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Colored contacts have become increasingly popular over the years as a way to enhance your look and experiment with different eye colors. Whether you want to change your eye color for a special occasion or simply for everyday wear, colored contacts offer a fun and versatile option.

Different Types of Colored Contacts

When it comes to colored contacts, there are various types to choose from, depending on your preferences and needs. The three main categories are cosmetic, enhancement, and opaque lenses.
 

Cosmetic lenses are designed to completely change the color of your eyes. These lenses come in a wide range of shades, from natural hues such as blue, green, and brown, to more vibrant colors like purple, gray, and even red. Cosmetic lenses can create a dramatic transformation and give you the eye color you desire.
 

Enhancement lenses, on the other hand, are designed to enhance your natural eye color rather than change it completely. They add depth and intensity to your eyes, making them appear brighter and more vibrant. Enhancement lenses are ideal if you want a subtle change that enhances your natural beauty.
 

Opaque lenses are specifically designed to cover dark-colored eyes. They are ideal for individuals with naturally dark eyes who want to achieve a lighter or more vibrant eye color. Opaque lenses are often used in theatrical or costume applications as they can create a striking and captivating look.

Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. There are several factors that can contribute to dry eye, including environmental factors, hormonal changes, and certain medications. Additionally, conditions such as meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis can also lead to dry eye.
 

The Role of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Blepharitis in Dry Eye

Meibomian gland dysfunction occurs when the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oily layer of tears, become blocked or do not function properly. This can result in the tears evaporating too quickly and not providing enough lubrication for the eyes. Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids that can cause redness, itching, and a gritty sensation in the eyes. Both meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis can contribute to dry eye by disrupting the natural tear film.
 

Recognizing the Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye can cause a variety of symptoms, which can vary in severity from person to person. Some common symptoms of dry eye include:

• Dryness: The most common symptom of dry eye is a feeling of dryness or grittiness in the eyes. This can make it uncomfortable to wear contact lenses or spend long periods of time looking at a screen.

• Redness: Dry eye can cause the blood vessels in the eyes to become more prominent, leading to redness and irritation.

• Itching: Some people with dry eye may experience itching or a burning sensation in their eyes.

• Excessive tearing: Dry eye can also cause excessive tearing. This is the body's response to the irritation caused by the lack of lubrication in the eyes.
   

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to consult with an optometrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

For many individuals, dry eye disease is an ongoing struggle marked by irritation, burning, watery eyes, and inconsistent vision. While over-the-counter drops may offer short-term relief, they often fail to provide lasting hydration. In many cases, the issue isn’t a lack of tear production - it’s that tears drain away too quickly.

One innovative option designed to provide longer-term relief is LACRIFILL®, a modern approach to punctal occlusion that helps preserve your natural tears and restore balance to the ocular surface. 
 

What Is LACRIFILL® Canalicular Gel? 

LACRIFILL® is a soft, clear gel that is placed inside the eye’s natural tear drainage channels, known as the canaliculi. These tiny channels are responsible for carrying tears away from the surface of the eye and into the nasal cavity. 

For individuals with dry eye disease, tears often drain away too quickly. When this happens, the eye does not stay properly lubricated, leading to dryness and irritation. LACRIFILL® works by gently filling part of the drainage pathway, slowing tear outflow so that your natural tears remain on the eye longer.

Unlike traditional artificial tears that supplement moisture from the outside, LACRIFILL® helps you retain the tears your body already produces. This treatment is FDA-cleared and has been clinically studied for safety and effectiveness in managing dry eye symptoms. 

How Does LACRIFILL® Work?

Every time you blink, a thin layer of tears spreads across the surface of your eye. This tear film keeps your eyes smooth, hydrated, and protected from debris and infection. After serving their purpose, tears drain through small openings in the inner corners of the eyelids (called puncta), passing into the canaliculi and eventually into the nose. In dry eye patients, this drainage process may occur too rapidly, leaving the surface of the eye exposed and under-lubricated. 

LACRIFILL® forms a soft gel barrier within the drainage system, reducing tear loss and improving moisture retention. By keeping tears on the eye longer, it supports a healthier tear film and enhances overall comfort. 

