All About Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a great alternative to traditional eyeglasses and are made to correct eyesight problems like nearsightedness, astigmatism, farsightedness, and other problems.  Contact lenses are also worn after cataract surgery, to help the eyes heal faster.

Contacts are used in the eye, where they will float above a sea of tears that rest in front of the cornea.  You should always go to a doctor to be fitted, as the proper fitting and design is very important for safety, comfort, and the accurate vision.  If you don’t get fitted for your contacts, you can get a pair of contacts that could damage your eyes.

Contact lenses are a great choice for those who have active lifestyles, such as athletes.  They won’t fall off like glasses when you run, nor do they hang off your face or fog up.  They also offer you a full field of vision as well, which is great for sports.  The lens and focus is the same as glass, meaning that you will get the same vision from contacts as you would with a pair of glasses.

There are two main types of contact lense styles, hard contact lenses and soft contact lenses.  The hard contact lenses include gas permeable lens and the conventional hard lenses.  Soft contact lenses include daily wear, extended wear, and disposable wear.

If you are just beginning to use hard contact lenses, you will need a 2 - 4 week break period, where you will gradually wear the contacts longer and longer with each passing day.  Soft contacts on the other hand, will take less time to get used to, as most people who wear them can break them in quickly.

Contact lenses are mainly used to correct vision, but can also be used for those who have just had cataracts, especially if the natural lens around the eye was removed.  Contacts can also be used in the treatment of various eye diseases, and scars on the cornea that have been caused by infections or injury.

A lot of people who have vision problems consider getting Lasik eye surgery to fix their vision problems so that they won’t have to wear glasses or contacts.  There are several risks and problems associated with this procedure, besides the costs involved.  Contact lenses aren’t expensive and are a safe alternative to surgical vision correction.

Keep in mind that contact lenses do require a prescription. You can get certain contacts without a prescription, but they won’t correct your vision.  To get contacts that correct your vision, you’ll need to visit an eye doctor and get fitted for them.  Your doctor will tell you the health of your eyes, as well as the contacts you need to correct your vision.

Tips For Buying Contact Lenses

Contact lenses will improve your vision without having to get glasses.  Contacts are very lightweight and offer a full range of sight and mobility.  

You can buy contact lenses in several different ways.  You can order them online from companies such as contacts.com or 1-800-Contacts, but keep in mind you will still need a prescription when you order online. After you place your order, the websites you ordered your contacts from will require you to fax in your prescription in order to ship your contacts.  When you order online you can usually save much more than buying the contacts directly from your optometrist, but buying them directly may be easier if you do not have access to the internet.

If you shop around, you can normally find some great deals for your lenses.  Depending on the brand and type your optician prescribed, the prices will vary.  If you are buying the latest and greatest brands of contacts, you can obviously count on the price to be a bit higher.  This is to be expected, as contacts cost the most when they first come out.

Contrary to what many think, contacts don’t get stuck behind your eyes, nor do they damage your eyes when you wear them.  If this was indeed the case, contacts wouldn’t be legal to sell or be recommended by top optometrists.

When you go to an optician for the fitting process, they will examine your eyes and let you know if you can wear contacts as some eyes are unable to use contacts.  There are a few types, such as soft and hard.  Depending on your eyes, you may have to get a special type of contact lens.  The optician will give you his recommendation, and tell you everything you need to know and do for the contacts that he will give you a prescription for.  

If your vision is bad or if you are tired of regular eyeglasses, you should look into a pair of contact lenses.  They are very affordable, easy to take care of, and easy to use.  You can wear them during the day and take them out at night or get a pair that you can be worn night and day.  They won’t stick out like glasses, as it is very hard to tell if someone is wearing contacts.  

Acuvue Contact Lenses

Its really no secret that Acuvue is one of the most popular and most dominant brands of contact lenses out there on the market.  There are several different types of Acuvue contact lenses to choose from, including Advanced, Acuvue 2 Colors, and lenses that contain the very popular and innovative Hydraclear or Oasys.

