Are Colored Contact Lenses Safe?

/in , /by

Colored contact lenses are fun. They let you switch up your look, enhance your natural eye color, or try something completely different for special occasions. But before you pick your shade, it’s smart to ask: are colored contact lenses safe? The short answer is: yes, they can be safe — provided you use them properly.

Why Fit And Prescription Matter

One of the biggest risks comes when people buy colored lenses without a proper prescription from an eye doctor in Riverdale, NJ. Even if your vision is perfect, your eye shape, tear film, and corneal curvature matter. A custom fit from your eye doctor ensures lenses sit comfortably, move correctly, and don’t restrict oxygen flow to your cornea. If a lens is too tight, too loose, or poorly fitted, it may scratch the eye or cause irritation.

Cleaning, Replacement, And Hygiene

Proper care isn’t optional—it’s essential. Using recommended cleaning solutions, following replacement schedules, and never sharing lenses all help prevent infections. Skipping these steps increases the risk of serious issues, such as corneal ulcers. Colored lenses sometimes come with decorative pigments, and poor hygiene may worsen complications. Listening to your eye care provider’s instructions makes all the difference.

Overuse And Overnight Wear

Wearing colored lenses constantly or sleeping in them when they aren’t designed for overnight use can reduce oxygen delivery to the eyes and increase inflammation. Less oxygen means weaker corneal health, more eye dryness, and even risk of clouding. Treat the lenses like the medical devices they are—not just fashion accessories—and you’ll avoid many common pitfalls.

When To Consult Your Eye Doctor

If you notice redness, blurry vision, discomfort, or sensitivity while using colored lenses, don’t wait. These could be signs the lens doesn’t suit your eye, or that cleaning and storage haven’t been quite right. Your eye doctor can check fit, condition of your cornea, and help you decide whether the lenses you’re using are safe or need replacement.

Yes, colored contact lenses can be safe and enjoyable—but only when used under correct guidance, with good hygiene, and appropriate scheduling. They’re not just fun extras; they can affect your vision if misused. Get a contact lens exam in Riverdale, NJ, follow care routines, and don’t hesitate to ask questions whenever something feels off. Your eyes deserve the same attention you give your style

How to Reshape Your Eyes While You’re Asleep

/0 Comments/in /by

If you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to reshape your eyes, your likely conclusion probably came down to surgical corrections only. However, orthokeratology is a branch of the optical world that relies on contact lenses to reshape your cornea and correct near-sightedness, and it can all be done at night. We’ll look at how this works and why it’s largely used for near-sightedness.

What Are Orho-K Contact Lenses?

Ortho-k contact lenses in Riverdale, NJ are designed to flatten the cornea. They are rigid lenses that are sturdy enough to push on the cornea, but they are not so dense that they don’t allow air to flow to the eye. Depending on your needs, you may need to wear several types of contacts to get the best results.

Why Use Ortho-K Lenses?

Ortho-K lenses are an alternative to LASIK for any near-sighted person who doesn’t want to wear glasses or contacts. It’s also perfect for anyone who can’t get LASIK due to fluctuating prescription changes. For instance, an adolescent who isn’t approved for the surgery yet can opt for orthokeratology instead. It’s more of a time commitment (similar to braces for your teeth), but over time, the flattening of the cornea will change how light enters the eye.

How Are Ortho-K Lenses Fitted?

Ophthalmologists will first need to map out the surface of a cornea to determine how it’s processing light. This is done with special machinery, but the instrument will not cause any pain to the eye. Ortho-K lenses come with risks, including that of infection, so it’s important to work with an eye doctor in Riverdale, NJ who understands how these special lenses should fit on your eyes.

Do Ortho-K Lenses Work Forever?

No. Even if your vision is corrected, you will need to keep wearing the lenses at night. Once you stop, the cornea will revert to its original shape.

Find an Eye Doctor in Riverdale

If you’re looking for an eye doctor who will steer you to the right contact lenses, the staff at Riverdale Vision Care is here to help. Our team can tell you more about which options will work best for your eyes, whether you’re interested in surgical procedures or not.

 

3 Reasons to Remove Your Contacts Before Showering or Bathing

/0 Comments/in , /by

When you want to break free from everyday eyeglasses, contact lenses in Riverdale, NJ make sense for a lot of patients. However, when you opt for contact lenses, you also have to be mindful of proper use. Removing your contacts before showering or bathing is one rule to always follow. Take a look at some of the most important reasons to remove your contacts before showering or bathing.

1. Showering with contacts heightens risks of infection

Even though the contact lenses are in your eye, it is still possible for water to splash into your eye and get trapped behind the lens. Unfortunately, bathing water can be laden with bacteria and microbes. This can leave bacteria in close contact with your eyes for long periods, which can leave you at risk of developing an infection.

2. Showering with contacts may cause contacts to warp

Exposure to high levels of heat is always something to watch out for when you are a contact lens wearer. The material the contacts are made from can warp with excessive heat exposure, even when you have the contacts in your eyes. This not only damages the lenses, but it can also make the lenses harder to remove or lead to an injury.

3. Showering with contacts could cause lenses to stick to your eye

One of the more problematic situations that can arise due to bathing or showering with contacts is the lens getting stuck to your eye. This can occur for a few reasons, such as warpage or getting bathing products in your eyes. If a contact lens gets stuck, you may be at risk of scratching your cornea while trying to remove the trapped lens.

Talk to a Riverdale Eye Doctor About Contact Care

After a brief adjustment and following advice from a Riverdale, NJ eye doctor, contact lenses can truly be a beneficial change. Be sure to follow the guidance of your optometrist when you initially get your new lenses. If you would like to know more about contact lenses or contact lens care, reach out to us at Riverdale Vision Care to schedule an appointment.

