Contact Lens Success – Colored contacts, Toric Contacts, Bifocal Contacts, Gas Permeable or Hard Contacts.
Compliance is the key to long-term success for all contact lens wearers.
After patients have been successfully fit with contact lenses, a high percentage of complications and adverse reactions are related to skipping or shortcutting the recommended procedure for cleaning, disinfecting, and storing their lenses.
Eye infections, while infrequent, can be devastating, preventing patients from wearing their contact lenses for days or weeks and sometimes resulting in permanent corneal scarring and loss of vision.
CARE SYSTEMS FOR RIGID LENSES
Most rigid lens care systems today use either a combination of a cleaning/soaking, a wetting/soaking, or cleaning/wetting/soaking/disinfecting solution. The most common systems are Bausch & Lomb’s Boston (Original Formula), Boston Advance Comfort Formula, Alcon’s Unique-PH, Allergan’s Comfort Care GP and Wet-N-Soak Plus.
They consist of :
- A daily cleaner, to remove tear film oils, mucus, cosmetics, and other debris from lens surfaces. Cleaning solution containers have a red tip to warn patients that the solution should not be put in the eyes. If cleaner is accidentally instilled in the eyes, it should be flushed out immediately, preferably by dunking the entire face into a sink filled with water.
- A combination wetting/soaking solution for lens storage and reinsertion in the eye, which kills bacteria and other microorganisms, keeps lenses from warping, and acts as a “cushioning agent” when the lenses are placed in the eyes.
- An optional enzymatic cleaner (in either liquid or tablet form), for patients who build up a lot of protein on their lenses. Not all rigid lens wearers need an enzymatic cleaner.
- A lubricating and rewetting drop, to instill in the eye while you are wearing lenses. This will help to flush debris from under the lenses and help the lenses to glide more smoothly and comfortably in the eyes.
THE NIGHTLY CARE ROUTINE
- Each night, before removing your lenses, wash your hands with a non-oily soap. Bar soaps, like Dial, , or clear or antibacterial pump soaps are recommended. Creamy soaps like Dove and Caress transfer from hands to lens surfaces and may leave a film on the lenses.
- Dump out the old wetting/soaking solution from the lens case, rinse the case with hot water or a rinsing solution recommended by your eye care practitioner, and refill it with fresh wetting/soaking or conditioning solution. The lens case must be rinsed nightly and refilled with fresh solution in order to maintain maximum strength for disinfecting the lenses. Old solution that is merely “topped-off” will fail to kill microorganisms effectively and, if the tip from the solution container is immersed in the old solution while the bottle is squeezed, the dirty solution will be suctioned up and the entire bottle of solution contaminated.
- Always refill the case before placing your lenses in it, as they may become scratched if they are placed in a dry case.
- Set the lens case in front of you with the right compartment in front of your right hand. Remove right lens from eye.
- Place 2-3 drops of cleaner in the palm of your hand and rub the lens with it for 20 seconds. Do not rub the lens between your fingers! It may warp or crack! If the lens curvature is too steep for your index finger to clean the inner lens surface, try using your pinkie or a cotton swab.
- Rinse the lens with cool or lukewarm water. Hot water will warp the lens. Do not rinse your lenses over an open drain!
- Replace the right lens in the case and repeat the steps for your left lens.
- Soak lenses overnight or for at least 4 hours.
- In the morning, wash your hands and insert your lenses directly from the wetting/soaking or conditioning solution. Do not rinse first! The solution will help to cushion the lenses as you insert them. In addition, if the lenses are rinsed with water after they have been disinfected, there is a chance that they may become contaminated from impurities in the water supply.
Dr. Duplessie provides many contact lens options that include a variety of brands and schedules for wearing your contact lenses.
We have soft disposable lenses, soft disposable toric lenses (lenses that correct astigmatism), rigid gas permeable lenses, bifocal contacts and monovision lenses for our patients where both nearsightedness and farsightedness need correction. We also offer prescription colored contact lenses and colored contacts for those who simply want to change their eye color.
