Contact Lenses
What Are Contact Lenses?
Contact lenses are medical devices that correct vision by focusing light properly onto the back of your eye. Understanding how they work and how they are prescribed helps you make informed choices about your eye care.
Contact lenses rest on the tear film that covers your cornea and move naturally with each blink. They correct vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by bending light rays so images focus clearly on your retina. Unlike glasses, contacts provide vision correction in all directions without frames blocking your sight.
Most people can successfully wear contact lenses if they have healthy eyes and can follow proper care routines. Good candidates include children, teens, adults, and seniors who want an alternative to glasses for sports, work, or everyday life. Even people with astigmatism, presbyopia, or irregular corneas have excellent lens options available today.
A complete eye exam is required before you can be fitted for contact lenses. Our ophthalmologists measure your cornea's curve, pupil size, and tear film quality. Based on these measurements and your vision needs, we prescribe lenses with the correct power, base curve, and diameter for a safe and comfortable fit.
Contact lens technology continues to improve each year. Modern lenses feature better oxygen flow to your cornea, moisture-locking materials that prevent dryness, and more stable designs for clear vision all day. New innovations in 2025 include blue light filtering for digital device users, smart lenses that can monitor eye pressure or blood sugar levels, and eco-friendly materials that reduce environmental impact.
Types of Contact Lenses
Contact lenses come in many different materials, designs, and replacement schedules. Our multispecialty team at ReFocus Eye Health Marlton can help you choose the best option for your vision needs, lifestyle, and eye health.
Soft lenses are made from flexible, water-containing plastics called hydrogel or silicone hydrogel. They are the most popular type because they feel comfortable right away and are easy to adapt to. Silicone hydrogel lenses, introduced in the early 2000s, allow much more oxygen to reach your cornea than older materials, reducing the risk of eye problems and making them safe for longer wear times. These lenses are available in daily, two-week, and monthly replacement schedules.
Rigid gas permeable lenses, also called RGP or GP lenses, are made from firm, durable plastic that lets oxygen pass through to your eye. They take longer to get used to than soft lenses, but they often provide sharper, crisper vision, especially for people with high astigmatism or irregular corneas. With proper care, RGP lenses can last a year or more, making them a cost-effective choice.
Hybrid lenses combine a rigid center for clear vision with a soft outer ring for comfort. This design works well for people with irregular corneas, such as those with keratoconus, who need sharp vision but find rigid lenses uncomfortable.
Toric lenses are specially designed to correct astigmatism. They have different powers in different parts of the lens and include features that keep the lens from rotating on your eye. Toric lenses are available in both soft and rigid materials and come in all replacement schedules, including daily disposables.
Multifocal lenses help people over 40 who have presbyopia, a condition that makes it hard to focus on close objects. These lenses provide clear vision at all distances so you can see near, far, and in between without needing reading glasses.
Scleral lenses are large gas-permeable lenses that vault over your entire cornea and rest on the white part of your eye. They are used for advanced corneal conditions like severe keratoconus, extreme dry eye, or eyes that have been damaged by surgery or injury. Scleral lenses provide comfort and clear vision when standard lenses cannot.
Daily wear lenses must be removed every night for cleaning and disinfection. Extended wear lenses are approved for overnight use, usually for up to seven days. While sleeping in lenses is convenient, it increases your risk of eye infection. Most eye doctors recommend daily wear for better long-term eye health.
Colored contact lenses can change or enhance your eye color and are available with or without vision correction. Specialty prosthetic lenses can also cover eye scars or abnormalities from injury or disease. All colored lenses are medical devices that require a proper fitting and prescription from an eye care professional.
Benefits of Contact Lenses
Contact lenses offer both practical and lifestyle advantages that make them a popular choice for people of all ages. Our full-service optical and contact lens center at ReFocus Eye Health Marlton helps patients in Marlton, Voorhees, Mount Laurel, and throughout the region find lenses that fit their unique needs.
Contact lenses move with your eyes, giving you clear vision in all directions without the distortion or reflections that can happen with glasses. They do not fog up when you walk into a warm building or get splattered by rain, so your vision stays clear in all weather conditions.
Sports and physical activities are easier with contact lenses. They do not slip down your nose, fall off, or break, and they work well with helmets and protective goggles. This makes them the preferred choice for many athletes and active people.
Contact lenses correct your vision without changing how you look. Many people feel more confident and natural without glasses. Colored lenses also offer a fun way to enhance or change your appearance while still seeing clearly.
Many modern soft contact lenses include UV-blocking agents that help protect the inside of your eye from harmful sun rays. While they do not replace sunglasses, which protect your entire eye area, they provide an extra layer of defense against UV damage that can contribute to cataracts and other eye problems.
How to Care for Contact Lenses
Proper lens care and hygiene are critical for keeping your eyes healthy, comfortable, and infection-free. Following a consistent routine reduces your risk of complications and keeps your vision clear.
Always wash and dry your hands with a lint-free towel before touching your lenses. Use only fresh, sterile contact lens solution recommended by your eye doctor. Never use tap water, saliva, or expired solution. Gently rub and rinse each lens to remove deposits, even if the solution label says no rubbing is needed. Store your lenses in a clean case filled with fresh solution every night.
Replace your lenses exactly as prescribed, whether that is daily, every two weeks, or monthly. Wearing lenses longer than recommended allows protein, bacteria, and other deposits to build up, increasing your risk of discomfort, blurry vision, and serious eye infections. Set reminders on your phone to help you stay on schedule.
Clean your lens case every day by rubbing it with fresh solution, rinsing it, and letting it air dry upside down with the caps off. Replace your case at least every three months or right away after an eye infection. Never use tap water to clean your case because it contains germs that can cause severe infections.
Never sleep in lenses unless they are approved for overnight wear. Avoid exposing your lenses to any water, including showers, pools, hot tubs, and lakes. Do not share lenses with others or use expired products. If you experience redness, pain, or changes in vision, remove your lenses immediately and contact our ophthalmologists.
Potential Risks and Solutions
While contact lenses are safe when used properly, they are medical devices that carry some risks if not handled correctly. Knowing these risks and how to respond helps you prevent and solve most problems.
The most serious risk is a corneal infection called microbial keratitis. Symptoms include severe pain, redness, discharge, and blurry vision. You can prevent infections by practicing good hygiene, never sleeping in daily wear lenses, and keeping your lenses away from water. If you suspect an infection, remove your lenses and seek urgent eye care.
Contact lenses can sometimes cause or worsen dry eye symptoms, especially during long days or when using computers. Solutions include using preservative-free rewetting drops made for contact lenses, taking breaks from lens wear, and switching to lenses designed for dry eyes, such as daily disposables with moisture-locking technology.
Some people develop sensitivities to lens materials or cleaning solution preservatives, causing redness, itching, and discomfort. Switching to preservative-free hydrogen peroxide solution or trying daily disposable lenses made from different materials often solves these problems.
A poorly fitting lens can cause corneal scratches, swelling, or the growth of new blood vessels into the cornea. These problems often result from not enough oxygen reaching your cornea. Regular eye exams at ReFocus Eye Health Marlton are essential for monitoring your corneal health and making sure your lenses fit properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding the answers to common questions helps you wear contact lenses safely and comfortably.
No. Never expose your contact lenses to any water, including tap water, pools, oceans, lakes, or hot tubs. Water contains germs that can stick to your lenses and cause severe, sight-threatening infections. If you must swim, wear watertight goggles over your lenses and throw the lenses away immediately after.
Most people adapt to soft contact lenses within a few days to a week. Start by wearing them for a few hours on the first day and gradually increase the time each day. Rigid gas permeable lenses may take longer to get used to, sometimes several weeks, but the result is often sharper vision.
Yes. Toric contact lenses are specifically designed to correct astigmatism. They have different powers in different areas and special features to prevent rotation. Toric lenses are available in nearly all materials and replacement schedules, including daily disposables.
If your lenses are not approved for overnight wear, remove them as soon as you wake up. Your eyes may feel dry, so use rewetting drops before removal if the lenses feel stuck. Give your eyes a break by wearing glasses for the rest of the day. If you notice lasting redness, pain, or blurry vision, contact our office.
Yes. Children as young as eight can successfully wear contact lenses if they are responsible and motivated enough to handle them properly. Studies show that children are often very good at following lens care routines. Daily disposable lenses are an excellent choice for young wearers because they do not require cleaning or storage.
Yes, but always insert your lenses before applying makeup and remove them before taking makeup off. This prevents oils and particles from getting trapped under the lens. Use oil-free, hypoallergenic products, avoid applying eyeliner to the inner rim of your eyelid, and replace eye makeup every three months.
A contact lens cannot get lost behind your eye. A thin membrane called the conjunctiva covers the white of your eye and connects to the inside of your eyelids, making it impossible for a lens to go behind your eye. If a lens moves out of place, add rewetting drops and gently massage your closed eyelid to move it back to the center.
Place the lens on your fingertip and look at it from the side. A correctly positioned lens will look like a smooth bowl with edges pointing straight up. An inside-out lens will have edges that flare outward like a saucer. An inside-out lens will feel uncomfortable and may move around too much on your eye.
No. While UV-blocking contacts provide valuable protection to your cornea and the inside of your eye, they do not cover your entire eye or the delicate skin around it. You should always wear high-quality sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays for complete protection.
Contact lens wearers should have a complete eye exam every year, or more often if recommended by your eye doctor. These exams check your vision prescription, evaluate how your lenses fit, and monitor your corneal health to catch any potential problems early.
The name refers to the replacement schedule. Daily disposable lenses are worn once and thrown away. Two-week lenses are worn for up to 14 days, and monthly lenses for up to 30 days, with nightly cleaning and disinfection required for both. Never extend use beyond the recommended schedule.
Yes. People blink less often and less completely when looking at digital screens, which can cause contact lenses to dry out and feel uncomfortable. To reduce this problem, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Using rewetting drops can also help.
Expert Contact Lens Care in Marlton
Contact lenses offer clear, comfortable vision for work, sports, and everyday life when used as directed. At ReFocus Eye Health Marlton, our experienced team combines advanced technology with personalized care to help patients throughout the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area find the right lenses for their unique needs. Schedule regular eye exams, follow your prescribed care routine, and contact us right away if you experience any discomfort or vision changes.
Dr. Heuer was very professional and easy to talk to. I enjoyed being in what appeared to be an all female office. I highly recommend allowing them to take care of your eye care needs.
Lasaunji Richardson
Dr Grossman does an outstanding job making sure my eye health is at his best. He uses the latest technology. The office is efficient.
Lorraine Horton
Dr. Heuer was very professional and easy to talk to. I enjoyed being in what appeared to be an all female office. I highly recommend allowing them to take care of your eye care needs.
Lasaunji Richardson
Dr Glass is very thorough in my eye exam. He takes the time to explain in what he saw during my eye exam. Katie is a very good at her position. The staff at the front desk is friendly and very helpful.
Cynthia A. Rock
Dr. Charles Glass at Refocus is exceptional with his professional and thorough care and absolute confirm for his patients. I would highly recommend him!
Lauren Stith
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