contact lenses - Binyon Vision

ARCHIVED POST: Light-Adaptive Contacts! Acuvue Oasys with Transitions Launches April 1!

Contact Lenses with Transitions new to the market. Here background on the technology and what our staff thought when they tried them on

PLEASE NOTE: Transitions contact lenses were discontinued by Johnson and Johnson June 30th, 2024 and are no longer available for consumer purchase.

This is no joke! Contact lenses that darken (tint) with UV exposure are available April 1st through Johnson & Johnson. Branded “Oasys with Transitions” the technology has been in development for ten years. Our manufacturer’s rep thinks photochromic (light changing) contacts are going to be standard in all contacts in the future.

Lens Availability and How it Works

transitions contacts, contacts with transitions, oasys with transitions — Light -> Dark Acuvue Oasys Contact Lenses with Transitions – *image courtes of Johnson and Johnson*

The initial product launch only covers spherical powers in the two week disposable lens (not for astigmatism or multi-focal wearers… yet, next year potentially). The contacts ability to change colors depends on two things – temperature and UV exposure. The material of the contact contains a special molecule that activates at body temperature (98 degrees) and when exposed to UV light to darken the lens material. The reaction is quick- within a few minutes of UV light exposure the material gets to the darkened state and without the UV light it returns to the lighter state within a few minutes. In the lighter state- there is a residual 15% tint which is intentional. The slight tint helps to block blue light from digital devices. It also reduces overhead light glare and light from oncoming headlights when night driving.

Staff Reviews of Contacts with Transitions

Hannah- I love them! They change pretty quickly when I come inside- much quicker than my transitions lenses in my glasses.

Shelly- I won’t even put drops in my eyes and you think I’ll put those in my eyes? Nope. #teamglasses

April- my eyes are still pretty light sensitive outside- definitely not a replacement for sunglasses for me on a bright day. #teamglasses

James- Not a big fan, but I haven’t worn contacts in 13 years and they just feel weird. #teamglasses

James with Transitions Contacts (left – clear, right – darkened)

Sarah- No thanks- no contacts for me! #teamglasses

Caitlin- I like the feel of them- they were very comfortable. I like being outside and not squinting in bright light, I liked the slight tint inside too. But they’re definitely not a replacement for sunglasses on a bright day- especially because they don’t activate in the car. On my contacts days (since I’m 90% glasses, 10% contacts) these contacts would be my choice.

Interested in more information?

We’d love to talk to you more about the new Contact Lenses with Transitions to see if they might be a good fit into your life. The next step would be to set up a contact lens exam with one of the doctors who can answer specific questions and take necessary measurements to fit these lenses. Here is information about contact lens exams for new prescriptions. Here is a link to schedule an appointment online!

Contact Lens and Packaging Recycling

Introducing… The Contact Lens Recycling Program!

Contact lens and packaging recycling with Bausch & Lomb

We’re thrilled to partner with Bausch & Lomb to be an official One-by-One Recycling Center for contact lens plastic packaging and contact lens recycling. Drop off all opened blister pack waste- the top foil and the plastic and the contacts themselves to our office and we will mail them to the recycling facility.

City recycling programs filter out contact lens packaging and send it to landfills due to their small size and packaging. Put together, the contact lens waste that the US generates annually could encircle the globe three times! We’re very thankful that Bausch & Lomb combined forces with TerraCycle(R) to tackle this problem and contribute to contact lens recycling. Below we outline the steps we recommend to collect and bring the waste to Binyon for proper disposal.

Waste will be shipped to TerraCycle, here it will be melted into plastic that can be remolded into recycled products. Recycled separately will also be foil tops.

Another bonus? For every 2lbs of waste received, Bausch & Lomb will donate $1 to Optometry Giving Sight an awesome organization dedicated to provide eye exams and glasses to people in impoverished nations.

Contact lens and packaging recycling with Bausch & Lomb

Steps to recycle contact lens waste:

Create a separate waste receptacle (recommend cardboard box) close to where you insert and remove your contacts.
Just after you open and insert a new contact, empty saline solution down the drain and place waste products in the dedicated receptacle.
When you remove the contact after it’s lifetime (daily, weekly, monthly, etc) – dispose it into your container.
When container gets full, bring box of waste to Binyon Vision Center – 411 E. Magnolia Street – downtown Bellingham for disposal.
Smile – you’re helping reduce landfill waste.

Questions! Feel free to contact us!

The Things Patients Say…

We have the unique opportunity to be present for an awesome “WOW!” moment in many peoples’ lives… the moment the world becomes clear! Inspired by the adorable viral video last year of a baby seeing her mom for the first time (see here) the Binyon team would like to present our first edition of patient talk…

The Things Patients Say

“Everything is so sharp – I haven’t taken them off!” – – C, who thought she just needed her glasses for driving and wouldn’t wear them often

“I can see the points on the stars!” – – O (10 years old) about the star stickers on the ceiling of his bedroom

“I can see raindrops on the cars!” – – K, after putting on her contacts for the first time

<< QUIET … then big smile >> – – 10 month old C who was crying crying crying as Christie put her first pair of glasses on and she looked at her mom

“The roof has lines on it.” – – J, first time contact lens wearer talking about the shingles

“I can’t believe how trees look- I can see the leaves when before it was a big blob of green.” – – R, 11 years old, first time glasses wearer

“Dr. McEathron – you saved my marriage – you showed my husband how the world looks when I don’t have my glasses on and he’s so much more understanding now.” – – L, 63 years old, very nearsighted

“I can see the mole on your face Mommy!” – – L, 8 years old when asked what she could see with her new glasses

“OH! Where did all those wrinkles come from!” – – C, 52 years old, putting on her first progressive lenses

A new world appears with clear vision – are you seeing to your full potential? Come on in! We’d love to share a WOW moment with you, and add your patient talk to this list!

Contact Lens Health Week!

“Do you guys ‘do contacts’ here, because you’re all wearing glasses…”

Yes… we do contacts. I hadn’t considered a patient might think differently because we all wear our glasses to work. So, I’m glad he asked! Contact lenses are a fantastic vision correction method and provide wearers with a host of benefits including sports, increased periphery vision and the ability to wear non-prescription sunglasses!

I get to work with new contact lens wearers and teach them how to put on and take off their contacts, talk to them about how to take care of them, how often to replace their prescribed contacts and also pass on a list of precautions to take while wearing contacts. Contacts are a big responsibility and not one to be taken lightly. Therefore, contact lens health is very important! The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agrees and has named this week- August 22-26, 2016 the third annual Contact Lens Health Week.

contact lens care routine and lessons

Six Healthy Habits for Contact Lens Wearers

Wash your hands with soap and water before inserting and removing contacts
Only clean your contacts with doctor recommended contact lens disinfecting solution- never water or saliva.
Don’t sleep in your contact lenses

dont-sleep-in-contacts contact lens care routine and lessons its

Always store your contacts in fresh solution every night, don’t top-off old solution

dont-top-off-solution contact lens care routine and lessons

Stick to the prescribed wearing schedule for your contact lenses

do-replace-lenses contact lens care routine and lessons

If you experience eye pain, discomfort, redness or blurry vision, remove your contacts and call us to schedule an appointment right away!

These are just a few contact lens health habits that can help your contact lens experience be comfortable and healthy. For more information, talk to Dr. McEathron at your next yearly eye exam and visit the CDC website Healthy Contact Lens Wear and Care.

Binyon Vision

Tag: contact lenses