To get a new contact prescription or to see if you are a good candidate for contacts, please schedule a routine eye exam.
Services
- Specialized and complex contact lens fittings
- Complete eye examinations
- Complete contact lens evaluations
- Pediatric contact lens fitting
- Keratoconus treatment
- Fitting of traumatized eyes
- Aphakic contact lens fitting
- Cosmetic contact lens fitting
- Geriatric contact lens fitting
- Fitting of astigmatic eyes with rigid and soft contact lens material
- Bifocal contact lenses
CARE SYSTEMS FOR RIGID LENSES
Most rigid lens care systems today use either a combination of a cleaning/soaking, a wetting/soaking, or cleaning/wetting/soaking/disinfecting solution. The most common systems are Bausch & Lomb’s Boston (Original Formula), Boston Advance Comfort Formula, Alcon’s Unique-PH, Allergan’s Comfort Care GP and Wet-N-Soak Plus.
They consist of :
- A daily cleaner, to remove tear film oils, mucus, cosmetics, and other debris from lens surfaces. Cleaning solution containers have a red tip to warn patients that the solution should not be put in the eyes. If cleaner is accidentally instilled in the eyes, it should be flushed out immediately, preferably by dunking the entire face into a sink filled with water.
- A combination wetting/soaking solution for lens storage and reinsertion in the eye, which kills bacteria and other microorganisms, keeps lenses from warping, and acts as a “cushioning agent” when the lenses are placed in the eyes.
- An optional enzymatic cleaner (in either liquid or tablet form), for patients who build up a lot of protein on their lenses. Not all rigid lens wearers need an enzymatic cleaner.
- A lubricating and rewetting drop, to instill in the eye while you are wearing lenses. This will help to flush debris from under the lenses and help the lenses to glide more smoothly and comfortably in the eyes.
THE NIGHTLY CARE ROUTINE
- Each night, before removing your lenses, wash your hands with a non-oily soap. Bar soaps, like Dial, , or clear or antibacterial pump soaps are recommended. Creamy soaps like Dove and Caress transfer from hands to lens surfaces and may leave a film on the lenses.
- Dump out the old wetting/soaking solution from the lens case, rinse the case with hot water or a rinsing solution recommended by your eye care practitioner, and refill it with fresh wetting/soaking or conditioning solution. The lens case must be rinsed nightly and refilled with fresh solution in order to maintain maximum strength for disinfecting the lenses. Old solution that is merely “topped-off” will fail to kill microorganisms effectively and, if the tip from the solution container is immersed in the old solution while the bottle is squeezed, the dirty solution will be suctioned up and the entire bottle of solution contaminated.
- Always refill the case before placing your lenses in it, as they may become scratched if they are placed in a dry case.
- Set the lens case in front of you with the right compartment in front of your right hand. Remove right lens from eye.
- Place 2-3 drops of cleaner in the palm of your hand and rub the lens with it for 20 seconds. Do not rub the lens between your fingers! It may warp or crack! If the lens curvature is too steep for your index finger to clean the inner lens surface, try using your pinkie or a cotton swab.
- Rinse the lens with cool or lukewarm water. Hot water will warp the lens. Do not rinse your lenses over an open drain!
- Replace the right lens in the case and repeat the steps for your left lens.
- Soak lenses overnight or for at least 4 hours.
- In the morning, wash your hands and insert your lenses directly from the wetting/soaking or conditioning solution. Do not rinse first! The solution will help to cushion the lenses as you insert them. In addition, if the lenses are rinsed with water after they have been disinfected, there is a chance that they may become contaminated from impurities in the water supply.
ALTERNATIVE CARE SYSTEMS
- Most rigid lens wearers use systems with a cleaner and wetting/soaking or conditioning solutions, some may be using the Optimum by Lobob or Claris (an Allergan product). These systems contain a different group of products. They include:
- A combination cleaning/soaking/disinfecting solution, to remove tear film oils, mucus, and lens debris chemically by breaking the bonds between the deposits and the lens surfaces rather than physically by friction-rubbing with a separate cleaner. The solution also prevents lens warpage and contains benzyl alcohol to kill bacteria and other microorganisms on the lenses. These solution containers have red tips and lenses disinfected with these two systems should never be reinserted in the eyes without rinsing!
