michael.offord@btinternet.com
0191 271 2140

Contact Lenses

Being an independent optometrist’s means we are able to stock contact lenses from a wide variety of suppliers to offer you lenses from the leading brands such as Alcon Dailies and Johnson & Johnson Acuvue, and specialist lenses from Mark Ennovy.

Benefits of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are ideal for people who would like to be free from wearing their spectacles, even if just for social and recreational wear.
Our optometrists fit a wide range of lenses, and as part of your contact lens consultation a number of factors will be taken into consideration: your prescription and lifestyle requirements, how often you wish to wear contact lenses and how much time you may have to clean and look after them.

Newcastle Optician wide range of contact lensesAt your contact lens consultation we begin with discussing your life-style, when and why you would like to wear contact lenses. Your eyes will be assessed for tear quality, and measured to obtain the best fit and the best type of lenses for you. The Optometrist will then place the contact lens in position on the surface of your eye. At this stage you may be asked to leave the lenses in for a short while so you can experience how they feel and how your vision is.

After this trial you will be fully instructed on how to apply the lenses to the surface of your eye and how to remove them. You will also be instructed on how to care for your lenses by our trained staff. They will also explain the benefits of Offord-Care Plus, our contact lens care and replacement scheme. Our care doesn’t stop once you leave the practice, as all our contact lens patients have regular after-care check ups to ensure your eyes are healthy and you are getting the most out of your new purchase.

Types of contact lenses

Soft

One of the most popular types of contact lenses, these are made from a pliable soft plastic that has hydrophilic (water absorbing) properties to allow oxygen through the lens. They tend to be more comfortable to wear than ‘hard’ lenses and need less adaptation time. Soft contact lenses are available in different replacement frequencies ranging from annual replacement to daily disposables, making them ideal for a wide range of different wearing schedules.

Silicone Hydrogel
This is the newest type of contact lens. The silicone hydrogel generation of lenses allows a greater amount of oxygen to pass through the lens to the cornea and are now available in a daily disposable lens-ideal for increased comfort in dry air-conditioned environments.

Gas Permeable
Unlike the older ‘hard’ type of lens, Gas Permeable (GP) or Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses allow some oxygen to pass through the lens. They are not fitted as often as soft contact lenses as they take longer to adapt to. For high astigmatic patients they can be a good option as better vision can be experienced with this type of lens than a soft type.

Hard
Rarely fitted these days, the hard type of contact lens allows no passage of oxygen through the lens to the cornea, resulting in poor comfort and long adaptation times. They do have the advantage of being very durable and long lasting.

For more information read our quide Read our guide on Soft lens application and removal