Our Optometrists are all members of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand, with Optometrist Partner Greg Nel being its Immediate National President. We are able to provide you with expert attention in all types of contact lenses. Recent developments in contact lens technology include toric (astigmatism-correcting) lenses which are replaced on a Daily, Fortnightly or Monthly basis; as well as which allow enough oxygen to pass through the lens that they can even be worn overnight.

Contact Lenses and Children?
How old do you have to be to wear contact lenses? Dr Jeffrey Walline of Ohio State University recently did a study to answer this question. He studied contact lens wear in 8-11 year olds and found that they did at least as well as their adult counterparts!
This question is best considered on a case by case basis. Contact us if you would like advice.

Presbyopia and Bifocal Contact Lenses.
Presbyopia is the gradual loss of nearpoint focus and is normal in aging. The crystalline lens inside the eye gradually hardens as we get older, resulting in the closest clear focus point moving further and further back.  Small print becomes more and more difficult to read. Many people who have never worn spectacles find that they need reading glasses when they reach their mid-forties. There are now a number of contact lens designs available which offer an alternative to reading glasses.

Types of contact lenses:
Disposable contact lenses
Disposable contact lenses are designed to be replaced before they become harmful to the ocular surface;  either daily, two-weekly or monthly. The more frequently a lens is replaced, the less the suface is soiled with proteins and lipds.  Many contact lens problems of  the past can now be avoided completely by ensuring the lens surfaces are clean and deposit free making disposable contact lenses a healthier alternative.
Daily disposable contact lenses are a fantastic and cost effective option for people looking to wear their contact lenses occasionally, during sport for example. They remove the need for cleaning providing a hastle free, healthy  and good value for money alternative. Wearing Daily lenses full time is the "premium" contact lens modality providing unrivalled comfort, convenience and ocular health.
Lenses which are replaced two-weekly or monthly are good value for everyday contact lens wear. They work out to be more cost effective than daily disposable over the period of two to four weeks, although you will need to clean and maintain them after every wear.

Leave-in ("Continuous Wear") contact lenses
Leave-in (extended wear) contact lenses are designed to be worn continuously for 30 days and nights and then replaced with a new contact lens. They offer the ultimate in convenience, since they usually don't need removing or mechanical cleaning. Other advantages include being able to see without struggling to find your glasses if you get up in the night, or not having to worry about removing lenses with dirty hands if you go camping. You also won't need to remember to carry bottles of solutions around with you if you go out with friends and end up staying out the night!

Gas permeable contact lenses
Gas permeable contact lenses provide excellent clarity of vision but are often only used to correct complex optical distortions these days. This is especially the case where astigmatism is irregular (such as in Keratoconus).Gas permeable contact lenses offer excellent long-term corneal health and are the safest contact lenses to wear. They have been eclipsed as a first choice option by soft lenses in recent years, as they do require a longer adaptation time for new wearers.