CONTACT LENSES

DR. BOBBY R.E SITEPU, SP.M

DEPARTEMEN ILMU KESEHATAN MATA
FK USU
 Contact lenses were thought of as early as
1508 when Leonardo da Vinci sketched and
described several forms of them.
 Contact lenses are a changing area of
optometry with new lenses being constantly
developed
 Refractive errors are corrected by contact
lenses, which are placed directly on the cornea
pupil cornea iris

sclera

Lid
margin

conjunctiva
Normal focus

Short sightedness (Myopia)

• Distance vision blurry, near usually OK.
Short- Short-sighted
sighted focus correction
 Long-sightedness
(Hyperopia)
• Difficulty seeing clearly and comfortably
up close.

Long-sighted Long-sighted
correction
focus
 Astigmatism
• Irregular curvature of the eye (shaped
more like a football than a basketball)
• Light in different planes focuses at
different points
A
B
90

180
There are many types of contact lenses

Hard lenses
RGP lenses
Soft lenses
 Disposable or non-disposable
 Coloured or clear
 Spherical or toric
 Extended wear
 Multifocal
 Hard lenses

 Plastic polymer.
 Most durable.
 Rigid, therefore may scratch the cornea.
 Not gas permeable  corneal hypoxia  corneal ulcers.
 Cannot be worn continuously.
 Difficult to get used to (because they are very rigid).
 Less susceptible to infection + allergy.
 Best for treating astigmatism (smoothes out the uneven
curvature).
Hard lenses
 Hard lenses

Hard contact lenses are used in

orthokeratology: the fitting of a
series of rigid contact lenses to
reshape the cornea. It is an
alternative to glasses and surgery
Hard lenses
 RGP lenses (rigid gas permeable)
Smaller than size of cornea

May be less comfortable

than soft lenses initially
Very effective in

correcting astigmatism
 RGP lenses (rigid gas permeable)

• They are permeable only to gases.

• They are more comfortable than hard lenses, but
less than soft ones.
• They are more durable than soft lenses, but less
than hard lenses.
• Allow oxygen to pass, but also allow proteins to
deposit.
• More durable than soft lenses, but less durable
than hard ones
 Soft lenses
Most commonly used (90%)

Made from hydrogel plastic

material containing water
Are 1-2mm larger than

cornea
Easy to adapt to
 Soft lenses

• Permeable for both gases + liquids

• Could be worn for long periods.
• Tolerated much better.
• They do not correct astigmatism.
• Are the most comfortable lenses.
• Are the least durable lenses (must be replaced
more often).
 Soft Lenses

Susceptible to accumulation of deposits (because

they absorb more water, which binds proteins).
This accumulation of protein deposits leads to
allergic conjunctivitis and other allergies.
 Spherical lenses

Correct short or long-sightedness

Cheapest, most comfortable lenses

Easy to get in disposable form

 Toric lenses

Are similar to soft contact lenses, but have a

couple of extra characteristics:
• They have 2 powers in them: 1 for spherical
correction + 1 for astigmatism.
• They are designed to keep the lens in a stable
position even on movement.
 Lens is specially weighted to conform to irregular
cornea
 Toric lenses

They offer the comfort of soft lenses ,and at the

same time they correct astigmatism, but their
disadvantage is that the lens will sometimes rotate,
and this creates a very irritating change in vision as
the lens rotates
More expensive than spherical

Some are available in disposable

 Disposable lenses

Daily, two-weekly or monthly

replacement
Very simple cleaning (no cleaning for
daily)
Latest designs and materials

Very popular
 Coloured lenses
Handling tint
 Lens more visible when inserting or removing
Enhancing tint
 Makes light coloured eyes more vivid
Opaque tint
 Can change brown eyes to blue
 Extended wear lenses

New technology

Made from silicone material which transmits

oxygen well
Can wear for up to thirty days without
removing
Will not suit all people – your optometrist
will advise
 Multifocal contact lenses
Can wear one reading lens, one distance

Can have dual focus lenses

New technology – slightly more expensive

Available as a disposable lens

Advantages of contact lenses over glasses

Better field of view

No fogging up

No one has to know you have refractive error

No frames – eg, useful for sport

Sometimes the vision is better

Hygiene is extremely important with contact
lenses

Always wash your hands

before touching lenses
If lenses are not clean, bacteria can stick to
them
A tiny scratch on the eye can
get infected
 If you have a sore, red eye take your
lenses out and go to see ophthalmologist
ASAP
If properly looked after, the chance
of having an infection with contact
lenses is extremely low
 Consultations for contact lenses
Contact lenses need to be fitted to each
individual eye
Several tests are required for:
 measuring and trying the lenses
 teaching insertion and removal
 after care
Ophthalmologist can advise you about the
tests are required
 Contraindications to using contact lenses

History of atopy.
Dry eyes.
Previous glaucoma filtration surgery.
Inability to handle and cope with the lenses.
Thank You