The best contact lenses in Kamloops, BC, can be found right in our eye care clinic!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
We’re going to walk you through what contact lenses are, who they’re for, the ever-changing and advanced technology, and more! Plus, of course, the excellent brands we carry in our Kamloops optometry clinic.
Whether you’re new to using contact lenses or you’re looking to switch up brands, by the end of this blog, you’ll have all the info you need to make the right decisions for you!
We get it. Having something so close to (or literally on) your eyes is scary and can feel super invasive. Our team at Nicola Eye Care always wants to ease your nerves and make you as comfortable as possible—before, during, and after your appointments.
Speaking of appointments, the best way to assess your eye health and suggest options to improve it (if necessary) is by having you come in for an eye exam. We also really enjoy seeing you and having you stop by.
We love the part we play in helping you maintain your optimal eye health, so we’re beyond thrilled to announce that we won Gold in The Best of Kamloops Awards for Best Eyeglasses and Contacts! We’re deeply honoured and so grateful to our incredible community. We feel so lucky to see you in our clinic!
Okay, let’s get into contact lenses…
What Are Contact Lenses?
Contact lenses are medical devices that are measured and fit based on eye health and the shape of the eyes. For example, if you have astigmatism, you would fit into a toric lens.
A contact lens is a thin, curved lens placed on the film of tears that covers the surface of your eye. The lens is naturally clear but is often given the slightest tinge of colour to make it easier for wearers to handle. Today’s contact lenses are either hard or soft, but it wasn’t too long ago that they were glass-blown! How wild is that!?
If you’re considering wearing contact lenses, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with an Optometrist to make sure they have the best fit for you. For the most comfortable fit and for the best vision, the doctor must do specific measurements so they don’t move around or cause cornea inflammation due to being too tight. This can affect the health of your cornea and its shape—we want to avoid messing with that at all costs!
A standard contact lens fitting includes:
- Eye Surface Measurement: The curvature of the surface of your eye will be measured to determine the proper curve and size of the contact lens.
- Prescription Measurement: An updated prescription is measured to ensure the most clear vision possible.
- Tear Film Evaluation: By Slit Lamp evaluation and possible use of fluorescein dye to assess tear film stability, measurement helps to ensure your eyes aren’t too dry for contact lenses.
Once your eye doctor has taken all of your measurements, they’ll have you try different lenses to find what works for you.
The types of contact lenses you might see are:
- Soft Contact Lenses
Soft contact lenses are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. Soft contact lenses may be easier to adjust and more comfortable than rigid gas-permeable (RGP)lenses. Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels to provide more oxygen to your eye while you wear your lenses. The frequency of replacing soft contacts varies from daily to biweekly to monthly. Talk to your eye care professional about which replacement schedule is best for you. - Multifocal Contact Lenses
Multifocal contact lens technology is continually improving and evolving. They work by having multiple rings of power (focused at a distance, intermediate, and near) and your brain filters, which control to use based on your visual demands. - Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses
RGPs are more durable, resistant to deposit buildup, and generally give a clear, crisp vision. They are typically less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft contact lenses. They are easier to handle and less likely to tear, but they are not as comfortable initially as soft contacts. - Scleral Contact Lenses
Sclerals are also a rigid material reserved for patients with irregular corneas, such as those with keratoconus or those with corneal transplants. Sclerals vault over the cornea and land on the sclera, allowing the best visual acuity possible for these patients.
Typically, you’ll be given a trial pair, and then you’ll have a follow-up appointment to see how things are feeling and working. You’ll be all set once you and your contact lens fitter have settled on the best fit for you! We’d also recommend getting an annual fitting to make sure things are still optimal to maximize your vision and ocular health.
And, like most things these days, technology is forever changing and advancing! Newer material for more specific fittings and comfort is coming on the scene. Higher oxygen permeability, UV/blue light blocking, and transition designs for optimal vision!
Who Are Contact Lenses For?
Contact lenses are meant to correct refractive errors and maintain optimal eye health. Since they stick to the tear fluid on your eye surface, they move naturally with you, which is one advantage contacts have over glasses.
Since 1991, the number of contact lens wearers has increased by 4% annually. People’s reasons to wear contact lenses instead of glasses range from active lifestyle choices to cosmetic reasons.
If you don’t have 20/20 vision without corrective lenses, you can choose between glasses or contacts!
Contact Lens Brands at Nicola Eye Care
If you know our team at Nicola, you know we wouldn’t carry any brand we couldn’t stand firmly behind. Like our extensive offering of high-quality glasses and sunglasses, we also have excellent contact lens options.
The contact lens brands we carry include:
- Alcon
Alcon is grounded in cutting-edge innovation and breakthrough technology. They have a wide array of eye-care offerings in the industry, with products organized into two businesses: surgical and vision care. - Bauche + Lomb
B+L’s mission is to help you see better and live better. With a major focus on innovation, quality, and craftsmanship, they continue to pursue their vision of protecting and enhancing the gift of sight through every phase of your life.
The Bausch + Lomb ULTRA ONE DAY contact lenses offer up an Advanced MoistureSeal formula that retains 96% lens moisture for long-lasting wear for all-day comfort up to 16 hours. - CooperVision
CooperVision carries a lens for youth with myopia, MiSight daily contact lenses. This lens prevents kids’ vision from getting worse. Myopia is a progressive and irreversible condition, so whatever can be done in the early stages to help minimize its impact is crucial. - Johnson&Johnson
From myopia management to the aging eye, J&J leverages their experience, technology, and solutions to deliver eye care services that meet your needs at every stage of life.
Schedule Your Contact Lens and Eye Exam Appointment
Now that you know that the best contact lenses in Kamloops can be found at Nicola Eye Care, booking an appointment to see us makes sense!
We hope you have a better understanding of contact lenses and feel more comfortable finding the best fit for you.
We can’t wait to see you soon!