- A wetting/rewetting solution to keep the lenses from falling off the fingertip during insertion, and provide a “cushioning agent” when the lenses are placed in the eyes.
- An “Extra Strength” cleaner to be used as needed to remove stubborn deposits.
DIRECTIONS FOR THE CLARIS
AND OPTIMUM BY LOBOB SYSTEMS
Follow steps 1-3 of “The Nightly Care Routine” above. Place the lens in the palm of your hand, cover with 10 drops of cleaning/soaking/disinfecting solution, and rub for 30 seconds until the solution becomes sudsy.
If the lenses have stubborn deposits, apply a few drops of Extra Strength cleaner and massage into the lenses for 30 seconds.
Rinse lenses thoroughly with cool or lukewarm water and store them in solution for at least 6 hours.
In the morning, wash your hands, remove the right lens from the cleaning/soaking/disinfecting solution, and rinse well. Inadequate rinsing will cause the lenses to sting when they are reinserted in the eyes.
Before reinserting your lenses, apply 2 drops of wetting/rewetting solution to the lens surfaces. Do not rub it into the lens! Insert right lens and repeat for the left eye.
ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTIONS
Multipurpose solutions that contain ingredients to clean, soak, disinfect, and wet rigid lenses are the most recent products to become available for RGP lens wearers. At present, the only products on the market are Bausch & Lomb’s Simplicity, and Alcon’s Unique-PH. Allergan plans to introduce, a one-bottle care system in the near future. The lenses are rubbed, flushed to remove loosened debris, soaked for at least 4 hours, and reinserted in the eyes with the same product. While these products may provide adequate cleaning for patients with good tear quality, many patients will find that they really need a separate cleaner in order to keep their lenses from becoming filmy. The convenience of one-bottle solutions may provide a good alternative for occasional use when patients travel and may prove to be the best option for patients who tend to skip the cleaning step most of the time or for those who live in or travel to places where water for rinsing off a separate cleaner may be contaminated or possibly not available at all.
ABNORMAL SYMPTOMS
It is important to call Dr. Duplessie immediately if you should experience any of the following symptoms:
- Pain: when placing lenses on the eyes, while wearing the lenses, or after removing them
- Burning, a sensation of heat, redness, excessive tearing, or discharge
- Inability to keep the eyes open
- Extreme sensitivity to light
- Severe or persistent haze, fog, or rainbows around lights
- Severe irritation
- White spots on the cornea
By complying with the recommended care regimen, recognizing the early signs and symptoms of adverse reactions, and seeking professional care immediately if any complications do arise, patients with keratoconus should be able to look forward to many years of successful contact lens wear. Just a few minutes of lens care each night can ensure a lifetime of success.
DO’S AND DON’TS FOR RIGID LENS WEARERS
- Clean your lenses at night, immediately after you remove them from your eyes. Leaving them in the soaking solution without cleaning until morning reduces the effectiveness of the disinfecting chemicals. In addition, rinsing the cleaner off with tap water just prior to replacing the lenses in your eyes might introduce bacteria or other microorganisms that would ordinarily have been killed while the lenses soaked overnight.
- If your lenses ever dry out, soak them for at least 4 hours before you wear them again, since they may have warped or flattened in curvature when the liquid evaporated.
- Do not mix and match solutions made by different manufacturers. Doing so may cloud your lenses, cause them to become gummy, or irritate your eyes. Make sure that the cleaning, soaking, disinfecting, and wetting/rewetting products you buy are all part of the same care system.
- Always store your lenses in a case with ridges on the bottom. Lenses tend to suction onto smooth-bottomed cases and may chip if you try to pry them up at the edges.
- Replace your case each time you buy a new bottle of wetting/soaking or cleaning/soaking solution. Cases tend to become contaminated. You can clean case with your contact lens cleaner using a brand new inexpensive toothbrush. Be sure to rinse the case well before using it again.