Just like other brands and types of contacts, Acuvue lenses were designed to correct many vision problems such as far sight, astigmatism, near sight, and the inability or lack of changing focus from far to near.  Acuvue offers you options as well, such as hard lenses, soft lenses, and even toric contact lenses.  

Acuvue contacts have a few different periods of wear such as the Acuvue Advanced, which are designed to be worn for a two week period. Some Acuvue lenses are made for daily use, which means that you need to use a new pair each day.  Normally, Acuvue contacts are intended for daily use and need to be soaked in solution while you sleep, although there are types that can be left in while you sleep, although you’ll need to clean them on a regular basis.

Among the many types of Acuvue lenses, those that contain Hydraclear are the most widely used.    

Dry Eyes And Contacts

If you have dry eyes, contact lenses may be very irritating.  If your eyes are healthy, a very thin layer of tears will always remain under the contact lens.  If this layer starts to dry out the lens will feel dry.  Dry eyes can be very irritating and uncomfortable, which may make you squint or rub your eyes.

Some people will produce less tears than others, which can indeed be a problem when wearing contact lenses.  As you get older, the tears that you are able to produce will begin to decrease.

If you work in a factory or area that is over heated, or exposed to dust or smoke, your eyes will start to dry out.  The more your eyes are exposed to these types of situations, the more dry they will become.  After a few hours, you may find yourself having to remove your contacts due to the dryness becoming so irritating.

Certain brands of contact lenses that can add to your eye dryness.  Many contact lenses are made of polymers and sometimes more than 50% water.  Contacts with a high level of water content might feel comfortable in your eye, but then the water will start to evaporate from the contacts as they are worn which will draw out moisture from the tears in your eyes, which results in dryness.  If the contact lens contains a high percentage of water, then it is almost guaranteed to lose moisture throughout the day.

Dry eyes are very common, you can always help to rectify the situation by using right pair of contacts.  You can also get re-wetting or saline drops as well, to put in your eyes when they start to feel dry.  These drops are the preferred way of dealing with dry and irritable eyes, as they help to produce enough moisture for comfort.  Re-wetting or saline drops are very inexpensive and can be bought at most department stores.

Contact Lenses Versus Glasses

Glasses have been around a lot longer than contacts, although most people prefer to wear contacts instead of glasses.  Contacts have become popular over the years, proving to be the best alternative to wearing bulky glasses.

When you compare contacts against glasses, there are several things that stick out like a sore thumb.  The first difference in the two is the field of vision.  Glasses offer good front vision, although their peripheral vision is quite poor.  Contact lenses on the other hand offer you a great field of vision, including peripheral.  You won’t be hindered to just looking straight ahead, as contact lenses allow you to look anywhere you want without any problems.

Another major difference is the weight.  Glasses are uncomfortable weight on both your ears and your face.  They also need to be tightened on a frequent basis, along with adjusting.  Contacts on the other hand don’t weigh anything at all.  When you wear contacts you don’t need to worry about tightening them or worry about them constantly sliding your face - which can be very annoying.

Glasses are also known to fog up frequently, and they are very distracting during any kind of sports you play.  Contacts however, don’t fog up.  You can carry out any activity you choose without having to worry about them all. They won’t fall off or slide down your nose when you run, nor will they limit what you can do when you play sports.

Another bad thing about glasses is the fact they need to match what you wear.  If you have casual frames, they may not suit your evening attire.  The colors may also clash, which is a bad thing for those who crave style.  Unlike glasses, contact lenses will compliment everything you wear, for the simple fact that they don’t stick out.

Although there are quite a few differences between the two, they do have a few things in common as well.  Both glasses and contacts require cleaning and careful handling.  You’ll need to spray your glasses and wipe them off a few times each day.  Contacts need to be cleaned as well, before you put them in and soaked in solution when you aren’t using them.  You may also need to use eye drops as well throughout the day when wearing contacts, especially if your eyes start to dry out.

