Contacts

Contact lenses provide the freedom and flexibility that traditional eyeglasses simply can’t match. At Clear Lake Eye Center, we specialize in providing personalized contact lens solutions that align perfectly with your unique vision needs and lifestyle preferences. Our comprehensive approach includes detailed exams, precise fittings, and access to diverse lens options—from daily disposables to specialized scleral lenses for conditions like keratoconus.

Whether you’re an experienced contact lens wearer looking to upgrade or are completely new to contacts, our team takes the time to understand your specific requirements, ensuring you receive the perfect combination of comfort, clarity, and convenience for your eyes.

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Understanding Contacts

Contact lenses have evolved significantly over the years, transforming from thick, uncomfortable pieces of glass to advanced, breathable materials that work with your natural eye physiology. Today’s contacts are designed to address various vision conditions, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.

Unlike glasses, contacts move with your eyes, providing natural vision without frame obstructions or distortions. This direct vision correction method offers better peripheral vision and eliminates issues like fogging or getting wet during various activities.

Benefits of Contacts

Unobstructed Vision Field

Contact lenses sit directly on your eye, providing a full field of vision without the frame boundaries that glasses impose. This natural viewing experience allows you to see clearly in all directions, making contacts ideal for driving, sports, and everyday activities where peripheral vision is crucial. Many patients report feeling more confident and less restricted when switching from glasses to contacts.

Freedom During Physical Activities

Whether you’re swimming, running, or playing basketball, contacts stay securely in place during physical activities. Unlike glasses that can slip, fog up, or even break during intense movement, contacts provide stable vision regardless of how active you are. This freedom makes contacts the preferred choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who need reliable vision correction.

Enhanced Appearance

Many people prefer how they look without glasses frames on their face. Contacts allow your natural features to shine through without the visual distraction of frames. This benefit extends beyond vanity—contacts eliminate the need to coordinate eyewear with outfits and allow you to wear non-prescription sunglasses without compromising your vision correction needs.

Weather-Resistant Solution

Rain, snow, and temperature changes won’t affect your vision with contacts. Unlike glasses that fog up when entering a warm room from the cold or collect raindrops that obstruct vision, contacts remain clear regardless of weather conditions. This consistent visual clarity in all environments is particularly valuable during seasonal transitions and unpredictable weather.

Comfortable for Daily Wear

Modern contact lenses are designed with breathable materials that allow oxygen to reach your cornea, making them comfortable for extended wear. Today’s lens technologies have significantly reduced issues like dryness and irritation that were common with older contact designs. With proper care and appropriate lens selection, most patients find they quickly forget they’re even wearing contacts throughout the day.

Our Contact Lens Fitting & Selection Process

Comprehensive Eye Evaluation

We begin with a thorough consultation about your lifestyle, medical history, and previous contact lens experience. Using advanced corneal topography technology, we measure your eye’s unique surface and evaluate your tear film quality. These precise measurements help us determine which lenses will provide optimal comfort and vision correction for your specific needs.

Personalized Lens Selection

Based on your eye measurements and corneal evaluation, we recommend contact lenses specifically suited to your vision requirements. Our selection includes specialized options like scleral lenses for conditions such as keratoconus. We consider factors like your daily activities and environmental conditions to ensure your lenses enhance both comfort and visual clarity.

Professional Fitting Session

After selecting your ideal lens type, we provide a professional fitting to ensure proper placement and movement on your eye. We’ll assess how the lenses interact with your eye’s surface and make any necessary adjustments to the prescription or lens parameters. This precision fitting minimizes discomfort and optimizes visual acuity for your daily activities.

Detailed Care Instructions

You’ll receive comprehensive guidance on proper insertion, removal, and cleaning techniques for your specific lens type. We demonstrate each step and watch you practice until you feel confident. Our team explains which solutions work best with your lenses and reviews important safety practices to protect your eye health.

Personalized Follow-Up Care

We schedule a follow-up appointment to evaluate how your eyes have adapted to the lenses after extended wear. During this visit, we assess your eye health, comfort level, and vision quality. Any necessary adjustments to your prescription or lens type are made to ensure long-term satisfaction and eye health.

Why Choose Us for Contacts

At Clear Lake Eye Center, we combine clinical expertise with personalized attention that makes finding your perfect contacts straightforward and stress-free. Our optometrists specialize in fitting all types of contact lenses, including hard-to-fit options like scleral lenses for keratoconus and dry eyes. We’ve invested in advanced corneal topography technology to precisely map your eye’s surface, ensuring optimal lens selection and comfort.

Many patients who were previously told they couldn’t wear contacts have found successful solutions with us. Our commitment extends beyond the initial fitting—we provide ongoing support and adjustments to ensure your contacts remain comfortable and your vision stays clear year-round.

FAQs

How much do contact lenses cost?

Contact lens costs vary based on type, prescription complexity, and replacement schedule, typically ranging from $200-$500 annually for standard lenses. Specialty contacts like toric lenses for astigmatism or multifocal designs generally cost more due to their advanced design and manufacturing process. Many vision insurance plans provide coverage for contact lenses, and we offer flexible payment options to make quality vision care accessible.

How to remove contact lenses?

To safely remove contact lenses, first wash and dry your hands thoroughly to prevent eye infections. For soft lenses, look up slightly, slide the lens down with your index finger, then gently pinch the lens between your thumb and index finger to lift it away from your eye. Hard lenses can be removed by applying slight pressure to the outer corner of your eyelid while blinking, causing the lens to pop out gently onto your waiting hand or a soft surface.

Do contact lenses expire?

Yes, contact lenses have expiration dates that should be strictly observed to prevent eye infections and complications. Unopened contact lens packages typically expire after about four years from manufacturing, while opened lens solutions and cases should be replaced much more frequently. Using expired contacts may lead to reduced oxygen permeability, deteriorated materials, and potential contamination that can cause serious eye conditions requiring medical intervention.

How to put in contact lenses?

To insert contact lenses, begin by thoroughly washing your hands with soap and drying them with a lint-free towel. Place the contact on the tip of your index finger with the concave side facing up, then use your other hand to hold your upper eyelid open while pulling down your lower eyelid. Look straight ahead, gently place the lens on your eye, and slowly release your eyelids, blinking gently to help center the lens on your cornea.

Can you swim with contact lenses?

Swimming with contact lenses is not recommended due to the significant risk of eye infections from waterborne microorganisms. Water can cause soft lenses to tighten on your eye, trapping potentially harmful bacteria between the lens and your cornea. If you must wear vision correction while swimming, consider prescription swim goggles, daily disposable lenses (to be discarded immediately after swimming), or discuss options like orthokeratology with our optometrists at Clear Lake Eye Center.

See Life in Perfect Focus, No Frames Required!

Your perfect contacts are waiting at Clear Lake Eye Center. Our comprehensive approach to contact lens fittings means you’ll receive personalized care from your initial exam through follow-up visits. See why patients consistently rate us highly on Facebook, Instagram, Google Maps, and Yelp for our attentive service and expert fittings.

We offer a wide selection of trusted brands including Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson to meet your specific vision needs. Call us today at 281-338-8474 to schedule your contact lens fitting and experience the comfort and clarity that properly fitted contacts can provide.