- If the skin on your hands is rough, ask your contact lens fitter if you can use a manually-agitated device such as the Allergan Hydramat or a mechanical device such as the Clensatron. These devices work like miniature washing machines and may protect the lenses from becoming scratched from your rough skin.
- If you remove your lenses with a suction cup make sure you know exactly where the lens is before placing the suction cup on the eye. Suction cups should be cleaned with contact lens cleaner and rinsed after each use. They can also be soaked in wetting/soaking or cleaning/soaking solution.
- If you drop a lens, do not drag it along a surface. Wet your finger with wetting/soaking or rewetting solution and touch it gently to the lens to lift it.
SOFT LENSES:
Brands:
1-Day Acuvue Define 30Pk , Accent – Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Define 30Pk , Natural Shimmer – Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Define 30Pk , Natural Shine – Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Define 30Pk , Natural Sparkle – Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Define 30Pk , Vivid – Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Define 90Pk , Accent – Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Define 90Pk , Natural Shimmer – Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Define 90Pk , Natural Shine – Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Define 90Pk , Natural Sparkle – Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Define 90Pk , Vivid – Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Moist 30 Pk Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Moist 90 Pk Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Moist For Astigmatism 30 Pk Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Moist For Astigmatism 90 Pk Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Moist MultiFocal 30Pk Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue Moist MultiFocal 90Pk Contact Lens
1-Day Acuvue TruEye NAR A Contact Lens
A
Accucon Contact Lens
Acuvue Contact Lens
Acuvue 2 Contact Lens
Acuvue Advance Contact Lens
Acuvue Advance Plus 24 Pk Contact Lens
Acuvue Advance Plus 6 Pk Contact Lens
Acuvue Bifocal Contact Lens
Acuvue Oasys Contact Lens
Acuvue Oasys 12Pk Contact Lens
Acuvue Oasys 1-Week for Overnight Use Annual Supply
Acuvue Oasys 24Pk Contact Lens
Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism Contact Lens
Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia Contact Lens
Aino Contact Lens
Air Optix Aqua Contact Lens
Air Optix Colors 6 Pk Contact Lens
Air Optix for Astigmatism Contact Lens
Air Optix Multifocal Contact Lens
Air Optix Night & Day Aqua Contact Lens
Akuma Custom Contact Lens
Allure (Europa Colors) Contact Lens
American Venus Contact Lens
Angelic White Contact Lens
Angelus Custom Contact Lens
Anime Eagle Eye Custom Contact Lens
Anime Expressionless Fighter (Sclera) Contact Lens
Anime Expressionless Fighter Custom Contact Lens
Anime Fire Fighter (Sclera) Custom Contact Lens
Anime Fire Fighter Custom Contact Lens
Anime Mind Reader Custom Contact Lens
Anime Psychic Custom Contact Lens
Anime Space Traveler Custom Contact Lens
Anime Whiz Kid Custom Contact Lens
Atlantian Custom Contact Lens
Avaira Contact Lens
Avaira Toric Contact Lens
Avatar Contact Lens
B
Baby Eyes Contact Lens
Banshee Contact Lens
Bausch + Lomb ULTRA Contact Lenses
Bella Contact Lens