Glasses and contact lenses can both correct astigmatism as well.  If you have astigmatism, you can wear either glasses or contacts.  Astigmatism is an odd cornea shape that impairs vision, common with older people.  Although most people think that only glasses will correct this problem, contacts can fix the problem as well.

Putting In And Removing Contact Lenses

If you are new to contact lenses, you will need to learn how to put your contacts in and take them out.  Even though you may have practiced with your doctor during your fitting exam, you’ll find things to be totally different once you step in front of your mirror at home and try to do it by yourself.

The first thing you’ll notice is that it can be tricky to put your contacts in.  With a few days or a few weeks to practice, you’ll be more than comfortable with your lenses.  Always keep in mind that no one is perfect and it takes time to get good at it.  

Here are a few tips that will help you with inserting and removing your contacts:

Putting your contacts in
Before you put your hands on your contacts, you should make sure that you clean your hands thoroughly, and that you dry them off.  Once your hands are clean, sit the contact lens on your index finger.  Next, place a drop of solution in the center of the lens.  Now, use your other hand and pull down your lower eye lid with your thumb then look up with the eye you will be inserting the contact lens into.

Take your index finger with the contact on it and place it into your eye.  Don’t close your eye immediately, rather leave it open a few seconds to let the contact settle.  After a few seconds, close your eye and your contact should be perfectly in place.  If it feels uncomfortable, take it out and try again.  It may take you a few tries, the more you put them in the better you’ll get at it.

Taking your contacts out
Make sure that your hands are clean and dry.  When you are ready to take them out, look up with your eye then use your fingers to grab the contact by the sides and pull the contact out.  You can normally get it out on the first try, with a little practice.  Once the contact is out, blink a few times to clear your eyes.  If it doesn’t want to come out, put some drops in your eye to moisten it up, then try again.  

Once you have worn contacts for a few days or a few weeks, you’ll find that it becomes second nature to put them in and take them out.  Once you have got the hang of it, you’ll be able to put them in and remove them in a matter of seconds.

Manufacturers Of Contact Lenses

In the world of contact lenses, there are many manufacturers for you to choose from.  Contact lenses are very popular these days, being a great alternative to glasses.  Contacts are easy to take care of, easy to use, and very affordable.  As more and more people find out they have bad vision and need to get glasses or contacts - they turn to contacts.

With several different brands of contacts out there, it can be very difficult when you select your pair.  Often times, your optician will recommend a brand to you, although sometimes they won’t.  Different brands are coming out all the time, which can make it very difficult for first time contact users to select the best brand for their eyes and their needs.

If you are new to contact lenses, you may want to look at what each manufacturer offers before you make a decision.  By learning a bit about each manufacturer, you can decide which ones offer you the best products for your eyes.  You can research online or ask your optician and associates what they think would be the best for you.

Some of the best manufacturers include Acuvue, Bausch and Lomb, and Progressive.  These are all great choices, offering you a variety models to choose from.  They are also among the most expensive as well.  Bausch and Lomb is just about as popular as Acuvue, offering great contact lenses at very affordable prices.

No matter which brand or manufacturer you decide to buy, you should always try on the contacts and see how they fit your eyes.  Brands and manufacturers will vary, which is why you should always try on the pair you are interested in.  Just because a pair of contacts may work for your family or a friend, does not mean that they will work for you.  

Anytime you are looking to buy contacts you should always experiment with the different manufacturers and see which brand you like the best.  You should always look for comfort and how well they work with your eyes.  If you choose a brand that is very comfortable, you shouldn’t have any problems with your eyes drying out.  If you try a pair out and it doesn’t work that well or you - you can always choose another.

Whether you choose glasses or contact lenses, you are sure to get the vision you need.  If you aren’t lucky enough to have perfect vision, contact lenses and glasses are the perfect way to correct your vision.  If you’ve been living in a blurry world, contacts and glasses are the best way to do the things you love - with perfect vision.