Can contact lenses actually correct vision?

Question

My eye-glasses number is really high for my age (im only 15 and my number is -7.75). and i have a need to change my glasses and number every 6-12 months. At this rate, im afraid that my eye ball will be too narrow (football shaped) which could affect my retina by causing it to thin out. I know that regular eye glasses allow the wearer to see properly, but I don't think they "correct" vision becuse my number keeps getting more powerful, never weaker. My mother is really against getting contacts because she is afraid that if they get dirty, my eyes could get infected. However, I recently read that contact lenses can "correct" vision. Is it true that if I wear contacts, my eyesight could actually improve rather than worsen as with eyeglasses.

Thanx in advance

Answer 1

Crystal,

You have been given part of the answer from the other respondents.  Orthokeratology is not new (been around for close to 50 years now), has a very safe and effective record, can "correct" your vision so that you can see clearly without any other optical devices i.e. glasses, contact lenses during all of your waking hours, and in fact "may" be the most effective treatment currently available to slow or halt the progression of your myopia (your "number" getting higher).  You are correct about concern for your retina (higher myopic prescriptions are at higher risk for retinal detachments) as well as your assessment that glasses have not slowed the progression of your myopia.  One of the respondents commented about Lasik correcting your myopia and although Lasik has the possibility to correct your myopia you are 1) too young for this and 2) taking much greater risk if you were even able to have Lasik and 3) not going to alter the progression of the myopia (the number getting higher just like it is now with glasses) since Lasik has no impact on this at all.  You need to do two things because your prescription is already very high. 1) Find a doctor very experienced with Orthokeratology services (I have 17 years experience with Orthokeratology) because only a very experienced Orthokeratologist will be able to address your very high prescription (a CRT Orthokeratologist will NOT be able to address this high prescription) and 2) educate your mother about Orthokeratology and the risk to you (and your increasing prescription) by doing nothing, other than keeping you in glasses.  You can start by having her go to my website and read about Orthokeratology at http://www.noblur.com/ortho.html   This is all good reliable information about Orthokeratology as well as the links that I have on my site.  Contact lenses can have an increased risk of infection but with proper care on your part this certainly can be minimized - hence the 30 million contact lens wearers in the United States alone.

I hope this helps you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Maller

Answer 2

No there are no known contacts that can correct vision.Eyeglasses have a better chance of correcting some peoples vision.If your vision is increasingly getting worse contacts are no answer.I wore contacts and my eyes actually got worse.Glasses may not correct your vision but they are safer.Sorry I can give you better news but some of us have poor vision but great teeth.Where something is lacking,something else is better than others.

Answer 3

Not according to my eye doctor.  Sorry.

Answer 4

You need to find an optometrist that specialises in Orthokeratology. This is a new procedure, the optom will f**t you with a hard contact lens that changes the shape of your cornea, you wear it at night when you sleep and your vision is corrected during the day, you eventually reduce your wearing time until you only have to wear the lenses once or twice during the week, the only thing is that this technology is in the early phases and no one kows what the long term side effects are. I would reccomend that you start of with disposible contact lenses which are a visual aid, until your vision stabilises and then look at lasic. Disposible lenses are easy to care for and more comfortable than hard lenses, if your mom is that concerned about infection you can wear daily disposible lenses which you throw away at night, they do work out more expensive than the monthly lenses. Your mom shouldn't be so concerned the technology has advanced alot and care of lenses is simplified. Give it a shot!

Answer 5

no, they are only a vision aid, just like glasses. Hearing aids are for aiding the ears in hearing, same with glasses and contacts. only lasik eye surgery can correct vision.