Does My Child Need Contacts for Sports?

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If your child wears corrective eyewear, you may wonder if they need contacts rather than eyeglasses on the field. This is not a straightforward question, especially if your child is not the most diligent when it comes to general hygiene. After all, contacts require the wearer to be responsible enough to care for them daily. Below, we’ll look at whether kids need contacts and how to make the best decision.

Eye Safety and Sports

If your child constantly damages their eyeglasses even when they’re not playing sports, you can see why you might want to invest in contact lenses. Typically, kids find it more comfortable to wear contacts than eyeglasses, because they don’t have to deal with reflections from the sun or the fogging off their lenses in cloudy weather. Plus, they can throw on sunglasses when they need them and instantly take them off when they don’t.

When Your Child Shouldn’t Wear Contacts

The one place where kids shouldn’t wear contact lenses in McMurray, PA is in the water because they’re more at risk for eye infections or general irritation — regardless of whether they wear goggles. In that case, kids can wear standard goggles while they swim and use their existing eyesight to navigate the waters.

Finding the Right Contact Lenses for Your Child

Finding the right lens for your child starts with having the right exam. If you’re looking for an eye doctor in McMurray, PA who can pinpoint the most comfortable product based on your child’s eye curvature and needs, contact the staff at Lappen Eye Care today.

Can I Wear Contacts With Dry Eyes?

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Dry eyes and contact lenses in Pittsburgh, PA usually don’t mix well, but it’s not impossible to wear contacts with this condition, as long as the dry eye syndrome is being treated by an optometrist.

What is Meant by Dry Eyes?

Dry eyes occur when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly, leading to discomfort, irritation, and redness. For those who try to wear contact lenses, this condition can worsen, causing the lenses to feel uncomfortable, blurry, or even painful. So, can you wear contacts with dry eyes? Well, it depends.

The Impact of Dry Eyes on Contact Lens Wear

Contacts do have a minimal effect on the surface moisture content of the eye. When you have dry eyes, your eyes may not produce enough moisture to keep your lenses comfortable. This can result in the lenses feeling dry, gritty, or irritating. Contacts can also disrupt the natural tear film that protects the surface of your eyes, exacerbating dryness. The thing is, you could end up with a bigger problem if your cornea ends up getting scratched as a result.

Choosing the Right Contacts

If you have dry eyes but still want to wear contacts, there are options designed to minimize discomfort. Soft, silicone hydrogel lenses allow more oxygen to reach the eye, which helps keep your eyes hydrated. You could also talk to your optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA about scleral lenses, which don’t actually make contact with the cornea itself. Some contact lenses are also designed specifically for dry eye sufferers, offering moisture-locking features or better hydration to reduce irritation.

If you’re determined to wear contacts even though you suffer from dry eyes, talk to Lappen Eye Care. We can recommend various options that might make that possible. Get in touch today.

Which Types of Contacts Are Right For You?

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If you have previously been told that contact lenses were not an option because of a “hard to fit” eye condition like astigmatism or keratoconus, you may be in for a pleasant surprise.

New technology has brought about changes in the field of vision correction and treatment of eye disease.New types of contact lenses can be life-changing, and newer types of contacts make it possible to improve vision in different ways.

With four locations ready to serve clients in the Pittsburgh area, Lappen Eye Care offers medical solutions in addition to corrective lenses. Our doctors and clinicians utilize the latest in advanced diagnostic tools, and we treat patients of all ages. We always attempt to tailor solutions to our patients’ lifestyles, personal preferences, and budgets.

New Types of Contacts Available

Today, if you’re interested in contact lenses, you may have multiple options. Depending on your eyes and the type of correction your vision requires, you may qualify for extended-wear contacts or disposable lenses.

Recent advancements in contact lens materials, sizing and fitting procedures, and price variations all play a part in your decision-making process.

