I have glaucoma. My ophthalmologist has kept the pressure under 21 for almost 13 years with Timoptic drops once daily. Is it true that people with glaucoma can't wear contact lenses? Now, with the new bifocal contacts, I would love to wear them.

D.

Contact lenses have undergone dramatic improvements over the past 30 years and currently can be used by almost anyone for vision correction -- including many people with glaucoma. However, before a person using eyedrops starts wearing contacts, it is important to find out whether the medication in the drops may interact with the contact lens. It is safe to use many eyedrops while wearing contacts. However, the fear has been that the preservative in certain eyedrops can leach into some types of contacts, leading to contact-lens intolerance. I have never heard of any specific problems with Timoptic eyedrops.

Contact lenses can be found in both rigid and soft forms. Today's rigid lenses are made of material that allows oxygen to pass through the lens and reach the eye. These lenses are well tolerated, and the latest generation is a bifocal, which provides both good near and distance vision. The other type of contact, the soft lens, has become tremendously popular due to its comfortable fit and, in many cases, extended-wear capability. Soft bifocal contacts are also now available, and for many, these lenses provide satisfactory distance and near vision. Another very popular option for people who require bifocals is called monovision. In this arrangement, one eye wears a contact lens that corrects for distance vision and the other wears a contact lens that corrects for near vision.

With both soft and hard lenses, it is crucial that you see a contact lens specialist, who will provide you with the correct power and shape of lenses. Failure to wear contact lenses correctly can lead to many corneal problems. However, I am not aware of any situation in which contacts have had any impact -- either positive or negative -- on glaucoma itself.