My colleague and fellow blogger,  Dr. Shaune Wallace, addresses the question: Why do we need yearly contact lens exams?

The whole article is worth reading, but here is is core issue:

“A thorough exam by an optometrist can identify potential problems before they occur. Careful selection of appropriate lens material and design followed by evaluation of the movement can help to prevent many of these problems. Yearly examination can then identify issues before they become serious.”

As I always say, it is easier to prevent problems than treat them. If you wear contact lenses and it has been awhile since your last contact  lens evaluation, don’t put it off any longer.

Be Well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
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Sometimes patients will ask me what type of contacts I wear. The answer is Focus Dailies. There are two reasons for this.

First, they are incredibly healthy. When contact lenses are worn repeatedly, their characteristics change. Even when cleaned properly, they are more likely to attract bacteria. My friend, Dr. Justin Bazan, posted about this here. Also, tiny oily and protein deposits will  make the re-worn lens less breathable and the vision less clear. This is especially true for people who have allergies or dry eyes. Additionally, some people are sensitive to the contact lens solutions. The best way to deal with this is simply stop using them. For all the above reasons, I call Daily Disposable contact lenses “the great problem solver” for troubled contact lens patients.

The second reason I personally wear Focus Dailies is that they are extremely convenient. I don’t wear lenses everyday, so I don’t really like to keep track of how long it has been since I have opened them. Also, I travel a lot to go to eye care meetings and it is much easier to toss a few extra lenses in my suitcase than to bring solutions and contacts.

There are certain categories of patients who do extremely well in Daily Disposable  contact lenses.  They frequently are the best choice for children who are getting their first contacts. It simplifies the process and ensures that they have have a clean lens at all times.  College students tend to love the convenience.  People who do specific activities, such as camping find it extremely useful.

When I first mention that Dailies would be a good choice for patients because they are healthier and more convenient,  they sometimes ask me if they are significantly more expensive. I tell them them that these benefits cost less than a dollar a day and once you factor in that fact that you don’t have to

buy solutions and cases, it works out to about 6 cents more per eye:

Because Daily Disposable lenses have become so popular among doctors and patients, they now are made for almost every type of visual need: patients who are nearsighted or farsighted, patients with astigmatism, and even patients who need bifocal contacts. You can read about these options at www.dailies.com.

So to celebrate Focus Dailies being the Feature of the Month, when you order your Focus Dailies, mention that you saw the Feature of the Month on the Internet and you will receive $5 off per box that you order in January. That is an additional 10% savings!

Be Well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
Connect with Us:  YelpFacebookTwitter

Here is a brief news video about a women who lost vision and needed several eye surgeries because she got a parasite called acanthamoeba . This exact scenario is why I tell patients not to swim in their contacts and not to sleep in their contacts unless I have specifically allowed them to do this.

Recently there has been an increase in contact lens related infections. There have also been some recalls of contact lens care solutions. I always recommend that patients use the proper solution and keep their contact lens case clean.

If you have any questions about this, please ask myself or the staff.

Be safe!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care

How successful are people with multifocal rgp lenses. My doc was not too encouraging even tho I am motivated. I know the articles are favorable,sharper vision more accurate prescription. I really would like to hear what a REAL person has experienced.

I am glad you asked because this is one of the most exciting areas of contact lenses today. These lenses do take some extra effort and equipment to get right, so not every doctor enjoys fitting them. I have found them to be very rewarding for myself and patients.

People over 40 years old commonly have presbyopia (difficulty seeing up close) and wear reading glasses. Many people would like the freedom to be able to see both near and far without glasses, yet remember 20 or 30 years ago when they wore “hard lenses” and hated them.

I am happy to report that these lenses are better than ever. Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses are truly high-tech. While gas permeable contacts will not be as comfortable at first as soft contacts, newer materials and lens coatings make them much more comfortable to wear than they used to be.

Also, there are many new RGP multifocal designs that allow for extremely good vision both distance and near. They may not work in every situation, but they can allow you to be much less dependent on your reading glasses.

Just the other day I designed some multifocal RGP for a woman who wanted to not have to wear glasses to her son’s wedding. The contacts fit great and she was able to be in the photos without her glasses. After she came back for a modification of the design, she said they were even better.

Also, there is a brand-new option. This just came out this month, but I have been lucky enough to work with it since January. It is the SynergEyes multifocal. It is a hybrid design, meaning it has the optics of a RGP lens, but the comfort of a soft lens. I have been having tremendous success with this lens and am very excited about it.

If you are motivated, we can almost always find a contact lens to make you happy. If you are interested in any of the new contact lens designs, call the office for more information. If you come in for an evaluation, we will discuss the options fully before you are committed to any of them.

Thanks for the great question!

Be Well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care