Our eye doctor can explain the relative advantages of traditional, disposable, or extended-wear contacts, hard or soft lenses, those that cover only the cornea and those that extend to the whites of the eye. That’s enough to make your head spin, right?

Is Now the Time to Explore Your Options?

As a prelude to deciding which type of lens will best suit you, the specialists at Lappen Eye Care will schedulea complete eye exam the first time you visit. We are well-informed about the latest advancements in contact lens technology, and can speak with authority about emerging trends.

If you’re interested in learning more, why notschedule an appointment today at the most convenient location for you? After a detailed eye exam and a thorough discussion of your specific needs and preferences, our vision professionals will be able to explain the options available for your eyes and your lifestyle.

Can I Wear Contacts If I’ve Sustained Corneal Trauma?

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Corneal trauma is more common than people might realize. Trauma is an everyday occurrence caused by scratches, which can happen from an errant eyelash to chemical contact. So if you’re asking if you can still wear contacts if you’ve sustained trauma, you’re certainly not alone. We’ll examine how new products have opened the doors for people with even serious traumatic tales.

The Long and Short
Whether you can wear contacts depends on your particular circumstances. However, the general advice is that you can wear contacts as long as you wait for the cornea to heal entirely and get the sign-off from your optometrist.

Specialty Contact Lenses
Contact lenses in McMurray, PA, pose problems for many people. Sometimes the sheer act of trying to fit one in your eye can be frustrating enough to rely on your glasses for the rest of your life. The good news is that success with contact lenses is typically possible if you’re willing to commit to finding the right ones for you.

Contact lenses today, which can include rigid gas permeable lenses, scleral lenses, toric lenses, multifocal, and hybrids, provide options for people with a wide range of visual conditions. So if you’ve been told that trauma has changed the shape of the cornea too much for contacts, you may want to give them another try.

Specialty Contacts in McMurray, PA
The best contact lenses for you depend on what you’re comfortable wearing and which products will best correct your vision. Talking to a professional can help you get more information, including which contacts have the shortest adjustment periods. If you’re looking for an eye doctor in McMurray, PA, with experience in corneal trauma, contact Lappen Eye Care today to make an appointment.

Contact Lens Care 101: Best Practices for Comfort and Hygiene

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For many patients,contact lenses in Pittsburgh, PA, are one of the most desirable paths to better vision. However, if you are a contact lens wearer, taking good care of your lenses must become a stationary part of your everyday routine. Take a look at these best practices for comfort and hygiene below.

1. Only install clean contact lenses
Always make sure contact lenses have been properly cleaned with an approved contact lens cleaning solution before installing them. Small particles, most of which are impossible to see with the naked eye, like bacteria, can linger on the lens and cause the risk of infection.

2. Remove contacts before swimming and bathing
Make it a habit to take out your lenses before showering, bathing, or swimming. Splashes of water can contain bacteria that can get trapped behind the lenses.

3. Keep your hands clean when removing and installing lenses
Just as you need to have clean lenses, you also need clean hands. Bacteria can transfer from the fingers to the clean lens during installation. So, before touching the cleaned lenses, be sure to wash your hands well with an antibacterial soap.

4. Replace contact lenses as recommended
Contact lenses will need to be replaced at different intervals depending on the type. For example, some lenses are only meant to be worn for one day and then replaced, while others may be wearable for a few days as long as they are properly cleaned between wears.

Discuss Proper Contact Lens Hygiene with a Pittsburgh Optometrist
Contact lenses can bring a few added steps to your daily routine. However, when you follow the recommendations of aPittsburgh dentist, these optic solutions can make a dramatic difference in everyday life. Reach out to the team at Lappen Eye Care with questions.

Understanding Specialty Contact Lenses: Types and Benefits

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While many people think of contact lenses as simply hard or soft, the world of specialty contact lenses offers solutions for individuals with unique vision needs. These advanced lenses are designed to address specific conditions, providing enhanced comfort and functionality. Let’s explore three key types of specialty contact lenses and their advantages.

