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If Alaskans want to be able to see Denali and the northern lights, then they need to have the correct contact lenses. But with so many different kinds and brands of contacts, it’s hard to know which lens is right. With more than 14 years of experience serving families in Anchorage, Alaska, the eye doctors at Northern Lights Eye Care can help—even patients who have been told they’re hard to fit will find a solution that works for them.

Here are the top five things patients should know before getting contacts from the eye doctors at Northern Lights Eye Care.

  • Evaluate Your Lifestyle: When patients go in for an eye exam, eye doctors not only measure the eyes, but they also give heavy consideration to the patient’s lifestyle choices and preferences before making a recommendation. Some choices you may want to consider are the length of time you want to be able to wear your contacts and if you'd like to use color contacts.
  • Weigh The Benefits of Soft & Hard Contacts: Hard contacts , also called gas-permeable contact lenses, make it easier for the eyes to breathe. They tend to last longer and provide sharper vision; however, because they are rigid, hard contacts allow sand and dust to get caught under them more easily than soft lenses. They might take some getting used to as well, and some patients find them difficult to apply or remove.
  • Progressive Vision: Multifocals, which includes bifocals, get patients through their senior years. Like progressive eyeglasses, multifocal contact lenses allow patients to see at all distances. Simultaneous vision lenses are the most common type of multifocal contacts.
  • Astigmatism: Patients with astigmatism might have been told by other eye doctors that they can’t wear contacts, but that isn’t necessarily true. Toric lenses are designed to correct astigmatism by having different levels of power at different points of the eye.
  • Brands: There are lots of different brands of contacts. It all depends on the patient’s preference. Northern Lights Eye Care carries Vistakon/Acuvue, Bausch & Lomb, CooperVision, and Ciba Vision lenses.

The right contacts start with an eye exam. Armed with this list, patients will have a better idea of what questions to ask. If you're interested in contact lenses, visit the Northern Lights Eye Care website for more information, or call (907) 276-3937 to schedule a consultation with an eye doctor at their Anchorage eye care clinic. 

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