Say hello to silicone-made contact lenses and goodbye to re-wetting drops
5:49 a.m. Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Cristina Valdes loves wearing contacts. But she suffers from dry eyes, and lenses only make it worse.
"I was putting drops in all day long on a brand new pair of contacts, which is very frustrating," Cristina said.
If this is your problem, relief may be in sight, thanks to a new generation of soft contacts. They're called silicone hydrogels.
"The silicone component allows the lens to breathe more and gets more oxygen to the eye," said Contact Lens Specialist at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute William Winegar.
The silicone traps moisture in, which means the eyes don't dry out as easily.
"I can wear them all day long from morning 'til late night, and my eyes still feel refreshed," Cristina said. "They feel moist, and I don't have to put eye drops on."
Fast Facts
- About 30.5 million Americans have myopia, or nearsightedness and 12 million Americans have hyperopia, or farsightedness.
- 34 million people in the U.S. wear contact lenses.
- A newer type of contact lens, made with silicone hydrogel, allows more oxygen to get into the eye. The new lenses also keep more moisture in the eye and are less likely to cause the eyes to feel uncomfortably dry.
The added moisture also helps patients see better and feel better.
"Those patients who have previously tried contacts even as early as two to three to four years ago and didn't have a positive experience should re-enter the contact lens field and consider some of the newer generation materials," Winegar said.
People with severe vision problems or extreme astigmatism may not be good candidates. But for Cristina, these clearer contacts are a perfect fit.
The new hydro-gel contacts cost about the same as other lenses on the market. You can find more information at siliconehydrogels.org.
Related Links
For more details, talk with your vision care provider or for general information about vision problems log on to the following Web sites:
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Food and Drug Administration
National Eye Institute
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