Top 3 Specialty Contact Lens Options in Pittsburgh, PA

Specialty lenses are created to tackle specific vision challenges. Here’s a closer look at the most common types:

  1. Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses
    RGP lenses are known for their durability and oxygen permeability. These firm lenses are often recommended for individuals with corneal irregularities, such as keratoconus. A subtype, Ortho-K lenses, is worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea, potentially reducing dependence on glasses or contacts during the day.
  2. Scleral Lenses
    Unlike standard lenses that rest on the cornea, scleral lenses are designed to vault over it, resting on the sclera (the white of the eye). This makes them an excellent option for individuals with severely misshapen corneas, providing both comfort and improved vision.
  3. Toric Lenses
    Toric lenses are specifically crafted to correct astigmatism, a refractive error caused by an irregularly shaped cornea or lens. Unlike traditional lenses, toric lenses are uniquely shaped to provide precise correction based on the eye’s horizontal and vertical orientations.

Why Visit an Eye Doctor in Greensburg or Pittsburgh for Specialty Contacts?

If you’ve ever assumed contact lenses weren’t an option for you, think again. Modern advancements in lens technology make it possible to address a wide range of vision issues comfortably and effectively. Specialty lenses, such as Ortho-K, even offer the potential to reshape your cornea and reduce your reliance on corrective eyewear altogether.

At Lappen Eye Care, we specialize in helping patients find the right contact lenses for their unique needs. Whether you’re dealing with keratoconus, astigmatism, or other vision challenges, our team is here to guide you toward a clearer, more comfortable future.

3 Major Types of Specialty Contact Lenses

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Most people will divide contact lenses into either hard or soft categories. Soft contacts are often more comfortable for people, even if they don’t always last as long as hard contacts. However, there’s a range of specialty contact lenses in Pittsburgh, PA, designed for people with different conditions. We’ll look at three major types and who they’re made for.

3 Specialty Lenses in Greensburg

The most common types of specialty lenses include:

  • RPG: Known as rigid gas permeable, these lenses are stiff enough to allow more oxygen to the eyes. It makes them more suitable for people with corneal irregularities, including keratoconus. Ortho-K contacts are a type of RPG lens that’s worn to help reshape the cornea.
  • Scleral: A scleral contact is usually easy to spot because they don’t lie flat on the eye. If the cornea is severely misshaped, the goal of the scleral contact is to bypass the cornea entirely to rest solely on the whites of the eye.
  • Toric: A toric lens is designed to correct refractive errors for people with astigmatism. It will adjust the lens based on horizontal or vertical orientation. Unlike standard lenses, these lenses are shaped like a more abstract geometrical shape rather than a perfect circle.

Eye Doctors in Greensburg, PA

There are plenty of reasons to see an eye doctor in Greensburg or Pittsburgh for contact lenses, even if you’ve assumed in the past that they weren’t for you. Today’s technology not only makes them more comfortable to wear, they may be more effective than you realize at helping you see clearly without the need for glasses. Lenses like Ortho-K may even help correct your vision, reducing your need for glasses and contacts altogether. At Lappen Eye Care, we can help you find the right option for you.

Do One-Day Contacts Cause Dry Eye?

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Single-use contacts have been popular with many people for a number of reasons. Not only are they easier to care for, in that you don’t have to worry about cleaning or storing them, but they’re also supposed to be fresher for your eyes. However, because once-a-day contacts are made from a thinner material, they react differently to the eye throughout the day. If you’ve noticed that your eyes are a little drier after starting this regimen, or if you’re concerned about whether you’ll experience dry eyes by switching, we’ll look at what you can expect.

Thinner Material

Because daily contacts in Greensburg, PA, are only designed for single-use wear, they’re made from a thinner material. This means that they’re less breathable than lenses designed for longer wear, which can mean that more moisture is absorbed into the lens. The less moisture in your eye, the more likely you are to feel the sting of dry eye.

