Now it's easy to order the perfect contact lenses online at a great discount. In the U.S. contact lens marketplace 82 percent wear soft lenses, 16 percent wear rigid gas-permeable and only 2 percent wear hard. Before you buy contact lenses from anyone other than your eye care professional, it pays to be a wise consumer.

Contact lens wearers are usually surprised and happy with the level of comfort that lenses provide. All correcting contact lenses must have a valid prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Extra-thin soft lenses are on the market for very sensitive people. Rigid lenses generally give you more clear vision. Bifocal correction is possible with both soft and rigid lenses.

Although easier to handle and less likely to tear, rigid gas permeable lenses are not as comfortable initially as soft contacts and it may take a few weeks to get used to wearing the RGPs, compared to just a few days for soft contacts. Keep in mind contact lenses are often more complex than it appears. There are also a few rigid gas permeable lenses that are designed and approved for overnight wear.

Disposable lenses don't come with instructions for cleaning and disinfecting, while those labeled specifically for planned replacement do. Rigid gas permeable lenses tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft lenses. There are two general categories of contact lenses - soft and rigid gas permeable.

Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are more durable, resistant to deposit buildup, and generally give a clearer, crisper vision. The expiration date for your prescription is currently set by your state requiring a one-year or two-year renewal; if your state hasn't set a minimum expiration date, government regulation sets a one-year date unless your eye doctor determines there's a medical reason for less than one year.

Make sure you have a current, valid prescription when you order contact lenses. Buy your contact lenses from a supplier you're familiar with and know is reliable or has name familiarity Compare prices - get quotes from two or three online and offline suppliers.

When you place your contact lens order, request the manufacturer's written patient information for your contact lenses; it'll give you important risk and benefit information as well as instructions for use. Rebates may be available from the seller, from the manufacturer, for first-time contact lens wearers and for individuals who buy lenses and get an eye exam. Wherever you buy, shop for quality and value and don't forget you want to do what's best for your eye health.

Always ask what rebates are available. Beware of attempts to substitute a brand different from the one you want when buying contacts. Check out how long the online supplier has been in business before you buy.

The use of homemade saline made by using salt tablets mixed in water is one of the biggest contributors to Acanthamoeba keratitis in contact lens wearers: the FDA no longer condones the use of salt tablets. Don't wear lenses any longer than they're prescribed for, nor when sleeping unless you are otherwise directed. Extended-wear rigid lenses can cause unexpected, undesirable, reshaping of the cornea.

Under the binding down of a rigid contact lens during sleep, the flow of tears and oxygen to the cornea is reduced; lack of oxygen leaves the eye vulnerable to infection. To be sure your eyes remain healthy you shouldn't order lenses with a prescription that's expired or stock up on lenses right before the prescription is about to expire; it's much safer to be re-checked by your eye doctor. Getting a proper fit is essential; contact lenses that are poorly fitted can lead to eyesores, eye inflammation, and eye abrasions.

Laser surgery and its risks can be frightening and too expensive for some people; contacts can provide a safe, comfortable and time-tested alternative. Shopping for contacts online will save you a lot of money; contact lenses are deeply discounted. It's becoming easier and easier all the time to shop online and often the shipping is free.