As a contact lens wearer it is recommended that your eyes are checked every year, even if you feel your vision is fine with your current contact lenses. This is bulk billed to Medicare at Graham Gooley Optometrist. Each year it is important to make sure wearing your contact lenses is not compromising your eye health as contacts that are no longer suitable, or are worn inappropriately, can make subtle changes to the health of the front of your eyes. If these changes go undetected it can severely reduce your future ability to wear contact lenses comfortably. This also allows review of your contact lenses and changes made for improved wearing experience. New improved designs of contact lenses come on the market and may not have been available when you first started wearing contacts so a review allows change in lens design to happen.

A valid contact lens prescription is 2 years and should be reviewed every 12 months. As your prescription is over 2 years old and is no longer valid we are unable to supply you with contact lenses. This is also an important part of your eye health and not just an inconvenience. This is bulk billed to Medicare at Graham Gooley Optometrist. Your glasses prescription and Contact lens prescription are not the same.

The Introduction of disposable contact lenses allows suitable children to wear contact lenses. This is up to the discretion of the parent, child and optometrist that a responsible attitude towards hygiene and looking after their lenses is maintained. Children who are active with sports or always damaging their spectacles are good candidates for Contact Lenses.

There are a multitude of contact lenses on the market. After your initial consultation, your optometrist has chosen the contact lens that best suited your eye, visual needs and lifestyle. To change the design or brand of your contact lens you need to see your optometrist for advice on the most suited contact lens for you and provide a trial lens so the fit, comfort and vision can be assessed. New improved designs of contact lenses come on the market and may not have been available when you first started wearing contacts.

Daily contact lenses are best for use in the ocean. A daily lens allows for one day wear and then thrown away after the days wear.  In salt water contact lenses can become dehydrated and therefore begin to feel uncomfortable. If this happens simply add some rewetting drops suitable for contact lens wear, such as Refresh or Blinks this will help to extend your wear time.

It is best to wear goggles with contact lenses in a Chlorine Pool. This helps stop irritation to the eyes from the contacts as the chlorine molecule is small enough to permeate into the lens material and irritate your eyes.

If swimming in a chlorine pool, without goggles please remove your lenses when you come out and give the contact lens a good clean or disregard if a daily lens.

Our provider number is 0289876L. Our optometrist is Graham Gooley. This number is printed on your receipt. Health funds need to know this number so they are assured you receiving products from a legitimate source and pay the given rebates.

The cornea (the eye) needs a good supply of oxygen to stay healthy. Calcium and protein deposits start to build up on the contact lens surface which in turn reduces the transmission of oxygen to the cornea (the Eye).

Extended oxygen deprivation to the eye causes the blood vessels from surrounding tissues to start growing on the cornea and become less sensitive and swells allowing the cornea more acceptable to bacterial infections.  This will eventually interfere with your vision and the health of your eyes.

These problems are preventable by wearing your contact lenses as recommended by your optometrist and giving your eyes a break by wearing your glasses for a few hours, even if this is the end of the day.

There could be many reasons why this is suddenly happening and it can simply be related to hand creams or cosmetics. This can easily be fixed by giving the contacts a thorough clean, frequent replacement and making sure hands are clear of any cosmetics when handling the contacts.

If the problem persists, like anything, we recommend you make an appointment to come and see us (or your local optometrist) as changes in the eye, like allergic reactions need to be professionally monitored. Untreated conditions can interfere with your vision and the health of your eyes and intolerance to wearing contact lenses.

Individuals who wear progressive lenses require a corrective prescription for their close-up and distance vision. When considering contact lenses options, there are a few facts to keep in mind:

1.    There are progressive contact lenses designs available.
2.    You are also able to wear contact lenses for your distance vision, and simply put on reading spectacles over the top when you want to see close-up
3.    Another option is mono vision, meaning you wear your distance vision contact lens in one eye, and close-up vision contact lens in the other. Whilst this may sound unusual, it is actually very effective.

If any of these options interest you, take the first step and consult your optometrist for further information on what will work best for you.

Each eye has its own unique size and shape. In consulting your optometrist for contact lenses, measurements are taken to ensure that the optimal size and type of contact lens is ordered for you. These measurements include the BC (Base Curve) which reflects the precise curvature of the lens, and the DIA (Diameter) which measures the space across the surface of the lens. If you experience problems with your contact lenses such as blurry vision, the feeling of a foreign object in your eye, or your contact lenses have been falling out, it is likely your contact lenses do not fit properly. If you experience these problems ensure the size of your contact lenses are correct, and if so, consult your optometrist.

To ensure your eyes are comfortable when your body reacts to allergens, you can use over the counter eye drops. Make sure you remove the contact lens before applying the eye drops, and then wait 20 minutes before re-applying. Wearing daily disposable contact lenses that you replace each day will prevent further irritation that could otherwise occur when wearing two weekly or monthly lenses. This is because allergens can stick to the surface of the contact lens and continue to aggravate the eye if you are wearing them for longer. Other ways to reduce allergen effects on your eyes include washing your hands frequently, washing your bed sheets with hot water and detergent, not sharing contact lenses or make-up applicators with others, refraining from rubbing your eyes.

Contact lenses made from Etafilcon A such as Johnson and Johnson 1 day Acuvue Moist and 1 Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism have been clinically shown to give relief for contact lens wearers who suffer from allergies.

Both contact lens wearers and non wearers can commonly suffer from dry eye syndrome. Symptoms of this can include irritated or sore eyes, itchiness, tired eyes, stinging or burning sensations, or grittiness. The two main reasons eyes become dry; glands may not be producing sufficient lubricating solution or ducts  in the eyelids may have become blocked, thus reducing the flow of natural oils. Other causes include ageing, environmental conditions, frequent computer use, smoking, or some health conditions such as arthritis. It is imperative not only for your comfort, but for the health of your eyes to try and alleviate dry eye syndrome. If left untreated, the problem can cause scratching on the front of the eye. Eye drops or artificial tears is an effective means of providing relief and can be applied whenever you require them throughout the day. Ensure that the eye drops you choose are suitable to be used with contact lenses. Additionally, before going to bed at night you can insert some eye drops and simply close your eyes to immerse them in moisture while you sleep. Other tips to reduce dry eyes include staying hydrated throughout the day and limiting caffeine. If the problem persists, consult your optometrist as they will be able to assess your condition in further depth and change your contact lenses to something more appropriate if need be. Some contact lenses actually possess very high moisture content and double as a dry eye treatment.

Be wary of where your contact lenses are come from. There are many online retailers that, despite stating they are Australian or feature an Australian flag, may not be based in the country. Contact lenses shipped from overseas may not be subject to adequate quality control and storage facilities. In Australia, contact lenses are regulated by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration). Goods not sufficiently controlled could be fake, contain incorrect prescriptions or unidentified materials, past their expiration date, or simply not made to satisfactory standards. All our contact lens suppliers are based in Australia, so you can rest-assured you are receiving a safe product that complies with Australian quality standards.