The gel gradually biodegrades over time and is naturally reabsorbed by the body. Relief typically lasts several months, and the treatment can be repeated when necessary. 
 

Benefits of LACRIFILL®

LACRIFILL® offers several advantages for patients struggling with persistent dry eye symptoms: 

• FDA-cleared and clinically evaluated for safety and performance

• Quick, non-surgical procedure performed in-office

• No downtime or recovery period required

• Preserves your body’s natural tears rather than relying solely on artificial drops

• Provides extended relief that can last for months

• Biocompatible material designed to work harmoniously with the body

• Customizable treatment approach based on your individual tear drainage system 

For patients who are tired of frequent eye drop use, this longer-lasting solution can be life-changing. 
 

Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation

When most people think about vision problems, they picture issues with the eyes themselves. However, many visual difficulties actually begin in the brain. After a concussion, stroke, or other brain injury, the connection between the eyes and brain can be disrupted - causing symptoms that affect balance, reading, focus, and even daily comfort.
 

Brain Injuries and Vision

Your visual system is complex - about 70% of the brain is involved in vision processing. After a traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion, or neurological event such as a stroke, the pathways that coordinate eye movement, focus, and perception can become impaired.

This can result in symptoms such as:

• Blurred or double vision

• Eye strain and headaches

• Difficulty reading or focusing

• Dizziness or balance problems

• Light sensitivity

• Problems with depth perception
   

These visual issues often persist long after other symptoms of a brain injury have improved, making specialized vision care essential for recovery.
 

What Is Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation?

Neuro-optometric rehabilitation is a specialized form of vision therapy designed to retrain how the brain and eyes work together. Unlike traditional eye care that focuses on eyesight alone, this therapy targets the neurological processes behind vision. Our doctor evaluates how the eyes and brain communicate and creates a personalized treatment plan to rebuild these visual pathways. The goal is to restore comfort, coordination, and clarity - improving overall visual function and quality of life.

Eye care professionals use Optikam’s technology to capture more than 3 million eyewear measurements every year. The OptikamPad iPad app is a total dispensing solution that enables eye care professionals to successfully assist patients at all stages of the eyewear dispensing process, providing them with a unique and custom patient experience.
 

Optikam Posture Devise (OPD)

You may be surprised to learn that wearing glasses can and likely will affect your posture. Glasses lenses are most accurate when you look directly through their center. This means if your glasses are sitting too low or have slipped down your nose, you may find that you are subconsciously tilting your head back and this can affect your overall posture.

Optikam’s OPD measurement device is a cutting-edge tool that obtains eyewear measurements that take into account how the frame will be worn by patients, enabling the fit to be customized to their individual parameters. The ten measurements taken into account when determining each patient’s position of wear include:

• Monocular pupillary distance

• Multifocal seg heights

• Pantoscopic tilt

• Rear vertex distance

• Wrap (face form tilt)

• Near pupillary distance
   

This results in frames that not only look fantastic, but that also fit perfectly, remaining both comfortable and stable on the face without you needing to adopt an unnatural posture. The measurements obtained by the Optikam OPD measurement tool are immediately visible on your eye doctor’s tablet so that they can recommend which alterations to the frames are needed to ensure that the frames fit with precision and gives you the best visual experience.

Telemedicine makes it easier to connect with your optometrist when an in-office visit is not necessary or not possible. A virtual eye care appointment allows you to discuss certain eye health concerns, follow-up needs, and symptoms through a secure video visit from home, work, or another private location.

All you need is a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera, microphone, and internet connection. The team will provide instructions before your appointment so you know what to expect and how to join your virtual visit.

How A Virtual Eye Care Visit Works

To schedule a telemedicine appointment, call our office or request an appointment online. Before confirming your visit, we may ask a few questions about your symptoms, medical history, and current eye care concerns. This helps us determine whether a virtual visit is appropriate or if you should be seen in person.

During your appointment, your optometrist will review your concerns, ask about your symptoms, and may guide you through simple observations or questions to better understand what is happening. In some cases, photos of the eye or eyelid may be helpful if they are clear and taken safely.

