Prescription Lenses
Everyone has unique eyes, no one sees quite like another. If you have begun to notice changes in your vision, like signs on the street have become harder to read, you may need prescription glasses to correct your vision. Your visual acuity is measured at a distance of 20 feet, if you have “normal” vision, you can see clearly at that distance, or have what is commonly referred to as 20/20 vision. It’s important to correct vision that has made it difficult to see, as blurred vision can lead to further injury.
A comprehensive eye examination is often all that is required to diagnose if you need corrective prescription glasses. It is important to schedule an appointment with a trained optometrist to determine if the cause of your reduced vision is due to any diseases or conditions that require additional testing or treatments. At Lake Oswego Eye clinic we are equipped to diagnose and prescribe corrective eyewear. Our department is fully stocked and prepared to fit and dispense prescription eyeglasses. We carry lenses, sunglasses, custom reading glasses and computer glasses.
Why do I need glasses?
Myopia - Often called nearsightedness, myopia is when the eye has difficulty seeing objects that are far away. This means the person affected can easily see objects that are close to them, but without corrective glasses, objects at a certain distance will become fuzzy or distorted. Myopia occurs when the physical length of the eye is longer than the optical length, thus the visual image is focused in front of the retina rather than directly on it.
Hyperopia - People who have difficulty reading and seeing objects that are close up have what is known as farsightedness or hyperopia. This is when the visual image is focused behind the retina rather than directly on it. Some known causes of hyperopia are when the focusing power of the eyeball is too weak or the eyeball is too small.
Astigmatism - Astigmatism cause the eyeball to be irregularly shaped and disturbs the way the eye refracts light, making it a major cause for needing corrective lenses.
Glasses correct vision because they allow light to focus in the correct spot on the retina, the spot that produces the clearest image. They cannot change or cure conditions or diseases but they can alter the way the eye refracts light and give you a better visual experience.
Contact Lenses
If glasses don’t fit into your lifestyle or you have a preference to not wear them, prescription contacts may be an option. There are different kinds of contact lenses, single use lenses that are thrown away at the end of each day of use, or lenses that may be used for up to two weeks. If you decide that contact lenses are the correct fit for you, it is important to remember a few things about contact lens care.
- Always wash and thoroughly dry your hands before handling your contact lenses.
- Carefully and regularly clean your contact lenses as directed.
- Always store your contact lenses in a proper lens container with lens solution
- Clean or replace your lens containers
- Only use fresh lens solutions
- Always follow the recommended usage schedule for your prescribed contact lenses
It is likely that your corrective prescription may change overtime, so it is recommended that you get yearly eye examinations from your optometrist to see if you need an updated prescription.