Eye Glasses or Contact Lenses? What to Consider When Trying to Decide

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Eyeglasses and contact lenses can both improve your vision, whether you’re far-sighted or near-sighted. However, there are many differences between glasses and contact lenses in Riverdale NJ. Knowing the differences between these two options can help you decide which one is right for you.

What to Know About Contact Lenses

Not everyone is a good candidate for contact lenses, so before you can order contacts, you’ll have to work with your eye doctor in Riverdale to find out whether you’re a good candidate for contacts.

Contact lenses need to be properly cleaned, maintained and removed on a regular basis. Patients who are too young are not able to handle the care regimen for contact lenses. Most patients aren’t eligible to have contacts until their teen years, and not every teenager is ready to take care of contacts.

Some eye conditions, like dry eyes, make use of contact lenses problematic. To find out if you’re a good candidate for contact lenses, speak to your eye doctor. Your eye doctor will evaluate your eye health and talk to you about what must be done to maintain contact lenses. Together, you two can determine whether contacts are right for you.

What to Know About Eye Glasses

Eye glasses sit on the bridge of your nose and are visible to everyone who sees you. Because they’re so visible, some people don’t want eye glasses. Others prefer glasses because they like the way glasses look, they’re easy to take on and off and harder to lose than contact lenses.

Which One Is Right For You?

If you’re not sure whether eye glasses or contacts are right for you, make an appointment with your eye doctor. To determine which product is best for you, follow these tips:

  • Have a discussion with your eye doctor about what is involved in each type of vision correction tool.
  • Try on glasses to see how you like them.
  • Find out whether you’re even eligible for contact lenses (if contact lenses appeals to you).

Finally, remember that some people who need vision correction have both contacts and glasses. They might wear glasses at night before bed, and contacts during the day. Your eye doctor can help you decide what is the right choice for you.

To find out more, make an appointment at Riverdale Vision Care.

Types of Contact Lenses

/0 Comments/in /by

Are you considering contact lenses? Contact lenses offer a full field of vision instead of straight-ahead vision because they move with your eyes. Wearers prefer them because they are not susceptible to fogging and getting wet in the rain and collecting dust on the lens surface, and they can be safely worn while participating in other recreational activities. If you are interested in switching to contacts, our optometrists in Riverdale can help you decide with type is best for you.

Soft Contacts

Soft contact lenses are made from a flexible material that is exceptionally comfortable. Wearers often need very little time to adjust to the lenses. Soft contacts are great for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness and mild to moderate astigmatisms. Wearers can choose to purchase lenses with varying replacement schedules, including daily, every two weeks, monthly or yearly.

Toric Lenses

Toric lenses are a type of soft contact that is weighted on one side to prevent the lens from rotating in the eye. These lenses are great for individuals with mild to moderate astigmatisms that cannot be corrected with soft contact lenses.

Gas Permeable Contacts

Gas permeable contacts are also known as hard contacts. These types of contact lenses are constructed from a rigid, oxygen-permeable material. Wearers typically need a couple of weeks to adjust to these lenses fully. However, they are perfect for correcting moderate to severe astigmatisms, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. They can even be worn by individuals who need prescriptions for near and distance vision.

Hybrid Contacts

Hybrid contacts contain a gas permeable center and a soft edge. These contacts can be used to correct the same refractive errors as soft and hard contact lenses, but they are much more comfortable to wear. They also require less adjustment time.

Scleral Contacts

Scleral contacts are large-diameter gas permeable lenses. They are specifically designed to vault entirely over the cornea, which makes them ideal for correcting severe astigmatisms and keratoconus. Individuals can also wear them with moderate to severe dry eye because the gap between the lens and the cornea creates a water reservoir that helps alleviate dry eye symptoms.

To schedule an appointment with one of our optometrists in Riverdale, NJ, call us at 973-248-0060.

Macular Degeneration RIverdale, NJ

What You Need to Know About Adjusting to New Glasses and Contacts

/0 Comments/in , /by

New eyewear – whether it’s glasses or contacts – is different from many other types of treatment you’ll receive in that it helps you see correctly and also impacts your overall appearance. Noting this, it can be fun to get that new glasses prescription and frame or switch to a better contact lens. But it does not always love at first sight (pun intended), as there’s often an adjustment period that the eyes have to go through.

Indeed this period is the most significant if you previously didn’t wear any corrective lens and are now adjusting to life with them. However, even when receiving a new prescription or new glasses frame, there’s bound to be some adjustment. Here’s a look at what you can do to ensure a smooth transition:

Wear them first thing in the morning: If you just got new glasses, don’t put off wearing them. The sooner you put them on in the day, the faster you’ll adjust to them. Additionally, you don’t want to put off wearing them until mid-day, as any sudden change in sight could throw you off and even make you feel sick. You don’t want that.

Don’t overdo it: It can be natural to want to wear new contact lenses as much as possible, but it’s also important not to overstate it. Your optometrist will likely give you some limits on how much you should be wearing your lenses as your eyes adjust to them, so be sure to stick to said limits for a smooth transition. Additionally, be sure to adhere to the proper cleaning methods for your lenses.

If something feels off, see your optometrist: Your new glasses should fit comfortably. The same is true of new contact lenses. If something doesn’t feel comfortable, or if you’re experiencing eye irritation, redness, watering or other detrimental side effects, consult your doctor immediately. While there’s an adjustment period with new eyewear, it shouldn’t be a trying one.

For more information on adjusting to new contacts or glasses, contact us today.