If you’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma, you’re probably already familiar with the typical options in glaucoma treatment – eye drops, laser treatment, or traditional surgery. While these are certainly effective, especially when glaucoma is diagnosed early, researchers have been working hard to offer new glaucoma treatments. Their goal is not only to improve outcomes but also reduce the treatment’s side effects and frequency of use.
 

What is the Goal of Glaucoma Treatment?

Before we dive into the new options, it’s important to understand the goal of any glaucoma treatment. At present, glaucoma is not curable. However, treatment can significantly slow the progression of the disease. Glaucoma damages your eye's optic nerve. Extra fluid builds up in the front part of your eye (cornea), which increases the pressure in your eye. Reducing this pressure is the primary objective of any glaucoma treatment. This is often referred to as intraocular pressure or IOP.
 

What are the Limitations of Standard Glaucoma Treatments?

Eye drops for glaucoma treatment seem like an easy option, but several challenges can reduce their effectiveness. It can be difficult to get all the medicine in the eye, especially for older adults with less of a steady hand. In addition, since it must be applied daily, individuals may forget. Since the drops have no perceivable benefit because early stages of glaucoma have no symptoms, patients might make it a lower priority, which is understandable since it may also have unpleasant side effects like burning, red eyes.

Beyond eye drops, laser surgery is a less invasive option. The laser opens clogged tubes and drains fluid. It can take a few weeks to see the full results. If laser surgery or drugs don’t relieve your eye pressure, you may need a more traditional operation. You would have to go into the hospital and will need a few weeks to heal and recover. Although usually effective, glaucoma surgery can make you more likely to get cataracts later on. It can also cause eye pain or redness, infection, inflammation, or bleeding in your eye.
 

What are Recent Advances in Glaucoma Treatment?

Alternatives or Improvements to Eye Drops

The Glaucoma Research Foundation reported several new developments on the horizon. These technologies focus on reducing patient error in applying eye drops, which would make the medication more effective and improve the quality of life for the patient. Here are some of the products underway:

• A polymer, like a contact lens, would contain the drug; it would sit under the eyelid and release the medication over several months

• Microneedles would inject medication into a specific spot to be most effective

• Implantable extended-release devices using engineere,d highly precise microparticles and nanoparticles

• Polymer-based intraocular delivery technologies that would allow customizable sustained release

• Drops that allow the medication to get into the eye more easily

• Tear duct plugs that release medication
   

In addition, people with glaucoma who take more than one eye drop per day are beginning to see those medications available as a single, combined eye drop. New products include Cosopt (timolol and dorzolamide), Combigan (timolol and brimonidine), and Simbrinza (brinzolamide and brimonidine).

Understanding PRK: Is It Right for You?

PRK or photoreactive kerectomy is a surgical procedure that was the precursor for the surgery known as Lasik. The biggest difference between the two procedures is how the first portion of the operation is conducted. Additional variability between the two procedures includes recovery, risk factors, and the patient’s overall needs. Understanding these differences can help you decide if PRK is an appropriate solution for your vision issues.
 

How it Works

PRK utilizes a laser to correct farsightedness (hyperopia), nearsightedness (myopia), and astigmatism. During a PRK operation, a laser is used to remove the exterior epithelial cells from the cornea. This procedure uses an excimer laser to remove the cells which are then discarded. A contact “bandage” is placed over the eye, and the cells can heal over the course of a few days. Your doctor will then remove the contact lens when the eye has healed enough to be exposed.

While the results are like that of Lasik, PRK does take some additional healing time. This is due to the time that must be allowed for the epithelial cells to heal and regrow on the eye. Additionally, Lasik patients generally experience less discomfort and faster results. PRK results can take a few weeks to fully materialize.

This isn’t to say that PRK doesn’t have its own benefits too. This procedure is well-suited for patients that have had previous eye surgeries and may have thin corneas. Because PRK does not make an incision into the cornea and only removes the epithelial cells, it leaves more of the stromal tissues which underly the epithelial tissue. PRK does not run the risk of “flap” issues that can arise from Lasik, and the risk of removing too much of the cornea is reduced. However, if you are considering PRK, you should consult with your medical professional to identify the right procedure for your specific case.
 

