Contact Lens Exams & Fittings in Calgary, Olds, Sundre, & Carstairs

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Visit Us for Contact Lenses

Most people are familiar with wearing contact lenses for vision correction, but that’s not all they can do. Contact lenses can be worn for purely cosmetic or novelty purposes, like changing eye colour. Additionally, some are used for therapeutic purposes, including myopia control and vision therapy, migraine and dry eye treatment.

Contact lenses are medical devices regulated by Health Canada and require a prescription. Patients with up-to-date prescriptions can order contacts online, but contact lens exams are necessary for new prescriptions or updates.

Eye exams for contact lenses help ensure that your lenses are working as they should, provide sharp vision, and don’t interfere with eye health and comfort. 

Types of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses have come a long way since their early days when they were made of blown glass. Today, there are 2 main types, soft and RGP.

Soft Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses are made of malleable plastic polymers, which form a smooth fit over the cornea. The secure fit helps prevent them from falling out, often beneficial for athletes or active wearers. Soft contacts are generally easier to adapt to, particularly for first-time wearers, and are more suitable for irregular wear.

Soft contacts are disposable but wear time varies. Lenses may be replaced after 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month.

Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses are durable plastics that allow oxygen to pass through. Although sometimes referred to as hard contacts, RGP lenses replaced old-fashioned hard contacts.

The sturdier lens material allows for sharper vision and is often used for higher prescriptions. RGP lenses can require a longer adaption period (compared to soft contacts). But RGP lenses can be easier to care for and better for dry eye.

Hybrid lenses combine soft and RGP contact lens characteristics. The lens has a durable RGP centre with a soft outer layer (or skirt). The skirt helps keep the lens in place and improve comfort, while the harder inside provides sharp vision.

Hybrid contacts can also benefit wearers who find RGP contacts challenging to adjust to or have certain eye conditions creating corneal distortion, including high astigmatism and keratoconus.

Specialty Contacts Lenses

Although soft or RGP (hard) are the basic types of contact lenses, there are various specialty contacts. These contact lenses can be soft, RGP, or a combination.

Prosthetic contact lenses do not correct vision. Instead, they improve the appearance of an eye by covering flaws caused by injury or eye disease. Alternatively, they can also be used to treat people with severe light sensitivity, as it adds a layer to help filter light.

Scleral lenses are made of a similar material to RGP lenses but feature a larger diameter and an alternate shape. Instead of resting on the cornea like other lens types, scleral lenses vault over the cornea  and rest on the sclera (white of the eye).

The vault creates a fluid reservoir between the cornea and the lens, benefiting wearers at risk for dry eye. The sclera is also less sensitive than the cornea, so the lens rests more comfortably. Scleral lenses can also better fit patients with high astigmatism or corneal irregularities.

Multifocals are lenses featuring more than one prescription for correcting vision at different distances. Bifocals and trifocals are types of multifocals. Some multifocals have a line splitting the prescription, such as bifocals with an upper half for myopia and lower half for presbyopia. Alternatively, progressive lenses create a fluid, no-line transition in the lens.

Multifocal contacts are available as soft or RGP lenses.

Transitions adapt to light conditions. Although they do not replace sunglasses, they can provide UV protection for the eye area covered by the lens. The lens is clear in areas with low light and darkens when light increases, but with minimal changes to eye appearance. Transitions improve comfort by filtering light indoors and outdoors.

Our Brands

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Centennial

A Canadian-owned company established in 1967, Centennial continuously aims to provide high-quality contact lenses to the optical industry. As eye health & safety is essential to Centennial; you will only find their lenses available through eye care professionals.

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Essilor

The world leader in corrective lenses, Essilor, is present in more than 100 countries with a wide range of lenses to suit various lifestyle needs. Protect your eyesight with innovative lenses tailored to your prescription.

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Hoya

Hoya provides a full range of proprietary lens materials, advanced designs for virtually every sight correction requirement, and superior scratch and anti-reflection coatings using Hoya's world-renowned Substrate Matching Properties™ processes.

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Maui Jim

Maui Jim is the fastest growing maker of premium polarized sunglasses, prescription sunglasses, and ophthalmic frames in the world! It all began in Lahaina, Hawaii, with a need for sunglasses that could eliminate the harsh Hawaiian glare without distorting the colors of the island scenery. Today, Maui Jim also produces stunning, high-quality ophthalmic frames.

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Nikon

When it comes to the best camera lenses, everyone knows the Nikon name. The same technology, highest-quality materials, and years of proven optical design experience have also produced Nikon’s premium, high-performance eyeglass lenses.

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Oakley

Oakley invents each new product with a design philosophy called sculptural physics: the discipline of solving problems with science and wrapping them in art. Supported by an infrastructure that includes the latest tools of technology, Oakley engineers and artisans continue to expand the company’s array of product categories.

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Serengeti

Not only do we pioneer photochromic technology, we also engineer it into every lens we make. In bright conditions, when UV radiation is more intense, the lens molecules expand in size, darkening the lenses and allowing them to absorb more light.

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Shaw Lenses

The SHAW lens process uses a patent-pending method to model eye rotation accurately to predict distortions caused by eyeglasses. We then use that information to design a lens that reduces or eliminates the distortion other lenses can cause.

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Spy Optics

Spy Optics mandate is simple - HAPPY disrespect for the usual way of looking (at life). Their frames collection represent just this—something new, different, and a little rebellious.

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Transitions

Quickly adapt from indoor to outdoor lighting in seconds. Living in the moment means not having the time to switch frames when going from different locations. Designed in USA, Transitions® lenses continuously change based on lighting, so you’ll never have swap glasses or suffer from strain headaches again.

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Zeiss

ZEISS provides a broad performance spectrum in each lens category to best serve individual consumer needs.  Individualized premium ZEISS freeform lenses provide the highest degree of customization in lens design and the optimal visual experience.

We’re Here for Your Contact Lens Care

Wearing contact lenses can be convenient and easy. Still, contacts also create a higher risk for some eye conditions, such as corneal ulcers and keratitis. A yearly comprehensive eye exam can help keep your vision and eye health at their best.

Our eye care team is passionate about eye care knowledge, and that includes keeping up with the advances in contact lenses. We pride ourselves on offering patients reliable technology to fit their lifestyle. We want you to achieve the best comfort and quality of vision possible with contact lenses. 

Book an appointment and ask for our recommendations about contact lenses or shop online to view our contact lens selection!

Our Locations

Calgary

Find us steps away from Lake Bonavista across from Lake Bonavista Promenade. Please give us a call if you have any trouble finding us.

Please note that our hours may change on long weekends, holidays and for summer hours.

  • 739 Lake Bonavista Drive SE
  • Calgary, AB T2J 0N2

Olds

Find us at the corner of 50 Avenue and 52 Street. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any trouble finding us.

Please note that our hours may change on long weekends, holidays and for summer hours.

  • 5202 50 Ave
  • Olds, AB T4H 1G9

Sundre

Find us on 6 Street just off Cowboy Trail. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any trouble finding us.

Please note that our hours may change on long weekends, holidays and for summer hours.

  • 101 6 St SW
  • Sundre, AB T0M 1X0

Carstairs

Find us north of the Credit union in the same building as Mountain View Smiles Dental Clinic.

Please note that our hours may change on long weekends, holidays and for summer hours.

  • 208 10th Ave Unit 1
  • Carstairs, AB T0M 0N0

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