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There are a few basic types of contact lenses which are available to the public, the first of which is the hard contact lens. These are made from a strong polymer plastic and are easy to keep clean since they don’t absorb foreign material from either the eye or the environment. As a result of the firmness of the product, however, they can take time to adjust to and shouldn’t be left in the eyes overnight. This will cause the cornea to become oxygen deprived – and the cornea needs oxygen flow to remain healthy. Vision is usually crisper with this type of contact lens, as opposed to the softer variety of lenses.
Another common type is the soft contact lens. These are made from a softer plastic – called hydrogel – which makes them more comfortable to wear, but are less durable than those of the hard lens line. The water content in soft contact lenses is higher than that of the hard lens - from 25% to 79% - allowing a better flow of oxygen to the cornea. Due to the fact that the material is highly porous, infections and eye irritation are more common. This happens when dust, protein and bacteria cause contamination of the lenses, which are pressed against the surface of the cornea.
Gas permeable contact lenses are more rigid than the soft lenses, but are made of the type of plastic that allows oxygen to reach the cornea and are easier to take care of, insert and remove than the softer version. This type of contact lens correct most vision problems and are now approved for extended wear.
Due to the nature of contact lenses and the fact that they cover a portion of the eye, there are specific care instructions that should be heeded, regardless of the type of material from which they’re constructed. In addition to washing and drying your hands before handling contact lenses, you should also be sure to insert and remove them correctly; only apply make-up (carefully) after contacts have been inserted; use the specific solutions that your doctor has recommended; avoid rubbing your eyes while contact lenses are being worn; don’t place your contact lenses on a warm surface, since they may melt; avoid wearing contacts when under a hair dryer or around harsh chemical fumes; don’t use saliva to moisten contacts for insertion; and avoid inserting contact lenses without disinfecting them. These and many other guidelines will keep your eyes healthy and prolong the life of your contacts.
To most, the debate would seem to be an almost eternal one which people have been trying to sort out for ages. Some people claim regular eye glasses are better than contact lenses and some are on the other side of the war claiming that contacts are much better than eye glasses any day. Well to be fair and unbiased, the thing is that both contact lenses and eye glasses have their advantages and disadvantages and finding what exactly you're looking for all depends on what your needs and circumstances are. Eyesight is rather important and for those who are visually impaired to some extent, seeing properly and clearly is what is required to determine what a suitable solution for their condition is and what is not.
When it comes to contact lenses, there are a lot of advantages and this fact is probably the reason why most people despite the argument, seem to prefer them over regular eye glasses. The whole reason why eye contact lenses were invented in the first place was to be a replacement for eye glasses. Unlike glasses contact lenses tend to allow for a wider field of vision which is almost the same if not somewhat better than that of those with regular eye sight. The smaller and more stylish eye glasses are, the lesser the field of vision that they provide.
Contact lenses also provide the opportunity for those wearing them to see things much more naturally, the lens is placed directly over the cornea so everything looks the right size and nothing seems out of place. These lenses also work wonders in some sports when they can be worn without being displaced, special glasses have to be worn for those who want to participate in sporting events and who are visually impaired. When you wear contact lenses you need not be bothered about all this.
Some people think that eye glasses have no advantage over eye contact lenses but this impression is rather erroneous and glasses have a lot of advantages which contact lenses do not have. Some people actually recommend keeping a pair of glasses around in case and individual has problems with their contact lenses in an area where glasses prove much more proficient and reliable.
The first obvious advantage about glasses is that you simply put them on. Unlike contact lenses there is no need for advance preparation and all the wiping and disinfecting that goes into preparing to wear contact lenses. This also doesn't go to include the disconcerting habit of having to put a finger in the eye. Sometimes when you're in a rush, you just can't afford this process.
Certain individuals tend to have allergies which mean they cannot wear eye contact lenses and in certain seasons wearing contact lenses might prove to be a serious problem so having glasses on hand to switch to when this is an issue, is a rather preferable situation at this juncture. Sometimes contact lenses are simply just not available and their wearers can benefit by having a pair of glasses on hand to help them out in their time of need.