Contact lenses are an excellent choice for almost anybody that needs vision correction as well as does not want to put on eyeglasses full-time or undertake LASIK surgical treatment.
Here are the fundamentals you need to understand about contact lenses before seeing your optometrist (assuming you have an interest in using contacts).
Contact lens materials
The front runner when considering contact lenses is which lens material will best satisfy your needs. There are 5 kinds of contact lenses, based upon sort of lens product they are made from:
– Soft lenses are those that are made from gel-like, water-containing plastics called hydrogels, which are pliable materials. These lenses are extremely slim as well as pliable and also therefore adapt well to the front surface of the eye.
– Silicone hydrogel lenses are made from an innovative type of soft contact lens product that enables much more oxygen to travel through the lens and also get to the front surface of the eye. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are now the most prominent kind of contact lenses and are very popular.
– Gas permeable lenses: Likewise called GP or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, these are rigid contact lenses that preserve their shape on the eye, enabling them to deal with astigmatism and also other refractive errors by providing their own shape to the light that enters your eye rather than the uneven shape of the cornea. Gas permeable contact lenses typically are smaller in size than disposable lenses as well as are made from highly oxygen-permeable products. It generally takes a while for our eyes to get used to GP lenses when you initially begin using them; but after this preliminary adjustment period, most individuals find GP lenses are as comfy as soft lenses.
– Hybrid contact lenses have an inflexible gas permeable main zone, bordered by a “skirt” of hydrogel or silicone hydrogel material. They are developed to provide convenience and comfort that measures up to soft or silicone hydrogel lenses, along with the crystal-clear optics of GP lenses.
– Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) lenses are rigid contact lenses that resemble GP lenses but are constructed from a plastic product that is not oxygen permeable. PMMA lenses were generally suggested years ago, however essentially have actually been changed by gas permeable lenses.
Contact lens using time
There are 2 types of contact lenses based upon recommended using time:
– Daily wear contact lenses – These need to be removed every night prior to sleep
– Extensive wear contact lenses – These can be used overnight (for a limited number of days)
” Constant wear” is a term that’s sometimes used to describe extensive wear lenses that are put on 24 hrs per day for as much as 30 consecutive days.
When to replace your contact lenses
Even with proper treatment, contact lenses (particularly soft contact lenses) ought to be replaced regularly to avoid the build-up of lens deposits and contamination that raise the risk of eye infections.
Disposable lenses have these basic categories, based on how regularly they should be disposed of:
– Daily disposable lenses – Discard after a solitary day of wear
– Disposable lenses – Dispose of every 2 weeks, or quicker
– Frequent Replacement lenses – Dispose of month-to-month or quarterly
– Traditional (reusable) lenses – Dispose of every six months or longer
Gas permeable contact lenses are more resistant to lens deposits because they allow oxygen to pass through and also don’t require to be disposed of as frequently as disposable lenses, because of this very circulation. Commonly, GP lenses can last a year or longer before they require to be replaced.
Contact lens designs
Soft contact lenses (both hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses) are available in a selection of designs, depending upon their intended objective:
– Spherical contact lenses have the exact same lens power throughout the entire optical part of the lens to correct either near-sightedness (myopia) or hyperopia (farsightedness), but not both.
– Toric soft contact lenses have various powers in different meridians of the lens to correct astigmatism along with near-sightedness or farsightedness.
– Multifocal contact lenses (including bifocal contacts) consist of different power zones for near and far vision to correct presbyopia as well as near-sightedness or farsightedness. Some multifocal lenses likewise can deal with astigmatism.
– Cosmetic contact lenses include colour contacts created to change or intensify our eye colour. Halloween, theatrical and also various other special-effect contact lenses additionally are considered cosmetic lenses. A contact lens prescription is required for cosmetic contacts even if you have no refractive errors that need correction and your lenses have no power, so to speak.
All of these lenses can be tailored for hard-to-fit eyes. Other lens designs also are offered– consisting of lenses developed for usage in special scenarios, such as remedying for keratoconus.
More Contact lenses features
Bifocal contact lenses are fit for astigmatism. These are innovative soft contacts that correct both presbyopia as well as astigmatism, so you can remain glasses-free after age 40 even if you have astigmatism.
Contacts for dry eyes: Are your contacts annoyingly dry? Certain soft contact lenses are specifically made to lower the risk of contact lens-related dry eye symptoms.
Coloured lenses: Many of the types of lenses described above additionally can be found in colours that can enhance the natural colour of your eyes – that is, make your natural eyes even greener, as an example. Various other coloured lenses can completely change the colour of our eyes, as in, from brownish to blue.
Special-effect lenses: Also called theatrical, novelty, or costume lenses, special-effect contacts take pigmentation one step further to make you look like a stylish person, a vampire, or any other character of your selection.
Prosthetic lenses: Coloured contact lenses also can be used for more clinically oriented functions. Opaque disposable lenses called prosthetic contacts can be custom-made for an eye that has actually been disfigured by injury or disease to mask the disfigurement as well as match the appearance of the other, untouched eye.
Custom lenses: If conventional contact lenses don’t appear to benefit you, you may be a candidate for custom contact lenses that are made-to-order for your personal eye shape and also visual needs and therefore are called custom from customised to your special needs.
UV-inhibiting lenses: Some soft contact lenses help protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays that can trigger cataracts as well as other eye issues, just like goggles or coloured eyeglasses. Yet since contacts do not cover your entire eye, you still should use UV-blocking sunglasses outdoors for the best defence from the sun.
Scleral lenses: Large-diameter gas permeable lenses called scleral calls are specially made to deal with keratoconus and also various other corneal abberations, along with presbyopia. Myopia control contacts: Unique contact lenses are being developed to slow down or stop the progression of near-sightedness in kids.
Which contact lenses are appropriate for you?
There are a number of aspects that can influence which contact lenses are best for you:
1. The contact lenses should deal with the problem that is prompting you to put on lenses to begin with. Your contact lenses should provide excellent vision by fixing your myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or some mix of those vision issues.
2. The lenses need to fit your eyes. To do that, lenses are available in tens of thousands of combinations of size as well as curvature. Of course, not every lens brand will certainly have the measurement you need.
3. You may have a unique requirement that drives the choice of lenses. For example, your optometrist may recommend a certain type of contact lens if your eyes have a tendency to be dry.
4. Consider your “shopping list” of contact lens attributes – colours, for instance, or overnight wear.
Consult your optometrist to determine the most effective contact lens material and design for your specific needs.
Contact lens wear and care
Caring for your contact lenses – cleansing, disinfecting as well as storing them – is quite simple.
Many people need just a solitary multi-purpose solution to clean, sanitize and safely keep their lenses.
People that are sensitive to the preservatives in multi-purpose solutions may need preservative-free systems, such as those including hydrogen peroxide.
Your ophthalmologist will recommend a lens care system. Make sure to follow the care directions very carefully.
Obviously, you can prevent lens care entirely by putting on daily disposable contact lenses.
Contact lens issues
If you experience discomfort or poor vision when putting on contact lenses, chances are that a replacement or change of lens can help.
Today, even more contact lens choices than ever before are available to give comfort, excellent vision, as well as healthy eyes. If your eyes or lenses are uncomfortable or you are not able to see comfortably, replace your lenses and also consult your ophthalmologist immediately.
Purchasing Contact lenses
When you have a valid contact lens prescription, you can buy replacement contact lenses at many places, and also some offer a far better value than others.