Ophthalmology
Optometry and Contact Lenses
Mass Eye and Ear provides comprehensive eye examinations, which include screening, diagnosing, and managing eye conditions.
Clinician quote
Dr. Mazza shares safety tipsContact lenses can be a great alternative option to wearing eye glasses. But it is important to keep in mind that they are medical devices.
Optometry
Our optometrists specialize in eyeglass prescriptions for patients with vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia (difficulty reading up close). Optometry services are avilable at the following locations
Contact Lenses
Our optometrists have extensive knowledge of contact lens fitting methods, techniques, and newly available lenses. Contact lens services are available at the following locations:
Ordering Contact Lenses Online (for Current Patients)
If you have had a contact lens fitting at Mass Eye and Ear within the last year, you can order your lenses online or by phone: 617-573-3800.
If you need help, or have questions, call 617-573-3185 between 9:00am and 4:30pm (Monday-Friday) or email us.
Types of Contact Lenses
A contact lens is a medical device. Because the lens makes contact with the eye, a thorough evaluation and fitting is needed.
Soft contact lenses—or hydrogel or hydrophilic lenses—are very flexible and are often the most comfortable lens to be worn initially. While very safe to use, these lenses are often disposable to decrease risks of complications, such as infection.
Rigid gas permeable contacts are stiffer lenses and require an adaptation period for best comfort. For some prescriptions, these lenses offer crisper vision and excellent oxygen permeability.
Daily wear contact lenses are worn during the day and are removed at night for cleaning and disinfection. This is typically the healthiest type of contact lens.
Extended wear contact lenses can be worn for longer periods of time or while sleeping. Typically, wearing contacts for a long time reduces the amount of oxygen and tears that reach the cornea. This can result in eye infections, swelling, and abnormal vessel growth.
Conventional contact lenses need to be replaced every 8-12 months. These lenses are frequently selected for difficult prescriptions. They need to be meticulously cleaned and disinfected daily.
Planned replacement contact lenses are replaced on a planned schedule that can be anywhere from once a week to every six months. These lenses need to be removed and disinfected each day before sleeping.
Disposable contact lenses are thrown away after each use. Although lenses that are thrown away after 2-4 weeks are often called "disposable" lenses, a true disposable lens is only kept for one day. These lenses significantly decrease the chances of contamination by bacteria or other dangerous microbes. Additionally, these lenses are exceptionally convenient for occasional use or for people with active lives.
The Contact Lens Service at Mass. Eye and Ear is able to assess and prescribe contact lenses for a variety of specialty uses, including:
- Contact lenses for astigmatism
- Bifocal contact lenses
- Color-enhancing contact lenses
- Contact lenses for dry eyes
- Contact lenses for color deficiencies
- Prosthetic-contact lenses
- Post-surgical and post-trauma contact lenses
- Specialty lenses for keratoconus and corneal irregularities
