Blog

With new technology and designs, people have a lot more options to improve their vision, and their quality of life, with contact lenses. If you were told that you cannot wear contact lenses before, now is the time to explore the possibilities of clear vision without glasses and without surgery.

Today, many children as young as 5 years old wear contact lenses successfully. Combining a proper vision care plan with an optometrist experienced in specialty contact lenses are the best ways to have the benefits of contact lenses for school, work and sports. Drs. Shokouh and I have 50 years combined experience in evaluating and designing specialty contact lenses.

Here are some options that your general eye care practitioner may not have told you about.

New Developments in Soft and Gas Permeable Lenses

Soft specialty contact lenses are custom made, and include higher powers than before. New sophisticated designs can correct for keratoconus as well as provide better near to far vision for multifocal prescriptions.

Soft lens polymers allow more oxygen to the cornea than ever before, resist deposits such as protein and environmental pollutants, wet the lens from the inside out, and even protect the inside of your eyes from ultraviolet light. Today’s soft contact lenses are also more comfortable than before, and biocompatible.

Gas permeable lenses can provide crisper vision because of they do not warp on the eye that has an uneven front corneal surface. New polymers are more durability, provide more oxygen to the eyes than many soft lenses, and dry out the eyes less.

Hybrid Lenses

Hybrid contact lenses have the combined benefit of sharp vision due to a central gas permeable contact lens, with a soft contact lens skirt for added comfort.

Hybrid lenses can now incorporate a reading prescription for patients who need multi-focal lenses.

Read on to learn more about special therapeutic contact lenses that can actually help shape and reinforce your eyes, setting up a new foundation for clear vision in the future.

Scleral Lenses

Scleral lenses (also called ocular surface prosthesis) are large contact lenses which vault the cornea, and rest on the sclera of the eye (the white part of the eye). These specialty contact lenses help my patients who have irregular corneas (such as from keratoconus, eye surgeries that left the cornea uneven, corneal scars, penetrating keratoplasties) see more clearly, and sometimes even almost perfect. They are designed to mask the irregular cornea by creating a new smooth surface for the eye.

Scleral lenses are also used in some dry eye cases because we can incorporate a tear reservoir in the center of the lens to continually bathe the cornea with moisture all day.

Many of these eye conditions cannot be treated in any other way making scleral lenses a problem solver when patients have given up hope.

Orthokeratology or Corneal Molds

Ortho K (OK) lenses are one of the best ways to immediately reverse myopia, and reduce future prescription increases. These therapeutic specialty contact lenses gently reshape the corneal surface while you sleep, to a more correct power for seeing clearly. LASIK also reduces myopia by changing the corneal curvature, but by using surgery which is not indicated for children or young adults until they have stopped growing which is between their mid to late 20’s. The beauty of OK is that it doesn’t require surgery, and works when you’re sleeping so that you can see clearly without contact lenses or glasses during the day. This gives you the freedom to swim, play sports and wear sunglasses without prescription.

Specialty Contact Lens Candidacy

If you want to improve your vision to increase your performance at work, school or play, come see us to explore how the latest in specialty contact lenses can improve your quality of life. Call today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Brisco or Shokouh to help you see your best, to live your best.

And One Easy Way to Pamper Them in a Single Treatment

We place a lot of strain on our eyes because we do most of our work with our eyes at the office, school, even home. Are you staring at the computer screen by day, then binge-watching YouTube or Netflix by night? Even if you have the bad habit of reading in dim light, spending a little too much time in the sun without proper protection, or even that awful smoking habit leftover from college — all of these activities put undue strain on your eyes.

As featured on CBS Local News:

What You Can Do to Protect Your Eyes

At the Hollywood Vision Center, we’re all about giving our patients the resources to set them up for success when it comes to having clear, comfortable vision, and healthy eyes that also look healthy. We’re not just the place that helps you if your vision gets strained or goes bad; we’re also the place who gives you the education and insight that will help you take care of your eyes more effectively, which will save you money, time, and discomfort in the long run.

Wear Shades

We know, this one’s easy. Like we really have to persuade you to wear sunglasses. But sun exposure is no joke. Your eyes are more sensitive to sun exposure than your skin, so consider UV sunglasses as important as putting on sunscreen.

Ultraviolet rays can increase your chances of cataracts as well as macular degeneration. When it comes to lenses, wrap-arounds are the best, because they protect the sides of your eyes. Make sure your lenses block 99%-100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Polarized lenses cut down on the glare, but they do come at a little bit higher of a price. If you ask us, it’s worth the investment.

Turn Away from the Window

We know, you worked hard for that view. You want to enjoy it. But don’t set your desk up against the window looking out. Glare and ultraviolet from the windows can cause permanent eye damage with that sun beating in on you. It’s best to face your desk away from the window, or, at the very least, make sure that you have shades to soften the glare and UV light.

Eat Healthy

Take a look at what’s on your plate. Foods that are rich in nutrients like Vitamin E, C, zinc, lutein, and omega 3s have been shown to reduce age-related vision problems (like macular degeneration and cataracts). Eat more leafy greens (kale, spinach) and more fish (salmon, tuna). If you stay away from meat, then go for eggs, nuts, beans, and other vegetarian/vegan-friendly proteins. Staying on top of your diet will help you maintain a healthy body weight. Obesity is related to type 2 diabetes, which is the number one cause of adult blindness, after all.

Drop that Cigarette

As if you needed another reason to quit, smoking increases your likelihood of getting cataracts and macular degeneration. Nicotine also robs your eyes of vitamin A which is important to see well at night, like when driving. If you’ve tried to quit before but failed, try again.  Healthline asserts that each time to drop the habit, you’re more likely to quit for good.

Schedule a Consultation With Us

It’s important not to fight the fight alone. Having an experienced optometrist in Los Angeles here to help you with integrative and preventive services such as Vision Therapy, and specialty contact lenses like Scleral and Ortho K corneal molds, will give you the best shot at enjoying spectacular vision for the long haul.

Finally, How to Pamper Your Eyes

Did you know that, over time, we lose at least 30% of our oily tear-producing glands?

Our eyes need to stay moist to be and look healthy.

If you live in Los Angeles or any other city with low humidity, allergies abound, stressful lives, long hours at the computer, heavy cell phone use, or environmental toxin exposure, then you likely suffer from Dry Eye Syndrome (DES). It’s actually the #1 eye problem we all face.

The Hollywood Vision Center treats dry eyes in multiple ways, including our revolutionary new MiBo Thermoflo treatment — which has been FDA-approved.

Dr. Brisco leads a team that takes a multi-dimensional holistic approach to treating your eye problems. Our MoisturEyes Dry Eye Spa treatment can help you produce more tears naturally by opening up diseased and impacted tear glands, glands that can become clogged with oil, debris, and bacteria. On top of that, it’ll make you feel like your eyes just went on a weekend getaway without you.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation to see how our MoisturEyes Dry Eye Spa treatment can help you look, see, and feel more beautiful. It’s time to pamper your eyes, and yourself today.