Written by Dr. Brent Fry

Published: 06 February 2017

We are now into February and I would assume most of us are looking forward to the warmer days of spring.  Although sunglasses should be worn year-round, many people associate sunglasses with warm, sunny days.  Now is a good time to consider upgrading your sunglasses.  If you already enjoy wearing high quality polarized sunglasses, then you are in the minority.  Unfortunately, high quality sunglasses usually make people think "expensive".  It is true that high quality sunglasses have a higher price tag, but this is one area that you truly get what you pay for.

We wear sunglasses for fashion, visual comfort and clarity, and for protection from harmful sunlight.  If your sunglasses don't provide all of those things, then you need to find some that do.  The higher the quality of sunglasses, usually the higher the price tag.  That doesn't always hold true in reverse.  There are plenty of high priced sunglasses that are not necessarily the highest quality.  The main thing that seperates the quality of the sunglasses in the high price category is the lens.  If the lenses don't protect your eyes properly, including UV and blue light, and provide high quality optics, then you should look for some that do.

We have many options in sunwear and you should rely on your eye care professionals to find the right sunglasses for you.  Fortunately, if you rely on prescription eyeglasses to see, the higher quality sunglasses also come in prescription.  These lenses are made with the same technology that the non-prescription lenses are made.  Keeping your eyewear properly adjusted will ensure that your sunglasses remain as comfortable and the optics are a clear as possible.

Your eyes are precious.  Don't skimp on quality to save a buck.  Your eyes will thank you for it!

Written by Dr. Brent Fry

Published: 19 January 2017

The answer to the above question is....it depends.  You most likely have been told that sleeping in your contact lenses is not a good idea and could cause some major problems.  That can be true, but it is not necessarily always true.  With the new materials that modern contact lenses are usually made from, silicone hydrogel, the problem is not hypoxia (lack of oxygen permeation).  One could argue that the eye gets nearly as much oxygen with most "extended wear" lenses as is does without a lens on the eye.  The problem lies in the cleanliness of the lens and surface deposits.  As a contact lens sits on the surface of the eye, it is exposed to atmospheric debris, tears, and other foreign substances.  Over the course of the day, these foreign elements will adhere to the surface of the lens.  If the lens is not removed routinely and cleaned and disinfected, irritation can occur and lead to serious complications.  Eye infections, especially the kind that affect the cornea, can lead to permanent damage to the eyes and vision.

Infection from contact lens abuse                   Healthy contact lens wear

  If cleaning your contact lenses seems like too much work, you may want to consider daily disposable contact lenses that are worn once and thrown away.

There is, however, a type of contact lens that is actually prescribed to be worn overnight, on purpose!  The difference in these contact lenses is that they reshape the cornea in order to change the refractive error.  This only works with those individuals that are near-sighted and may have mild to moderate astigmatism.  CRT lenses (corneal refractive therapy) are worn overnight and removed in the morning.  After removal, the lenses are cleaned and disinfected during the daytime.

So, now you see why the answer is a little more complicated than you may have thought.  It is important to discuss your individual needs with your eye doctor and make sure that you are compliant with the wear schedule that your eye doctor prescribes.  Contact lenses come in many forms and can seem pretty complicated.  It is the job of your eye doctor to take care of your eyes and prescribe the healthiest option for your needs.  It is your job to comply.  Remember, if you really want to wear contact lenses, you most likely can.  Schedule an appointment with your eye doctor in order take advantage of the many healthy contact lens options that you have.

Brent B. Fry, O.D.