Clear Vision Without
the Frames
Want to see clearly without having to wear eyeglasses? Contact lenses offer flexibility to go glasses-free, whether for convenience, style, or personal preference.
We offer a variety of contact lens styles to suit different eyes and visual needs. Whether you’re interested in trying contact lenses for the first time or you’d like to explore a different lens style, our team is here to assist you with the decision and the fitting process.
Ready to try contact lenses? Request an appointment with us today.
Is It Hard to Get
Contact Lenses?
Getting your first pair of contact lenses is a simple process. We start by performing a contact lens eye exam, which adds just a few extra steps to the eye exams we usually perform.
We’ll evaluate your eye health and prescription to determine if contact lenses would be a good option for you. Then we’ll discuss your lifestyle and preferences to match you with the right lens style.
What to Expect During a Contact Lens Exam and Fitting
After the regular part of your comprehensive eye exam, we ask a few quick questions about your medical history and lifestyle. These questions, along with your test results, help us learn:
- Whether you would prefer extended wear lenses or daily disposables
- What type of contact lenses would meet your visual needs
- If you have any medical challenges (e.g., dry eyes or astigmatism) that rule out particular lenses
- If you have vision problems (e.g., presbyopia) that require specific lenses
Once we have completed your exam, we’ll complete a contact lens fitting. During the fitting, we will measure:
- Your pupil
- Your iris
- Your tear film’s stability
- Your cornea’s curvature (the clear front part of your eye)
These measurements allow us to recommend specific contacts that will correct your vision comfortably. We’ll provide you with trial lenses and show you how to put them in and take them out. We will also discuss how to care for your contact lenses and maintain proper hygiene to avoid an infection. Then, we’ll send you home to try the lenses out for a week.
If you like the fit and clarity of your new lenses, we’ll order them for you and show you how to care for them properly. As well, we’ll book a follow-up appointment in a few weeks to make sure your new contacts keep working correctly.
What Are My Options for Contact Lenses?
Depending on your eyes and their needs, you may require a specific shape or style for your contact lenses. Lenses can differ in the material they are made from, how long they last, and the shape or prescription power(s) included in the lens.
We’ll discuss the options available to you that suit your visual needs. If your prescription changes, we may recommend trying a new style of lens to provide you with clearer vision. We welcome any input from you, so please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about your lenses. We want your contact lenses to be clear and comfortable, so your honest feedback is imperative.
Some of the most common lens shapes and styles include soft contacts, rigid gas-permeable lenses, and aspheric, toric, and multifocal options.
Many people prefer soft contact lenses as they tend to be comfortable and easy to use. They’re also usually less expensive than other types of lenses. Most soft contacts are made of silicone hydrogel, which lets oxygen pass through easily and brings nutrients to your cornea.
You can purchase soft contacts in spherical, toric, or multifocal shapes, depending on your needs. Soft contacts are also made for daily and extended wear schedules. Our eye doctors will tell you which types of soft contacts you may be able to use after your contact lens exam.
Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses have a smooth refractive surface made from rigid silicone compounds. This surface allows them to correct astigmatism more effectively (which occurs when the cornea’s shape is atypical).
Since RGP lenses are solid, they tend to have better durability and longer lifespans than other lens types. However, not everyone enjoys the feeling of wearing RGP lenses, and they may be easier to dislodge than soft contacts. We can tell you whether RGP lenses are a good option for your eyes after your contact lens exam.
Aspheric contact lenses have a varying curvature across the lens, differing from a standard spherical lens with an even curvature. These variations allow aspheric lenses to correct for corneal abnormalities such as astigmatism, providing crisp, clear vision.
Aspheric lenses come in soft or RGP styles.
Toric contact lenses are shaped like a slice of a donut, containing different prescriptions along both the vertical and horizontal axes. These lenses are used to correct moderate or severe astigmatism for clear, crisp vision. They are heavier near the bottom to keep them from moving when you blink.
Toric lenses come in soft or RGP styles.
Multifocal contact lenses contain multiple prescription powers to correct vision at varying distances. Multifocal lenses are typically recommended for individuals with presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness, to correct near and distant vision.
Multifocal lenses come in soft or RGP styles.
Eye Exams Are Essential
for Contact Lenses
Finding the right fit and lens style for your needs requires a thorough exam and understanding of your lifestyle and vision concerns. Our goal is to help you see clearly and comfortably, whether you choose contact lenses, glasses, or alternate between both.
If you experience any discomfort while wearing your contacts, don’t wait until your exam time comes up on the calendar. Book an appointment to come see us, and we’ll complete an assessment and discussion to determine what’s causing your problem.
Regular exams are also important for keeping your prescription up-to-date and your vision sharp. If you have a current prescription and just need a refill, you can make an online request to refill your contact lenses or come in and see us!
Contact Lens Brands We Carry
Finding
Our Clinic
We’re located in the Northills Shopping Centre off Tranquille Road. Find our office between the CIBC and the Interior Health clinic on the north side of the mall. For your convenience, our entrance is directly accessible from the parking lot—no mall entry required.
Visit
Our Location
Our eye clinic is conveniently located at the Northills Shopping Centre, next to the CIBC.
Where to Park?
The mall offers spacious parking and accessible parking spaces.
Hours of Operation
*Closed between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM every day for lunch
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Land
Acknowledgement
We’re grateful to live and work on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory, within the unceded ancestral lands of the Secwepemcúĺecw. We acknowledge and respect the history, language, and culture of the Secwépemc people who have lived here since time immemorial. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation.
About Us
Services
Specialty Eye Exams
Patient Education Hub
Thompson Rivers Family Optometry
- 250-376-1985
- 250-376-1309
- office@trfo.ca