| Dr. Shital S. Chatwani is an Optometrist and as answered some common questions that Bizymoms visitors have about Contact Lenses.
Q. What’s involved in a Contact Lens Exam?
A. A contact lens exam or contact lens check is done on any patient who is interested in refilling their current contact lens prescription or if a patient is interested in trying a different or newer brand of contact lenses. During this exam, the doctor checks the vision with the contacts, checks the prescription over the contacts, checks the integrity of the contacts on the eye, and lastly, checks the ocular health of the eye when the contacts are off to check for surface dryness or solution toxicity.
Q. What’s involved in a Contact Lens Fitting?
A. A contact lens fitting is for anyone who is new to wearing contacts, this is when the doctor spends time with the patient to explain the different types of contact lenses that are on the market and discuss the best lens modality for the patient. In addition, the fitting includes a detailed training on how to insert and remove contact lenses with her staff, it also includes trial lenses that the doctor needs to order for the patient and lastly it includes the follow up visits for the patient with the doctor in order to achieve the best comfort and vision in the contact lenses.
Q. Why is a yearly contact lens exam important?
A. A yearly contact lens exam is important so that patients do not over wear contacts and cause problems for their eye and also assure that a patient is wearing the most up to date lens technology for their eye without compromising the health of their eye. In addition, it is the law.
Q. What types of Contacts Lenses are there?
A. There are many different contact lenses out their depending on patient’s needs. We offer 1 day disposable, 2 week lenses, monthly and quarterly lenses. We do put a patient in any of the above lenses according to the patient’s history, wants and needs.
Q. Can children wear Contact Lenses?
A. Sure, there are a lot of responsible children who wear contacts for either sports or to control their nearsightedness but do need a lot of assistance from their parents. Most children are at least 8 years old or older before their parents consider contacts.
Q. What is the difference between soft and hard Contact Lenses?
A. Soft lenses are very comfortable and drape on the surface of the eye. These soft lenses can also be made to correct people who have astigmatism but their overall vision is not as clear as if they wore glasses. Rigid or gas permeable hard lenses offer great vision since they can reshape the front surface of the eye, however, they are not as comfortable as the soft lenses and do take longer to get used to.
Q. Can I safely wear extended-wear Contact Lenses overnight?
A. Yes, I have many patients who wear the Air Optix night and day lenses overnight and have been very happy with them. These lenses do have a lot of oxygen in them and allow the eye to breathe but patients are much more at risk for ocular infections. In addition, some patients undergo a process called Corneal Refractive therapy, where they have to wear rigid lenses at night and no lens during the day. These lenses are EW but also very risky.
Q. How can we contact Dr. Chatwani if we have further questions?
A. I can be reached at my office number at 510-792-9611 or by email tricityeyes@yahoo.com. My website is www.tricityeyes.com |
