Expert fittings for virtually every prescription, lifestyle, and eye condition
Contact lens technology has advanced remarkably in the past decade. The range of who can wear contacts — and how comfortably — has expanded significantly. If you’ve been told in the past that contacts aren’t an option for your prescription or eye condition, it may be worth revisiting that conversation.
The short answer: most people. Advances in lens materials, designs, and fitting technology have made contacts accessible to patients who previously couldn’t wear them comfortably or effectively. This includes:
We work with the leading manufacturers in the industry, ensuring access to the widest range of lens designs and the latest materials.
The right lens type depends on your prescription, your eyes, your lifestyle, and your wearing habits. Here’s what we offer and what distinguishes each option:
Daily Disposable Soft Lenses
Most popular · Lowest maintenance · Best for occasional or sensitive eyes
A fresh lens every day — no cleaning solutions, no storage cases, no overnight soaking. Daily disposables are the most hygienic option and the lowest-maintenance lens modality available. They’re also excellent for patients with dry eye or allergies, since daily replacement prevents the buildup of deposits and allergens. If you wear lenses occasionally rather than daily, dailies also make the most practical sense.
Two-Week and Monthly Soft Lenses
Cost-effective · Versatile · Wide prescription range
Replaced every two weeks or monthly, these lenses offer excellent optical performance across a wide range of prescriptions and are available in a broad variety of designs — including toric (astigmatism), multifocal, and colored options. They require a daily cleaning and storage routine. Silicone hydrogel materials — standard in most modern soft lenses — allow significantly more oxygen to reach the cornea compared to earlier lens generations, supporting long-term ocular health.
Extended Wear Lenses
Continuous wear approved · Silicone hydrogel materials · Doctor evaluation required
Certain silicone hydrogel lenses are FDA-approved for extended wear — meaning they can be worn continuously for up to 7 or 30 days, including overnight. Extended wear requires high-oxygen-permeability materials and careful patient selection: not everyone’s eyes tolerate overnight wear equally well. We evaluate each patient individually before recommending extended wear, and we emphasize that regular removal and rest periods are important for long-term corneal health.
Toric Lenses for Astigmatism
Corrects astigmatism · Available in soft and RGP · Multiple modalities
Astigmatism requires a lens with a specific orientation to correct vision properly — toric lenses are designed with this stabilization built in. Modern toric soft lenses are highly effective for most degrees of astigmatism, available in daily, two-week, and monthly modalities. For higher or irregular astigmatism, RGP lenses often provide superior optical clarity. If past toric lens experiences have been frustrating — rotation, fluctuating vision — newer designs and fitting approaches may make a significant difference.
Multifocal Contact Lenses
For presbyopia · Reduces reading glass dependence · Soft and RGP options
Presbyopia — the gradual loss of near focusing ability that typically begins in the mid-40s — doesn’t have to mean reading glasses. Multifocal contact lenses use concentric or aspheric designs to provide vision at multiple distances simultaneously. They require careful fitting and some adaptation, but many patients achieve excellent functional vision at distance, intermediate, and near without supplemental glasses. Monovision — fitting one eye for distance and one for near — is an alternative approach that works well for some patients.
Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses
Superior optics · Highly durable · Best for irregular corneas
RGP lenses are made of firm, oxygen-permeable materials that maintain their shape on the eye, providing consistently crisp optics — often sharper than soft lenses, particularly for higher prescriptions or irregular corneas. They’re more durable and deposit-resistant than soft lenses, and a well-cared-for pair can last years. The tradeoff is an adaptation period: new RGP wearers typically need 1–2 weeks before the lenses become fully comfortable. For patients with keratoconus, high astigmatism, or demanding vision needs, RGPs are often the superior clinical choice.
Scleral Lenses
Specialty lens · Vaults the cornea · Transforms vision in keratoconus and corneal irregularity
Scleral lenses are large-diameter gas-permeable lenses that vault entirely over the cornea, resting instead on the sclera (the white of the eye). The space between the lens and the cornea is filled with a reservoir of saline solution, creating an entirely smooth optical surface regardless of the shape of the cornea beneath. This makes sclerals transformative for patients with keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, post-LASIK optical complications, severe dry eye, and other conditions where conventional lenses fall short. They are also exceptionally comfortable — the lens never contacts the sensitive corneal surface. Scleral lens fitting is specialized and time-intensive; Dr. Idriss has significant expertise in scleral fitting and keratoconus management.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Overnight reshaping · No daytime lenses needed · Slows myopia in children
Ortho-K lenses are worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea while you sleep. In the morning, the lenses come out — and the patient sees clearly throughout the day without any glasses or contacts. Beyond the convenience, Ortho-K has strong clinical evidence as a myopia management tool for children: studies show it can reduce the rate of myopia progression by up to 50% compared to standard correction. Dr. Idriss has a particular specialization in Ortho-K and works closely with pediatric patients and their families through the fitting process.
Colored Contact Lenses
Prescription and cosmetic options · Available from licensed eye care providers only
Colored contact lenses are available in prescription and non-prescription (plano) versions — for patients who want to subtly enhance their natural eye color or try something entirely different. Available in soft daily and monthly options. An important note: colored contact lenses — even non-prescription ones — are medical devices that require a valid fitting and prescription in the United States. Over-the-counter or online costume lenses without a prescription carry significant risks including corneal abrasion, infection, and vision-threatening complications. We’re happy to fit you for safe, properly manufactured colored lenses.
The most important thing you can do for your eye health as a contact lens wearer is to follow a consistent care routine. The most common cause of contact lens-related complications — infections, corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers — is poor lens hygiene or overwear.
Contact lens prescriptions are separate from glasses prescriptions and expire annually. An annual contact lens exam includes evaluation of your ocular surface health, lens fit, and prescription — not just a refraction. Staying current protects your eyes and ensures your lenses are still the best option for you.
Current patients can reorder contact lenses through our office. We’ll verify your prescription is current and process your order — typically with quick turnaround. For patients due for their annual exam, we’ll let you know and get you scheduled before the prescription expires.
Call (703) 569-6363 or book online at theeyedoctors.com/appointments
New and existing patients are welcome. Schedule your appointment online or call our office to speak with our team.