Many people find that contact lenses are much more convenient than glasses, easy to use and comfortable but they need to be looked after carefully. So what are the different types and what do you need to know to care for your contacts? We've put together this short guide to help you.
Different Types of Contact Lenses
Contact lenses come in a range of types including daillies, monthly or extended wear contact, hard and soft contacts. Soft lenses vary in the amount of water they contain which may be low, under 50% or high, over 50%. Hard lenses are gas permeable but much less popular noawadays than soft contact lenses.
Hard contact lenses last longer than soft contact lenses, perhaps lasting for years. Soft contact lenses, on the other hand, need replacing much more frequently depending on the type. Some kinds can be used for extended wear, up to 30 days and can be left in overnight. A big advantage if your vision is very poor! Daillies, as the name implies, must be removed and cleaned every day and cannot be left in overnight.
Contact lenses are designed to correct a range of vision problems. Toric lenses are designed to correct astigmatism, spherical lenses correct short-sightedness and multi-focal lenses correct presbyopia. If you wear bifocal glasses you can use multi-focal lenses as an alternative.
Whichever type of vision problem you have you will need to consult an optician to diagnose and prescribe the correct contact lenses for you. Most people nowadays purchase their contact lenses on the internet as they are often cheaper and you have a huge range to choose from.
Caring for Contact Lenses
- Always wash your hands, rinse thoroughly and dry before putting in your lenses. Traces of sopa or chemicals on your hands or on your lenses can cause stinging or burning.
- If you are having difficulty putting in your lenses try not to force them. Put some solution into your hand and rub the lens gently in it. Put a small amount of solution on the lens before you try again to insert it. It should now be easier to put in.
- Always keep your lenses in fresh solution when you are not wearing them. The solution is desgined to remove protein so if you have the kind that need removing overnight soak them in the solution. Leaving the protein on the lenses can result in eye damage.
- To keep your eyes moist you may need to use a saline solution or re-wetting drops. Some contact can dry out the eyes and cause discomfort. Keep some re-wetting solution with you so that you can easily remedy the problem should it occur.
As long as you care for your lenses correctly and only wear them for the length of time they are designed for you will find them comfortable and safe for your eyes. The freedom that comes with throwing away your glasses is wonderful, so if you have been hesitating about trying contact lenses, go ahead! You won't regret it!
Image by Dustin C Oliver
