Thanks to our reputation, we are often one of the first optical centers to receive the latest eye contact lenses on the market! We also offer the best in contact lens technology to provide you with optimal vision, comfort and health.
We have contacts that target specific eye problems like dry eye, astigmatism and difficulty reading. We focus on you and your personal needs. And thanks to advances in contact lens technology, our contact lenses are more comfortable and provide better vision than ever.
Different contact lens types for different needs
Soft contact lenses
Made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. Soft contact lenses may be easier to adjust to and are more comfortable than rigid gas-permeable lenses. Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels to provide more oxygen to your eye during wear.
Disposable replacement schedule contact lenses
The majority of soft contact lens wearers are prescribed a frequent replacement schedule. “Disposable,” as defined by the FDA, means used once and discarded. With a true disposable schedule, a brand-new pair of lenses must be used each day. Some soft contact lenses referred to as “disposable” by manufacturers and sellers are actually meant for frequent/planned replacement. These lenses may be worn continuously for the prescribed period (typically seven to 30 days) and then thrown away. Always clean and disinfect your lenses properly before reinserting.
Other lenses, though now less frequently used, are:
Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses
RGPs are more durable and resistant to deposit buildup. They tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft contact lenses. They are easier to handle and less likely to tear. However, they are not as comfortable initially as soft contacts and it may take a few weeks to get used to them, compared to several days for soft contacts.
Extended-wear contact lenses
Available for overnight or continuous wear ranging from one to six nights or up to 30 days. Extended-wear contact lenses are usually soft contact lenses. They are made of flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. (Very few rigid gas-permeable lenses are designed and approved for overnight wear.) Length of continuous wear depends on lens type and your eye care professional’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. It’s important for the eyes to rest without lenses for at least one night following each scheduled removal.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
A lens-fitting procedure that uses specially designed RGP contact lenses to change the curvature of the cornea to temporarily improve the eye’s ability to focus. This is primarily used to correct myopia (nearsightedness). The vision correction effect is temporary. If Ortho-K is discontinued, the corneas will return to its original curvature and the eye to its original nearsightedness. Ortho-K must be worn nightly or on some other prescribed maintenance schedule to maintain the treatment effect. Your eye care professional will determine the best maintenance schedule for you.
Decorative (plano) contact lenses
Some contact lenses do not correct vision and are intended solely to change the appearance of the eye. These are sometimes called plano, zero-powered or non-corrective lenses. For example, they can temporarily change a brown-eyed person’s eye color to blue or make a person’s eyes look “weird” with Halloween themes. Even though decorative lenses don’t correct vision, they are still regulated by the FDA, just like corrective lenses.
Our contact lens patients come to us from Boston, Danvers, Lynn, Marblehead, North Shore Boston, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. We provide the following products and services:
- Contact lens eye exams
- Eye contact lenses
- Soft contact lenses
- EyeMed Vision Care and VSP vision plans
- VSP doctors
For the finest selection of eyewear and contact lenses, call Banville Optical today at (978) 745-2774. You can schedule an appointment by phone for an examination with an eye doctor or fill out our online Request an Appointment form. We welcome all outside prescriptions, so if you have a current prescription for your contacts, we can fill that too!