Bella Contact Lens
Berzerker Contact Lens
Berzerker Custom Contact Lens
Biofinity Contact Lens
Biofinity Multifocal Contact Lens
Biofinity Toric Contact Lens
Biofinity XR Contact Lens
Biomedics 38 Contact Lens
Biomedics 55 (Aqualite 55) Contact Lens
Biomedics 55 Premier Contact Lens
Biomedics Toric Contact Lens
Biomedics XC Contact Lens
Biotrue ONEday 30 Pack Contact Lens
Biotrue ONEday 90 Pack Contact Lens
Black Out Contact Lens
Black Sclera Custom Contact Lens
Black Wolf Contact Lens
Blackgate Orc Custom Contact Lens
Blood Red Custom Contact Lens
A1-Day Acuvue Contact LensBlue Angelic Contact Lens
Blue Demon Contact Lens
Blue Zombie Contact Lens
Boston Envision Contact Lens
Boston EO Contact Lens
Boston Equalens Contact Lens
Boston ES Contact Lens
Boston II Contact Lens
Boston IV Contact Lens
Boston XO Contact Lens
Boston XO2 Contact Lens
Bronze Goddess Contact Lens
C
Cave Orc Custom Contact Lens
Cheshire Cat Contact Lens
Chimera Custom Contact Lens
ClearSight (Biomedics) 1 Day 30 pk Contact Lens
ClearSight (Biomedics) 1 Day 90 pk Contact Lens
ClearSight 1 Day Toric Contact Lens
Color Max Contact Lens
Creepers Contact Lens
D
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus 30pk Contact Lens
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus 90pk Contact Lens
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus Multifocal 30pk Contact Lens
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus Multifocal 90pk Contact Lens
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus Toric 30pk Contact Lens
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus Toric 90pk Contact Lens
Dailies Total 1 30 Contact Lens
Dailies Total 1 90 Contact Lens
Dark Elf Contact Lens
Dark Elf Custom Contact Lens
Darkside Custom Contact Lens
Darkside II Custom Contact Lens
Dracul Custom Contact Lens
Dune Custom Contact Lens
Durasil Contact Lens
E
Envy Custom Contact Lens
Equinox Contact Lens
Exorcism Sarah Custom Contact Lens
Expressions Colors Contact Lens
F
Fire Contact Lens
Flames Custom Contact Lens
Flosi Contact Lens
Fluorex 300 Contact Lens
Fluorex 500 Contact Lens
Fluorex 700 Contact Lens
Fluoroperm 151 Contact Lens
Fluoroperm 30 Contact Lens
Fluoroperm 60 Contact Lens
Fluoroperm 92 Contact Lens
Focus DAILIES 30-Pk Contact Lens
Focus DAILIES 90-Pk Contact Lens
Focus DAILIES Toric 30 Pk Contact Lens
Focus DAILIES Toric 90 Pk Contact Lens
Focus Softcolors Monthly Contact Lens
Frequency 55 Aspheric Contact Lens
Frequency 55 Sphere Contact Lens
Frequency 55 Toric Contact Lens
Frequency 55 Toric XR Custom Lens
FreshLook ColorBlends Contact Lens
FreshLook Colors Contact Lens
FreshLook Dimensions Contact Lens
FreshLook Handling Tint (VT) Contact Lens
FreshLook ONE-DAY (Focus Dailies) SoftColors Contact Lens
G
Gargoyle Custom Contact Lens
Golden Twilight Contact Lens
Gorgon Custom Contact Lens
Gray Ghost Contact Lens
Green Angelic Contact Lens
Green Cat Contact Lens
Green Monster Contact Lens
Green Reptile Contact Lens
Green Zombie Contact Lens
H
Halo Blue Custom Contact Lens
Halo Gold Custom Contact Lens
Halo Red Custom Contact Lens
Harpie Custom Contact Lens
Hatake Contact Lens
Hatake (Sclera) Custom Contact Lens
Hellraiser Contact Lens
Hydrasoft Aphakic 3 Vials Custom Contact
Hydrasoft Aphakic Thin 3 Vials Custom Contact
Hydrasoft Sphere 3 Vials Custom Contact
Hydrasoft Sphere Thin 3 Vials Custom Contact
Hydrasoft Toric 3 Vials DIA 14.2
