There are many types of contact lenses and many reasons to wear contact lenses.

At Slade and Baker Vision Center we offer: Soft Contact Lenses , Multi-Focal Lenses, Gas permeable Lenses, Synergeyes Lenses, a hybrid soft gas permeable, Plateau Lenses, and Wave Front Contact Lenses

Disposable Soft Contacts are the most popular, compatible, and the most economical. Options include single vision, toric, and bifocal to correct a wide range of vision problems. When vision cannot be corrected to an acceptable level with soft contact lenses, Gas Permeable Lenses can be customized to each patient’s refractive error. If comfort is a problem with Gas Permeable Lenses, we are a provider for Synergeyes Contact Lenses. Synergeyes Contact Lenses are a unique design of a gas permeable center with a soft lens skirt. This gives the comfort of a soft lens with the crisper vision of a “hard” lens. These lenses now come in a wide range of parameters to maximize both fit and vision and are customized and manufactured individually for each patient.

For patients who have unusual vision problems not correctable by standard type contact lenses whether from a corneal dystrophy, a previous corneal surgery, or corneal injury, we have Plateau Lenses. These lenses are individually customized design for unusually shaped corneas. Dr Baker helped with original design of these lenses for post Radial Keratotomy (RK) patients. Dr Baker has over 25 years experience fitting contacts for these type patients.

Slade and Baker are also providers of Wave Touch Contact Lenses. Wave Touch Contact Lenses are soft contact lenses with a unique in-optical design. These lenses are used for patients who want the absolute best vision available in a soft contact lens, patients who have had previous refractive surgery, or patients who have lenticular astigmatism. Lens parameters are selected for fit by a trial lens method. Then a Wavefront Map is taken over the lens while on the eye with the Tracey Aberrometer. The lens is manufactured with the prescription from the wavefront map to include correction for lower order and higher order aberrations.

We can also provide trial contact lenses for patients who want to try monovision. If you are considering monovision as a refractive procedure such as with LASIK or monofocal IOLs, trying it out first with contacts is usually a good idea.

Contact lenses can be used for both cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. Contacts can also offer advantages to athletes and younger patients who are not ready for refractive surgery. Older patients who do not want to wear bifocal glasses also benefit from contact lenses.

Advanced contact lens technology can now correct Astigmatism, Nearsightedness, Farsightedness, Presbyopia, or any combination of these refractive errors.

They can also be used in the treatment of Keratoconus. Other uses include correcting vision after a corneal transplant and bandaging the cornea after PRK.

There are a number of keys to wearing contact lenses successfully:

#1 MOTIVATION: Ask yourself why you want to wear contact lenses. Is it to look better, to see better, or to reduce your dependence upon glasses? Whatever the reason contact lens patients have to be motivated and have realistic expectations. Finding the ideal contact lens for you may take several tries and adjustments. Lenses selected and worn in the office for 30 minutes may feel different after several full days wear. The actual shape of your cornea can change after wearing them for a while. Blink patterns and tear film can change as patients adapt to wearing contacts. If you understand there is always a bit of a trial and error method to obtain the best fit, chance are you will be a successful contact lens wearer.

#2 REFRACTIVE ERROR: The type of refractive error you have can influence your chances for success. Some refractive errors can be corrected with basic or standard lenses. More complex errors may require more complex or specialty contact lenses. Your initial exam will determine if your refractive error is simple or complex and where it is located (cornea or lens inside the eye). Corneal dystrophies, corneal transplant, and post refractive surgery patients are always more complex but we can usually obtain success with one of the many new technology contact lenses available at our offices.

#3 COMPLIANCE: How well patients comply with recommended handling, cleaning, storage, replacement and the prescribed wearing schedule has a significant influence on success. Lenses must be clean to perform their best and eyes are more tolerant to a consistent wearing schedule.

#4 HYGIENE & ENVIRONMENT: Hygiene and environment also have an influence on success. Lid hygiene can affect the chemistry and production of tears necessary for hydration and comfort. Patients with blepharitis, meibomanitis, or other lid abnormalities can affect the secretion of the oil glands that keep our tears from evaporating too quickly. Contact lenses become soiled more quickly if the eyes are dry. Patients who have dry eye can be treated prior to contact lens fitting to improve their chances for success. Wet, lubricated lenses don’t get soiled as quickly. As we age, our eyes have a tendency to become drier and many previously successful CL wears may lose their compatibility with contact lenses. Many of our patients regain their success with contacts by improving their “dry eye” symptoms with therapy. Many contact lens failures however, are able to experience success with refractive or intraocular lens replacement surgery. We can evaluate and recommend your best option if your contacts can no longer be tolerated.

#5 FIT: Physical fit of the contact lens and its alignment and movement when blinking is important in providing tear exchange under the contact. This provides oxygen to the cornea for normal metabolism and eliminates debris and bi-products. There are many different manufactures of contact lenses with many different designs, materials and fitting characteristics. Our state-of-the-art equipment in measuring the dimensions of your cornea allows us to select the very best fit for you

The Fitting Process

Our pre-fitting exam and assessment includes: corneal topography; corneal curvature; refraction; tear testing (volume and chemistry); blink pattern; lid anatomy; pupil size; intraocular pressure; binocular vision; wavefront testing; dilation; retinal exam; trial lens; discussion of expectations; and for current or previous CL wearers an evaluation of previous or current lenses.

If your test results are good and we determine you are a good candidate, most types of lenses can be dispensed to you the same day from our inventory. If a customized lens is necessary it will need to be ordered and dispensed back in our office upon delivery. We will provide you with instructions on handling cleaning, and inserting and removing your contacts at the time of dispensing.

Patients are usually asked to return to the office a week or two after dispensing the contacts for evaluation of compatibility, wearing schedule, fit, quality of vision and performance within the eye. Adjustments to the contact lenses are made when indicated at no additional cost during the fitting period.