Before the Surgery

When you meet with your eye specialist to discuss your options, there are several factors that they will consider. Your potential surgeon should conduct a thorough eye exam during which they will measure your eye moistness, pupil size, corneal thickness, and corneal curvature. Your doctor should also review your medical and family history to identify any possible concerns about your suitability. Make sure that you bring a list of your medications and previous operations. Finally, you may be required to stop wearing contact lenses for a period before the operation. This can allow your cornea to return to its natural shape before the operation.

Premium IOLs or intraocular lenses are lenses that are placed in the eye during cataract surgery. The lens placement is designed to restore the natural lens shape. These lenses can also be placed as a vision correction device called refractive lens exchange. Premium IOLs offer advanced features beyond the single vision IOL’s that are also offered. These features include aspheric, toric, accommodating, and multifocal IOL’s.

Understanding Premium IOL Types

Aspheric Lenses

These lenses closely match the natural curve of the eye. Typical lenses were uniformly curved making it easier to manufacture, but at the same time increasing the chance of causing imperfections in vision. Aspheric lenses help to reduce imperfections and improve clarity, especially at nighttime.

Toric IOLs

These lenses are specifically designed to help correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
 

Accommodating IOLs

Accommodating IOL’s can tilt slightly forward when you look at objects that are close to the eye. This helps to improve visibility when you are performing actions like reading a book. While they are not necessarily as sharp as bifocals, patients have a reduced need to use reading glasses while still maintaining excellent distance vision.
 

Multifocal IOLs

If you require a bifocal or trifocal lens in your glasses, this may be a likely choice for you. Different portions of the lens allow for better vision at different ranges. However, there are some overall sacrifices with vision clarity at a distance.

Eye disease that is caused by diabetes is currently the number one cause of blindness and vision loss. Due to the increased risk in diabetic patients, doctors recommend that people over 30 with diabetes get an annual dilated eye exam. Diabetic patients under 30 should get this exam five years after they have been diagnosed.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that is caused by damage to the retina. Patients that have diabetes may also have experienced extended periods of time where their blood sugar was elevated. The high levels of blood sugar damage the retina’s walls which leave them susceptible to leaking. When fluid accumulates in the retina or macula, it causes vision loss.

To make these matters worse, if prolonged high blood sugar levels are seen again, the retina will be oxygen-depleted. This causes the abnormal growth of new blood vessels. This condition is called neovascularization. This blood vessel type is weak and prone to leaking. As these blood vessels leak, they introduce blood into the eye. Excessive bleeding into the eye can cause blindness.
 

Treatment

While a healthy diet and exercise can be beneficial to your optical health, diabetic retinopathy is a condition that is caused by damage to the retinal wall. While this damage can sometimes be corrected, simple diet changes won’t reverse the effects.

It is essential to catch the condition in the earlier stages to reduce the effects. This can also help patients understand the importance of monitoring their blood sugar so that repeat events can be limited. Treatment options are even more successful when diabetic retinopathy is caught early. These options include vitrectomy, scatter photocoagulation and focal photocoagulation.

During both scatter, and focal photocoagulation the doctor will use lasers to help alleviate the condition. The lasers make small burns on the retina aimed at the blood vessels. These burns will help to seal the blood vessels to prevent more leakage and stop them from growing larger.

When using scatter photocoagulation, hundreds of small burns are made in a specific pattern during two additional appointments. Scatter coagulation should be used on patients who do not have advanced diabetic retinopathy.

Focal photocoagulation specifically targets the leaking blood vessels that are in the macula. Unfortunately, this procedure is not aimed to correct the blurry vision associated with diabetic retinopathy, but it does stop it from progressing further. Once the retina has detached, neither form of photocoagulation can be used.

Vitrectomy is a surgery that helps to remove scar tissue and/or the fluid that is clouded with blood that has been leaked into the eye. This operation is the most successful when performed before the disease has progressed too far. When the operation only targets removing the fluid, success rates are very high for the procedure. When the procedure also aims to reattach the retina, the failure rate is around 50%.