Hydrasoft Toric 3 Vials DIA 15.0
Hydrasoft Toric Thin 3 Vials DIA 14.2
Hydrasoft Toric Thin 3 Vials DIA 15.0
Hydro 2 Contact Lens
I
Icarus Custom Contact Lens
Impression Contact Lens
Incubus Custom Contact Lens
J
Jun-On Custom Contact Lens
K
Kabuki Custom Contact Lens
Kos-Mos Custom Contact Lens
L
Le Stat Custom Contact Lens
Lestat (Interview with a Vampire) Contact Lens
LifeStyle Multifocal GP Contact Lens
Lillith Custom Contact Lens
Link Custom Contact Lens
Louis Custom Contact Lens
M
Mad Hatter Contact Lens
Mangekyo Contact Lens
Manson Contact Lens
Markus Custom Contact Lens
Medusa Custom Contact Lens
Meioh Contact Lens
N
Necromancer Custom Contact Lens
New Moon Contact Lens
Night Glitter Contact Lens
Night Stalker Contact Lens
Night Vixen Contact Lens
O
O2OPTIX Contact Lens
O-Perm 30 Contact Lens
O-Perm 60 Contact Lens
Optacryl 60 Contact Lens
Optima 38/SP Contact Lens
Optima Toric MTO Custom Lens
P
Paine Custom Contact Lens
Palpatine Custom Contact Lens
Paragon HDS Contact Lens
Paragon HDS 100 Contact Lens
Paragon Thin Contact Lens
Paraperm 02 Contact Lens
Pink Temptress Contact Lens
PMMA Contact Lens
Polycon II Contact Lens
Possessed Custom Contact Lens
Predator Custom Diameter 22
Preference FW – 4 Pack Contact Lens
Preference Standard DW – 4 Pack Contact Lens
Preference Toric – 4 Pack Contact Lens
Preference Toric XR – 4 Pack Custom Lens
Proclear 1 Day 30 Pack Contact Lens
Proclear 1 Day 90 Pack Contact Lens
Proclear EP Contact Lens
Proclear Multifocal Contact Lens
Proclear Multifocal 1 Day 30 Pack Contact Lens
Proclear Multifocal 1 Day 90 Pack Contact Lens
Proclear Multifocal Toric Custom Lens
Proclear Multifocal XR Custom Lens
Proclear Sphere Contact Lens
Proclear Toric Contact Lens
Proclear Toric XR Custom Lens
PureVision Contact Lens
PureVision for Astigmatism Contact Lens
PureVision Multi-Focal Contact Lens
PureVision2 Contact Lens
PureVision2 For Astigmatism Contact Lens
PureVision2 for Presbyopia Contact Lens
R
Rave – Neon Blue Contact Lens
Rave – Neon Pink Contact Lens
Rave – Neon Yellow Contact Lens
Reaper Contact Lens
Red Angelic Contact Lens
Red Cat Contact Lens
Red Vampire Contact Lens
Red Wolf Contact Lens
Risen Dead Custom Contact Lens
S
Seducer Contact Lens
Selene Custom Contact Lens
Sephiroth Custom Contact Lens
SGP I Contact Lens
SGP II Contact Lens
SGP III Contact Lens
Shamrock Contact Lens
Shiva Custom Contact Lens
Shiva Stock Contact Lens
Silsoft Contact Lens
SofLens 38 (Optima FW) Contact Lens
SofLens Daily Disposable Astigmatism 30 Contact Lens
SofLens Daily Disposables 90 Pk Contact Lenses
SofLens For Astigmatism Contact Lens
SofLens Multi-Focal Contact Lens
Softcon EW Contact Lens
StarFire Contact Lens
Starlens Contact Lens
Succubus Custom Contact Lens
T
Tempest Custom Contact Lens
Temptress Custom Contact Lens
The Host Contact Lens
Tomoe Contact Lens
Tool Custom Contact Lens
TruColour Elite TruColour Elite Color Contact Lenses
Tsukino Contact Lens
U
Underworld Custom Contact Lens
V
Valentine Custom Contact Lens
Venus Lenses Contact Lens
Vertex Sphere (Encore Sphere) Contact Lens
Vertex Toric (Encore Sphere) Contact Lens
Vertex Toric XR (Encore Sphere) Contact Lens
Violent Violet Contact Lens
VisionStar Contact Lens
W
Walking Dead Contact Lens
White Cat Eye Contact Lens
Y
Yellow Angelic Contact Lens
Yellow Cat Contact Lens
Z
Zombie Contact Lens
Zombie Red Contact Lens
Zombie Yellow Contact Lens
Zombified Custom Contact Lens