Contact Lenses

Dr. Wallace keeps abreast of the latest contact lens technologies and products.

TSO Longview offers soft contact lenses (disposable, toric for astigmatism, multifocal for bifocal wearers, monovision fits, and color contacts). TSO Longview fits gas permeable rigid lenses for both single vision and bifocal Rxs.

In keeping with the latest developments in contact lenses, TSO Longview offers all the three fitting sets for Synergeyes hybrid contacts which has a rigid center and a soft lens skirt.

Dr. Wallace is certified to fit all three types of Synergeyes lenses for post refractive surgery patients, high astigmatic patients, and kerataconic patients (an abnormal cone shaped cornea). Many of these patients are not suited to wear other types of contacts, and TSO Longview is proud to be one of a very few East Texas area offices fitting these specialty lenses.

In order to maintain optimum eye health, the staff trains each new contact patient on the use and care for their particular type of contact. Note, each type of contact has specific requirements.

1. Extended Wear contacts can be worn overnight for a period of time as recommended by the eye doctor and the lens manufacturer.
2. Soft contact lenses come in two types: hydrogel, which is the traditional soft contact lens material, and silicon hydrogel, which is a blended material allowing increased oxygen transmissibility. TSO Longview fits both types of soft lenses.
3. Toric contacts are specially designed contacts for patients who have a moderate to high amount of astigmatism. They are designed not to rotate on the eye as they have different powers in different meridians to correct the patient’s astigmatism. Dr. Wallace will recommend these lenses if the amount of astigmatism is such that regular soft contacts will not allow the patient good visual acuity.
4. Multifocal lenses are for patients who require presbyopic correction. The doctor will consult with the patient after the exam and explain the options in contacts available to patients needing this correction. Sometimes monovision is also successful for these patients: their dominant eye is fit for distance vision and non dominant eye is fit for near viewing vision.
5. Tinted or colored contact lenses are available in most of the contact offerings; however, some types of contacts are not available in color. There are two types of colored contact lenses: enhancers for patients with light eyes (blue, green, hazel) who wish to enhance their eye color; and opaque soft colored contacts for patients with dark eyes who wish to change their eye color. There are many color options to choose from.
6. Rigid Gas Permeable Contact lenses: Some patients have been fit successfully with rigid lenses. These lenses do provide some advantages over soft contacts. They do well to correct patients with astigmatism caused by a non spherical cornea. They also may last for a long time without having to be replaced and they are unlikely to get deposits with proper care. They have increased durability and provide good visual acuity if the patient can successfully adapt to them. The newer materials for these lenses allows oxygen to the eye unlike the older rigid lenses.