How to Prevent Dry Eyes

The most basic way to prevent dry eyes is to make sure that you’re following all the general instructions. This means wearing your contact lenses for the appropriate amount of time (e.g., no longer than a day) and using artificial tears if your eyes start to feel uncomfortable. However, if you’re still experiencing severe symptoms, it might be time for a different lens.

See an Optometrist in Pittsburgh

The right optometrist can help you determine which lens is going to keep you the most comfortable over the course of the day. Visiting the staff of Lappen Eye Care, with locations in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, and McMurray, we can make recommendations about which brands are known to give people with dry eye the most relief, whether that’s a daily contact or not.

Three Benefits of Specialty Contact Lenses

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Specialty contact lenses are those designed to work with unique corneas. Often, they counteract irregularities that affect your vision. Unlike traditional contacts that correct refractive errors and help you to see more clearly, specialty lenses serve other purposes. Your eye doctor in Pittsburgh can tell you more about specialty contacts and why they might be a good solution for you.

Three Benefits of Specialty Contact Lenses

Specialty contact lenses offer several important benefits, including:

  1. Improving your vision
  2. Easing pain and discomfort
  3. Improving the appearance of your eyes

Your eye specialist may prescribe specialty contact lenses if you have corneal disease, if the shape of your eye is changing, if you’ve recently had trauma to the eye, or if you regularly suffer from severe dry eye. For patients who struggle with these conditions, specialty contact lenses can be life-changing. They not only improve vision clarity, but they can ease pain and discomfort, too.

Will I Wear Specialty Contacts Forever?

The answer to this question depends on the reason why your eye doctor prescribed them. For instance, if you’re wearing a contact lens to ease pain after scratching your cornea in an accident, this will be temporary. And once your cornea has healed, you’ll no longer need the lens. However, if you struggle with keratoconus, a condition that causes thinning and bulging of the cornea, you may have to wear special contacts, called scleral contacts, for the rest of your life.

Specialty Contact Lenses in Pittsburgh, PA

For more information on specialty contact lenses in Pittsburgh, PA, call Lappen Eye Care today. The friendly and experienced professionals at Lappen Eye Care will be happy to sit down with you to discuss your vision challenges and provide solutions. Contact us today to schedule an eye exam and consultation.

3 Ways to Get Used to Your Progressive Lenses

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Progressive lenses are popular among bifocal wearers because they eliminate the line between the two types of lenses. This makes progressive lenses attractive. Getting used to progressive lenses can take time, but when you’re working with a reputable eye doctor in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, and the surrounding area, your eye doctor can help with this. Here’s what you can do to get used to your new progressive lenses.

1. Wear them as often as possible unless you get a headache.

Switching back and forth between your progressive lenses and your old eyeglasses can draw out the time it takes to get used to your progressive lenses. Wearing your glasses as often as possible will help you get used to your glasses faster. If you get a headache, remove your new glasses to give your eyes a break. Otherwise, keep wearing them. If you get frequent headaches with your new glasses, report this to your eye doctor.

2. Move your head to look at distances, not your eyes.

If you need to look at an object in the distance, it may be tempting to move your eyes in your glasses. Instead, keep your eyes pointed straight ahead. Get used to moving your head when looking at objects in the distance. Move your eyes when you need to read, then you can look down through the lens.

3. Have your glasses fitted by a professional.

When you get your new eyeglasses in Pittsburgh, Greensburg and the surrounding area, have your glasses fitted by your eye doctor to ensure that they fit properly. Your glasses should feel comfortable while you wear them. If your glasses push down on your ears or nose in a way that isn’t comfortable, give yourself a few days to get used to them. If they continue to hurt, ask your eye doctor to readjust them.

Want more suggestions about how you can get used to your new glasses? Call the professionals at Lappen Eye Care.