Wearing contacts for longer than instructed can cause eye irritation, infection, abrasions, and vision issues!

Whether your wear daily, weekly, or monthly disposable contacts, Columbia Eye’s contact lens departments at our four convenient locations are here to make sure you always have a supply of fresh contact lenses. Call or walk-in to ask about annual supply discounts, online reordering and contact lens subscription service that provides refills of your contacts shipped directly to you when you need them.

Daily contacts are designed to throw away after a single use. Never reuse daily contact lenses because they’re not designed to withstand washing and disinfecting. Their thin nature, coupled with the soft, flexible material makes the contacts more breathable and comfortable for the eye, but attempting to clean them can cause scratches and tears, causing serious complications that can threaten your vision.

You should also never sleep in your contacts unless they’re FDA-approved for overnight use (dailies are not). Your eyes need rest, so contact lenses should be worn for about 14 to 16 hours per day or according to your doctor’s advice.  Sleeping in your contacts reduces oxygen supply to your eyes and causes irritation.

Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them with a clean towel before handling your contacts. Harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites on dirty hands contaminate the surface of the soft contacts which will then be transferred to your eyes, exposing you to risk for infection. Dirty hands may also introduce debris, such as dust, which can irritate your eyes.

You should wait to insert your contacts until after completing your morning routine. Washing your face or showering can expose your contacts to germs in tap water. Hair styling with sprays and aerosols can expose your contacts to eye irritating chemicals and hair sprays can form a coating on your contacts, affecting your ability to see.

Makeup products are a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and should be applied after inserting your contacts. Makeup residues from your hands can easily get onto your contacts and potentially cause eye infections.

If your eyes are irritated, remove your contact lenses and let your eyes rest before inserting a new pair. Consult your eye doctor if the irritation persists.

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ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions contact lenses with light intelligent technology adapt automatically—becoming lighter or darker—in response to changing light, whether indoors or outdoors. The benefits of Transitions contact lenses include less squinting, faster recovery when exposed to bright light and reduction in halos and starbursts at night. The lenses can be worn all-day long as part of your active lifestyle and are replaced every two weeks.

ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions are not intended to be used as a replacement for sunglasses with 100% protection against UVA and UVB light. While these lenses do provide UV protection to the areas they cover, other parts of the eye and surrounding areas are still exposed to UV light. Sunglasses help to protect the entire eye. Darkness and color do not indicate the strength of UV protection.

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Multipurpose contact lens solutions are dual-purpose liquids that clean and disinfect, rinse and refresh your contacts. Multipurpose contact lens solutions also are called “no-rub” solutions, because they are designed to adequately clean and disinfect lenses with a simple rinse-and-store method, eliminating the need to mechanically rub the lenses to remove lens deposits.  Recent research, however, suggests that rubbing the lenses after moistening them with a stream of multipurpose contact lens solution provides greater cleaning effectiveness. For this reason, many eye care professionals recommend adding a short, 10-second period of mechanical rubbing as part of the cleaning regimen with multipurpose solutions.

All multipurpose contact lens solutions are not created equal, especially when used by patients who wear soft or silicone hydrogel lenses. Generic contact lens solutions sold at grocery, discount retailers and pharmacy chain stores may not be compatible with some types of contact lenses. Generic solutions are safe and FDA approved, but formulations may change from time to time depending on the supplier and manufacturer. The product may not always be the same exact solution every time you buy it. If the solution doesn’t effectively remove lipid and protein deposits, which can build up over time, the lenses can cause discomfort when worn. Also, some people can be more sensitive (or become more sensitive over time) to certain preservatives used in multipurpose solutions. Sometimes a solution may work for you for weeks or even months, but then start to create sensitivity.

If your contact lenses are comfortable to wear throughout the day, stick with the solution you are currently using.  It isn’t worth saving a little money if another brand or generic doesn’t work for you.

If your lenses feel gummy or you experience stinging, watering, excessive blinking or squinting, try switching to a brand name solution. You may be sensitive/allergic to preservatives used in your current solution or the solution may not be removing deposits that build up on your lenses over time. Also, use only one brand of solution until you have determined if it is effective for you. Using a combination of solutions makes it difficult to determine which solution may be causing an adverse result.

If you have sensitive eyes or eczema, or if you’re prone to allergic reactions, you may want to talk with your doctor about using a preservative-free hydrogen peroxide contact solution rather than a multipurpose solution. Look for “PF” on the label to indicate the solution is preservative free.

Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses to reduce the risk of infections and never use tap, bottled, or even distilled water on your lenses.

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Ask our optical staff about specialty reading, office & computer, sports, safety glasses, and more! 
A great way to use flexible spending dollars before they expire is to purchase that additional pair of eyewear you’ve always needed! Through March 31, 2017, we are offering 50% off a second pair of specialty glasses. No matter what the task, we have eyewear to meet your needs.

This is also a great time to stock up on contact lenses!

FSA funds can be used for prescription eyewear, regardless of whether you have vision insurance!
Typically, flexible spending dollars must be used in the same “coverage period” that the money was put aside. Check with your plan administrator to confirm when your FSA funds must be used so they won’t be lost once your coverage period expires.

How do I purchase eyegalsses or contacts with my FSA dollars?
If you have an FSA debt card, you can use that card at check-out just like you would a normal credit or debit card. If you do not have an FSA debit card, you can make your purchase using another form of payment and seek reimbursement directly from your FSA provider. Most FSA providers will require you to submit a reimbursement form along with an itemized receipt or invoice.

If you have a current prescription, call the Contact Lens Department or drop by the Optical Department at one of our three convenient locations or call (803) 779-3070 to schedule an appointment to renew your prescription. You can also conveniently order all the same major brands of contacts online anytime, anywhere, for delivery to your home of office.

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The more frequently you replace your contact lenses, the healthier and more comfortable your eyes can be. Even when cleaned and disinfected properly, deposits found naturally in your tears and allergens can build up on your contacts. These deposits make your contacts less comfortable than when they were new, and can also make your eyes more prone to infection.

Daily disposable contacts are worn once and then thrown away so you experience the optimal comfort and convenience of a fresh lens every day. No lens care, cases or solutions are required.

Daily disposable contacts are safe for full-time wear 365 days a year, but are also a smart choice for occasional contact wearers. If you wear glasses most of the time, but sometimes prefer contacts to accommodate your active lifestyle, daily disposables can be kept on-hand for those occasions. Unlike longer wear lenses that can only be stored safely after they have been worn for a short time, you can use and discard daily disposable contacts as needed.

Daily disposables are a great vision correction option for teens who are just beginning to wear contact lenses. By starting with a fresh pair of lenses daily, concerns that your teen is not properly caring for their lenses is eliminated and you can be confident that your teen is not jeopardizing their eye health.

Daily disposable lenses are available for people who are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism. If you would like to be more comfortable in your contact lenses or would like to free yourself from the cases and solutions that longer wear lenses require, ask your doctor if daily disposable lenses are right for you.

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