Dr. Logan uses contact lenses for all prescription ranges, including multifocal, specialty and therapeutic lenses for conditions such as keratoconus, post-corneal transplant, corneal scars and astigmatism.

Though we do not create glasses at our office, our doctors can give you a glasses prescription to be filled at the optician of your choice, or we are happy to provide you with a referral to an optical shop in your neighborhood.

Depending on your lifestyle, your motivation and the health of your eyes, contact lenses may provide a safe and effective alternative to eyeglasses when used with proper care and maintenance.

Contacts are used to correct the same conditions that eyeglasses correct:
• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Astigmatism
• Presbyopia

They are also used therapeutically for keratoconus, corneal transplants, corneal scars and corneal irregularities.

As a leader in her field, Dr. Logan receives referrals from doctors throughout the region. Dr. Logan provides the highest quality of contact lens care, whether your needs are as simple as soft disposable lenses, or as complex as specialty lenses for keratoconus or corneal trauma. She is often able to fit lenses on patients who have not had past success with contact lenses.

Different Types of Contacts

Many different plastics are used in the manufacture of contact lenses, but basically there are two general types of lenses: hard and soft.

Hard lenses include the PMMA contacts that were first developed in the 1960s but are rarely used today; and gas permeable, or GP, contacts. GP contacts combine plastics with other materials such as silicone or fluoropolymers to produce a lens that holds its shape, yet allows the free flow of oxygen through the lens to the cornea. These lenses are more “wettable,” easier to adjust to and more comfortable to wear than the old PMMA hard lenses.

GP lenses may be the best choice when the cornea has enough astigmatism (is shaped more like a football than a basketball) that a soft lens will not provide sharp vision. They may also be preferable when a person has allergies or tends to form protein deposits on his or her contacts.

GP lenses are the primary option for correcting vision with keratoconus. The rigid lens masks the irregular cornea and act as the new refractive surface of the eye, with tear film filling in the gap between the back on the contact lens and the front of the eye. Lens options for keratoconus include gas permeable lenses specifically designed for keratoconus, SynergEyes multifocal hybrid, piggy-back and scleral lenses.

With keratoconus, contact lens fitting is part art and part science. A great deal of patience is need, both of the part of the doctor and on the part of the patient. Due to the progressive nature of keratoconus, it is important that lenses are reassessed often to ensure a proper fit.

‘Piggy-backs’
This type of system is when an GP lens is worn on top of a soft lens. The GP lens provides the clear vision and the soft lens provides comfort by acting as a cushion.

Hybrid lenses
This lens is a combination of an GP center, surrounded by a soft skirt.

Scleral lenses
These lenses have a large diameter, and rest on the white part of the eye (sclera). The mere size of the lens can be deterring, but they have several advantages. They do not fall out and dust particles do not get behind them during wear. Also, they are comfortable because the edges rest above and below the lid margins.

Soft lenses are the choice of most contact lens wearers for their comfort as well as for the great number of options available in soft contacts. These options include:

• Daily wear. These lenses are the least expensive, are removed nightly and are replaced on an individualized schedule. They should not be used as an extended wear lens.
• Extended wear. These lenses are worn overnight but are removed at least weekly for thorough cleaning and disinfection. They are being recommended less frequently, since there is a greater risk of corneal infection with any overnight wear of contact lenses.
• Disposable wear. These lenses are more expensive, but convenient. They are removed nightly and replaced on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Disposable lenses are sometimes recommended for people with allergies and for those who tend to form deposits on their lenses. Colored and toric lenses can be disposable as well.
• Colored contacts. These lenses can change the appearance of your eye color to varying degrees.
• Toric contacts. These lenses can correct astigmatism, although sometimes not as well as RGP lenses. Due to the special nature of these contacts, they are usually more expensive than other contact lenses.

Aging and Options
As one ages, correction for near vision is often necessary because the lens of the eye can’t change shape as easily as it once did. This common condition, called presbyopia, can be corrected in one of three ways:

• wear your distance correction in the contacts, and wear reading glasses when needed;
• wear one contact for distance vision, and one for near vision. This option is called “monovision,” and it works well for many people, but not for everyone. You may need a trial period to decide if monovision is for you;
• wear bifocal contacts, which are designed to allow both distance and near vision. These lenses are somewhat more expensive to fit and may not provide satisfactory vision for all people.

Specialty Uses
Special uses for contact lenses include “bandage” lenses, to cover the corneal surface and provide comfort after injury or surgery; lenses for infants; GP lenses, for people with very irregular corneas due to injury or disease; and painted contact lenses, to change appearance or reduce glare after eye trauma.