The Cornea and Contact Lens service provides care to patients of all ages who want to wear contact lenses under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Fuller, Chief of Service.
Many patients prefer to wear contact lenses instead of eye glasses. Our doctors in this service area treat visual conditions such as “nearsightedness,” “farsightedness,” astigmatism, and presbyopia. A special emphasis is also placed on the diagnosis and treatment for patients with unique conditions and visual needs such as keratoconus, astigmatism, post surgical complications, and presbyopia.
Contact lenses are not cosmetic devices. Despite what many people believe, contact lenses are medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which requires particular or special fitting and care. A healthy cornea on the front of your eye is essential to wear contact lenses.
We also offer leading-edge technology such as Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) whereby contact lenses are used to eliminate the need for spectacles or contact lenses during the daytime or waking hours.
Our highly experienced doctors use state-of-the-art diagnostic instruments with the most modern contact lens designs to provide the best possible contact lens options for all types of visual needs. We offer an extensive inventory of contact lenses with a wide variety of products from all major contact lens brands.
Our patients receive contact lens packages that meet very basic requirements to the most complex needs. Our doctors will provide an initial consultation and then the follow-up care that is essential to wear contact lenses successfully.
Contact Lens Overview
Contact lenses offer many advantages to glasses. There are occasions such as that special family portrait, school pictures, weddings, or proms where we don’t want to wear glasses. Sometimes we just want to change our eye color, play a sport or wear safety protection that doesn’t readily fit over our glasses.
Children and adults with high prescriptions in glasses often experience discomfort due to their weight, optical distortions or inability to fully compensate for the problem. Often contact lenses can provide a better, clearer and more comfortable alternative.
There is an alphabet soup of surgical procedures such as LASIK, Epi-LASIK, LASEK, PRK, CK, Intacs and others that offer proven success at correcting vision errors for many. We can help you sort through your options and access those procedures through our relationship with some of the area’s finest refractive surgeons.
Surgical procedures are not for everyone, they heighten anxiety and the results are not reversible. Some are simply not good surgical candidates. Contact lenses offer a safe, comfortable and reversible alternative to refractive surgery.
Patients with medical conditions like corneal dystrophies, corneal scarring, keratoconus, corneal transplants or those who have had previous surgeries like radial keratotomy may only achieve their best vision through specialty contact lenses.
We invite you to schedule an appointment so we may discuss your options and assist you in finding the safest one for your personal needs. Call (901) 722-3258.
Types of Contact Lenses
There are over 45 million contact lens wearers in this country. The vast majority of these wear soft lenses. The overwhelming majority of soft lenses are disposable or frequent replacement lenses. They correct virtually every type of problem: nearsighted, farsighted, astigmatism and presbyopia.
There is an epidemic of myopia (nearsightedness) worldwide which affects nearly 40% of children in the United States to over 98% in the Chinese population. There is no safe level of myopia and as it increases so do the risks of retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. Early detection and management are critical to preventing these complications. We offer FDA approved treatments for pediatric patients to slow the progression and manage myopia.
The population is rapidly aging, while the demands we place on our eyes are increasing. Manufacturers have responded by creating highly effective soft and gas permeable multifocal contact lenses that enhance the quality of life for those age 40 and above.
Those seeking convenience find daily disposables and extended wear lenses that may be worn for up to 30 days of continuous wear. Some of these lenses pass more than ten times the amount of oxygen available in earlier lenses, making lenses even more comfortable.
The practice of orthokeratology to temporarily reverse nearsightedness has been improved by a host of FDA-approved techniques such as Corneal Refractive Therapy or CRT. Hybrid lenses are part soft and part hard. They create options for patients who may have experienced failure with all other forms of contacts and/or glasses.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Answering this question is the most important service we provide you. Not everyone can or should wear contact lenses.
Active infections of the eyelids or conjunctiva and those who have problems healing cannot wear lenses safely. Individuals with active systemic infections, colds or with compromised immune systems may be poor candidates at first but later go on to be successful wearers once infections, allergies and dry eyes are properly managed. Corneal diseases need to be considered individually and may respond well to contact lens therapies.
Proper motivation and realistic goals for what can be achieved with contact lenses are the foundation for success. Your willingness to partner with your doctor and learn responsible lens care practices ensures your safety.
Children, adults and seniors all experience the benefits contact lenses can offer. Age is no obstacle.