Contact lens technology has evolved so more people can have the benefits of great vision with great comfort than ever before. Today's lenses offer more convenience and comfort, as well as greater flexibility of wear.

If you wear contacts now and are a new patient to our office, it is very important for you to know our office policies. We have developed these policies so that you can decide in advance if our office can best provide your care. In addition, we have found that these policies help us to provide you with the best vision and comfort in our dry climate. This is a difficult task in may cases and if you have moved to our area, the process may be very different than you have experienced elsewhere.

1. We need to know what you're wearing now and how you're caring for your lenses. It's best if you can bring records from your previous doctor, or your previous contact lens prescriptions. It's not as good, but OK if you can bring in your current contact lens packages. We need to know what you've been wearing so that we can offer suggestions for improvement. Or, we may recommend that your current lenses are just fine!

2. It's also important that you bring in the solutions you're currently using or at least bring the name of the solution. Sometimes changing solutions can make a world of difference.

3. Be aware that often it is not possible to receive contact lenses at your first visit to the office. There are hundreds of different types contact lenses available, with hundreds of different strengths available for each lens type. It is not possible for us to have every lens that our patients need here in the office. We do our best, but often a patient's particular needs require us to order appropriate trial lenses from the manufacturer. So, that means in most cases that you'll need to have a number of visits to the office. Check our office hours to be sure that you'll be able to schedule these visits into your own schedule.

4. Bring your glasses to the visit. The doctor will want to see what glasses you've been wearing to be sure that they are an appropriate backup to your contacts. There are many times in our dry climate that you'll want to wear your glasses rather than your contacts. In addition, the doctor will put drops in your eyes at your first visit and you may not be able to wear your contact lenses after this initial exam.

Research has led to improvements in eye health for contact lens wearers due to the development of new lens materials and dramatic improvements in lens care solutions. The importance of proper tears and wetting of contacts cannot be overstated, and the new materials help with this. As a result, we can fit more people with contacts, many who were previously unable to tolerate fulltime wear. Due to advances in materials, patients experience fewer eye health complications and enjoy increased safety. Most patients can adapt to comfortable soft lenses almost immediately. These products also offer part-time wear for those who enjoy -- or need -- some of the special features of glasses. Gas Permeable (GP) lenses offer crisper sight for certain eye conditions.

Dr. Mitchell is up-to-date on the latest research about corneal health and sophisticated technology to help him determine whether contact lenses are right for you -- and which ones will work best. Whether you are wearing contacts for the first time or interested in changing to more advanced lenses, you have more options today than ever before.

The best way to discover if you are a good candidate for contacts lenses is to schedule an appointment for a complete eye health and vision assessment. If Dr. Mitchell determines that you may be eligible, you'll proceed with a contact lens fitting, which involves additional testing, individualized patient education and follow-up visits. After this phase is completed, you will receive a final prescription.

Below we have listed features and benefits for the most common contact lenses. When you come in for your appointment, we will consult with you to find the best option for your unique needs.

Daily disposable lenses are worn for one day and discarded, eliminating the need to clean the lenses. As a new lens is worn every day, these are the least likely to cause contact lens-related eye health problems. These lenses are the ultimate in convenience, and work particularly well for travelers as there is no need to pack solution bottles!

These kinds of contact lenses are made for daily wear with planned replacement, meaning the contacts are replaced with new lenses frequently and spare lenses are always on hand. The largest range of powers and features are available in this lens type, making it the best option for astigmatism correction or bifocals.

This kind of contact lens is made for continuous wear up to 30 days, with no handling for you. Since these can be worn at night means you'll have clear vision the moment you wake up. These lenses have the highest level of oxygen permeability, making them the healthiest extended-wear lens. Unfortunately, sleeping in contact lenses results in the highest risk of infection or other health-related eye problems, so people sleeping in contacts need more follow up care.

Made from durable material, these lenses can last for years. These lenses are made from harder material, meaning more consistent and crisper sight for some types of astigmatism.

Yes! If you do not follow the instructions from the office; if you care careless in your wearing schedule; if you neglect cleaning and caring for your lenses; they can cause serious problems. Your success with contact lenses is based on two main factors: our office's knowledge and ability in taking care of contact lens wearers and your ability to follow instructions and maintain regular care. It is also important that you - the patient - learn and follow all instructions on wearing and caring for your lenses and ensure you receive adequate and routine eye examinations. Preventing contact lenses problems is better than treating them!

Good question...and we get this one a lot. Unfortunately, it's not that easy to answer. Fees for contact lenses include three parts: the fee for the fitting of the contact lenses, the fee for the lenses themselves, and the fee for the required follow-up care. All of these fees vary depending on the complexity of the fitting and the complexity of the lens design. In our office, we include the follow-up care with the fitting fee, so that makes it a little more simple. For the lenses themselves, there are over 1000 different types of contact lenses, all with different fees.

Due to our dry climate, we use contact lenses that stay wet on the eye. We have had the best results with Proclear Compatibles contact lenses. These are the only contacts with FDA clearance for the claim: “may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to dryness during lens wear.” And, it's true. Our patients switched to these contacts tend to have more comfortable eyes. Get more information here:

Fitting and follow-up fees at our office range from $40 to $250. Fees for the contact lenses are extremely competitive--we shop our competition and get our patients the best fees that we can.

Contact Lens Information Links

Clear Care Cleaning and Disinfection Solution we recommend ClearCare for all our soft lens patients. This care system keeps the lenses the cleanest that they can be and is wonderful at killing the germs that can cause serious eye infections.

Oxygen permeable vs soft lenses at CLMA

CLs vs. Glasses at CLMA

Proclear Contact Lenses at Coopervision

Ciba Vision Lens Care Guide

Contact Lens Care Conditions at Alcon