Contact Lens Wearers Need Extra Care Annually

September 24, 2013

The first element in our Mission Statement at Mountain View Optometry is to “Protect your Vision”.  For this reason our doctors will run additional tests and procedures each year to ensure that our contact lens wearers maintain healthy eyes and good vision.

The added stress on the eye’s surface when a contact lens is worn comes from three areas:

1)     Less oxygen :  Wearing a device on the surface of the eye does reduce the amount of oxygen the eye receives, making it more vulnerable to health problems on a number of levels.

2)     More “bugs ”:  The surface of a contact lens is like a net for various potentially harmful germs, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa (amoeba).  These all have the potential to infect your eyes causing a variety of problems, some of which can be sight-threatening.

3)     Rubbing :  A contact lens actually sits on a thin cushion of tears, not directly on your eye.  Depending on factors like where you live (dry vs. wet environment), what you do (computer use etc.) and how long you wear your contacts, this tiny tear-cushion may be too thin, resulting in mechanical abrasion or trauma from direct lens-to-eye contact.

A contact lens wearer with problems in some or all of these areas may have symptoms such as dryness, discomfort, redness, discharge (mucous or other sticky substance in and around their eyes) or blurred vision.  It is also possible that he or she may have no symptoms at all .

Our optometrists make use of specialized testing to find out if you are at risk for problems from contact lens wear.  Here’s a list of the tests and procedures you can expect at Mountain View if you wear contact lenses:

  • Risk assessment profile :  a full-time contact lens wearer will be at greater risk than an occasional wearer.  You’ll also be asked about how often you discard your lenses and replace with a fresh pair, what kind of solution you use, and what kind of visual tasks you wear your contact lenses for.
  • Corneal topography :  this is a specialized test done by our technicians that captures an image (like a topographical map) of the surface of your cornea, the tissue the contact lens sits on.  Changes in corneal topography from visit to visit can be a red flag for problems.
  • Visual acuity with your contacts :  this is where we test “how low on the chart you can read” with your contacts in.
  • Microscopic assessment :  your doctor can tell if your eyes are stressed from contact lens wear by looking at your eyes with high magnification and a specialized light.  He or she may also use a special dye (called a fluorescein test) to check for hard-to-see dry spots from rubbing, or early infections or ulcers.  You may be asked to put your lenses in so your doctor can check the fit and make sure it’s optimal.
  • Refractive assessment :  a contact lens prescription is different from an eyeglass prescription.  Your doctor needs to decide, after testing your eyes, how to modify your contact lenses to provide the best vision for all your daily tasks.

We’ll discuss all our findings with you after your testing is completed, and possibly give you recommendations to lower your risk profile.  You may benefit from a re-fit into a higher tech contact lens material, replacing your lenses more frequently or just by using a new solution system.

Be sure to see us once per year – tracking changes annually puts us in the best position to proactively manage any eye health concerns before they develop.

–        Dr. Wilk

A little girl wearing glasses and a blue dress.
By Rosendo C March 26, 2025
Discover Opal's playful and stylish children's eyewear, blending fashion and entertainment with popular licenses that kids love.
A woman wearing glasses and a red sweater is laughing.
By Rosendo C March 26, 2025
Celebrate ØRGREEN OPTICS’ legacy with the 1415 campaign, a tribute to Copenhagen’s oldest postal code. Discover how the city’s canals and creative energy inspire their unique designs.
A woman wearing glasses and a black pleated top
By Rosendo C March 26, 2025
Explore Etnia Barcelona’s new eyewear collection, where vibrant colors, bold contrasts, and premium acetates create striking designs. Celebrate individuality with frames that exude confidence and style.
A woman with glasses and a flower in her hair
By Rosendo C March 26, 2025
Dive into Etnia Barcelona's Underwater campaign, a surreal exploration of the ocean's depths. Discover a mystical AI-created world where vibrant flora, fauna, and mythical beings bring the beauty of the deep sea to life.
A man with a beard wearing maui jim sunglasses
By Rosendo C March 20, 2025
Discover Maui Jim sunglasses at Mountain View Optometry, featuring PolarizedPlus2® lens technology for superior glare protection, enhanced colors, and UV defense. Experience unmatched clarity and eye comfort with premium polarized lenses.
A man wearing sunglasses and a maui jim logo
By Rosendo C March 20, 2025
Maui Jim Sunglasses Spring-Summer 2025
A woman wearing glasses is standing in front of a colorful background.
By Rosendo C March 16, 2025
Thierry Lasry Eyewear Calgary - 2024 Campaign
A close up of a woman wearing glasses.
By Rosendo C March 16, 2025
Thierry Lasry Eyewear Calgary - 2023 Campaign
By Tom Wilk March 7, 2025
As a locally owned business, we deeply appreciate your support. Recent events have prompted us to reflect on how many other Canadian companies are also supported when you visit us for eye care services. This month, we are proud to highlight one of our key “Made in Canada” suppliers – ZEISS Vision. Specializing in precision optics, ZEISS spectacle lenses are designed to improve vision in several ways, including sharper vision at night, better contrast, and more natural colours. When you order a set of new ZEISS lenses from MVO, you support a Canadian company employing 250 dedicated staff who work hard to custom build the glasses you will be wearing for (on average) the next two to three years! Thank you for your commitment to keeping your business in Canada!
A man is holding a pair of glasses in his hand and rubbing his eyes.
By Tom Wilk March 5, 2025
Visual snow syndrome (VSS) is a condition that causes people to see visual disturbances similar to static on a television. This "visual snow" can be persistent and is often accompanied by other symptoms that can affect daily life. As more people learn about visual snow syndrome, it becomes essential to understand its symptoms, potential causes, and how to manage it.
Show More
Share by: