?

Specialty contact lenses improve vision and eye problems, including:

• Scleral contact lenses for keratoconus
• Multifocal lenses to correct near and far vision at the same time
• Lenses that protect your eye from sunlight
• Lenses that protect your eye after an injury
• Orthokeratology lenses correct nearsightedness

You can also get contact lenses that relieve dry eyes.

Are there different types of contact lenses?

Many patients have a personal preference for hard or soft lenses, but your provider may also recommend the type that’s best for your eye health and vision.

Your contact lens choices include:

Hard contact lenses

Hard contact lenses, also called rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses, are firm and hold their shape. They let oxygen flow through the lens, which is essential for keeping your eyes healthy.

RGP lenses generally produce sharper vision than soft lenses. They’re often recommended for people with astigmatism, keratoconus, and eye allergies.

Soft contact lenses

Soft contact lenses are made from gel-like plastics. They’re thin, pliable, and conform to the surface of your eye. (By comparison, RGP lenses retain their rigid shape.) These lenses are preferred by most patients because they’re comfortable and easy to wear.

Hybrid contact lenses

Hybrid contacts have an RGP lens in the center, surrounded by a soft lens.

Extended, daily, and continuous wear lenses

If you use daily wear lenses, you need to remove them every night. Extended wear lenses, which can be soft or RGP, can stay in overnight for up to seven days before you need to remove them. You can wear continuous wear contacts for up to 30 consecutive nights.

When you get contact lenses at Vistasite Eye Care, the team ensures you’re comfortable inserting and removing the lenses and know how to care for them. 

If you’re interested in contact lenses, call Vistasite Eye Care or book an appointment online today.