Contact Lens Basics
If you are interested in wearing contact lenses to correct your vision, the first step is to meet with your eye care practitioner for an exam. During your exam, the practitioner will evaluate your vision needs, your eye’s structure and your tears to determine which type of lenses will be best for you. At this time, you will also have a contact fitting to find out which contacts will fit your eyes comfortably while correcting your current vision problem. Once you receive a trial pair of lenses and are able to wear them comfortably, your practitioner will issue your contact prescription. The article Understanding Your Contact Lens Prescription will help you to learn more about the importance of your prescription.
Correct Common Vision Problems
Contact lenses can be worn to correct a multitude of vision problems including nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Several advances in contact lens technology have allowed more people to receive vision correction through the use of contact lens. If you were previously unable to wear contact lenses chances are today there is a type of lens that will suit your needs.
There are several different types of contacts lenses available to wearers today. Each type of contact lens is based on one of the following basic factors:
- Material used to make the lens - Three types of contacts are distinguished by the material they are made of including hard lenses, soft lenses (are the most common) and rigid gas permeable contacts.
- Length of time lens can be worn without removal – Daily wear lenses are worn throughout the day and taken out each night while extended wear lenses can be worn overnight and are typically worn for seven consecutive days before removing for cleaning or disposing purposes.
- How often lens should be disposed – Although most of today’s contact lenses are considered disposable, each type can be used for a different duration of time. Daily disposable contacts are good for one day of wear while continuous wear lenses can be worn for 30 days.
- Design of the lens – The lens design or shape determines what type of vision problem the lens is able to correct. Spherical, rounded lenses are the most common and correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. Toric contact lenses have curvatures to correct astigmatism as well as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Other lens designs include bifocal contact lenses and Orthkeratology.
To learn more about the different types of contact lenses available, read the article Contact Lens Types.
Proper Lens Care and Wear
Understanding how to properly care for and wear your contacts is important for both your vision and your overall eye health. Upon receipt of your first pair of contact lenses, your practitioner will provide you with instructions for wearing and cleaning your lenses and may also suggest a specific cleaning solution that works well with your lenses.
Prior to leaving the practitioner’s office, you should have a clear understanding of how to determine if your contact is inside or right side out, know how to put on and remove the lenses as well as how to clean and store the lenses. For a more detailed look at caring and wearing your lenses, take a look at the article Proper Contact Lens Care.
If you have already obtained your contact prescription from your eye care practitioner and are ready to place an order, please visit the Contact Category page to find the lenses of your choice.