If you wear glasses and are thinking about trying contact lenses, there are many things to consider. Surely you're aware of some of the benefits of wearing contacts, such as freedom from bulky glasses as well as better peripheral vision. You may be a bit nervous about inserting contact lenses or even about care and maintenance. Before you worry about those details, you should learn a bit about the different types of contact lens options available to you. Educating yourself about the different lenses that are currently in the marketplace will put you one step ahead. Below is an overview about some of the different lenses that your optician may prescribe for you. Arm yourself with the following information before going to your eye doctor and you'll be in a much better position to come out with what's best for you.
Toric Lenses
Toric lenses are designed to have the effect of a cylindrical lens, usually in combination with the effect of a spherical lens. Toric lenses are typically used by nearsighted and farsighted people who also have astigmatism. Usually, these people have been told they are not suitable for regular contact lenses, but may be able to use toric lenses. If one of your eyes has astigmatism and the other does not, you may be told to use a spherical lens in one eye and a toric lens in the other. Toric lenses are made from the same materials as regular contact lenses but have a few notable differences. Some of these differences include:
- They are not symmetrical and may contain a specific 'top' and 'bottom' - They must be designed to maintain their orientation - They correct for both cylindrical aberration and spherical aberration - They may be a bit more expensive and are generally intended for extended wear
Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses were introduced in the late 1970's. While rigid gas permeable lenses (or RGP's) are more rigid or firm than soft contact lenses, they mustn't be confused with the old style of 'hard' contact lenses, which are no longer used. Most rigid gas permeable lenses incorporate silicone, which is oxygen permeable. Essentially, what this means is that oxygen can physically pass through the lenses and reach your eyes. Rigid gas permeable lenses typically last longer than soft contact lenses. They may also provide better vision, durability and deposit resistance. RGP's can be easier to clean and due to their long-lasting quality may prove to be cheaper in the long run.
Vial Lenses
Vial contact lenses are basically rigid gas permeable lens that are designed to be worn for up to a year. Vial lenses must be removed, cleaned and sterilized on a nightly basis. Vial lenses can be both soft or rigid. The main difference between vial lenses and other types of contact lenses lies in the amount of time that one pair of lenses will last. Though daily wear contact lenses and disposable lenses have grown in popularity, may people still prefer the durability of rigid gas permeable vial lenses. Vial lenses last a long time and are said to provide excellent vision correction. On the other hand, they tend to be thicker than disposable lenses and can take a while to get used to.
The Choice is Yours
Now that you know a bit more about some of the different types of available contact lenses, you'll be better equipped to make decisions about your vision care. Make sure to consult with your doctor about your lifestyle and specific vision problems to further help you determine which lenses are best for you.
Always buy from a reputable company; you can buy discount contact lenses without a prescription, but the company is selling you a prescription device as if it were an over-the-counter device, in violation of FTC regulations - selling you lenses without having a prescription from you. All correcting contact lenses must have a valid prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Ophthalmologists (M.D. or D.O.) are eye surgeons who study and treat eye diseases and can also perform the duties of optometrists; optometrists (O.D.) examine eyes, diagnose and treat vision problems, and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses and in most states they also can prescribe medicine; opticians grind and dispense eyeglasses and in some states dispense contact lenses.
You'll want to take simple precautions to make any lens purchase safe and effective. Before you buy contact lenses from anyone other than your eye care professional, it pays to be a wise consumer.
The length of continuous lens wear depends on the lens type and your doctor's evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. Soft lenses have the added benefit in that soft lenses aren't as likely as rigid lenses to pop out or get foreign material like dust underneath. Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels to provide more oxygen to your eyes.
There are several types of lenses including: soft contact lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, extended wear lenses and disposables. It's important for your eyes to have a rest, without lenses, for at least one night following each scheduled removal. Rigid lenses generally give you more clear vision.
Extra-thin soft lenses are on the market for very sensitive people. There are two general categories of contact lenses - soft and rigid gas permeable. Some doctors prescribe disposables as planned-replacement lenses, which are removed, disinfected, and reused before being discarded.
Rigid lenses don't absorb chemicals, unlike soft lenses which will soak up residue from your hands like soap or lotion. Extended wear lenses are usually soft contact lenses; made of flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea.
Get a feel for how the retailer handles customer service calls; in case you have a problem after your order arrives. Carefully check to make sure the company gives you the exact brand you ordered, the name of the lens, the power, sphere, cylinder, if any, axis, if any, diameter base curve, and peripheral curves, if any. Buy your contact lenses from a supplier you're familiar with and know is reliable or has name familiarity
Wherever you buy, shop for quality and value and don't forget you want to do what's best for your eye health. You can buy contact lenses from an eye doctor, on the Internet, from an optical store or a warehouse club. There are many good contact lens retailers now on the Internet making their lenses available at a good discount for prescription and non-prescription lenses.
If you have an insurance plan, the insurance plan's seller's prices may or may not be better than what you can find elsewhere; this should be just one option when you're shopping for lenses. When you place your order make sure your lenses are available and not out of stock, because you'll need them now. Compare prices - get quotes from two or three online and offline suppliers.
One sight-threatening concern is the infection Acanthamoeba keratitis, which is caused by improper lens care; this difficult-to-treat parasitic infection's symptoms are similar to those of corneal ulcers. Extended-wear rigid lenses can cause unexpected, undesirable, reshaping of the cornea. If your eyes become red or irritated, remove the lenses immediately and consult with your doctor.
Replace your contacts as recommended by your eye doctor because they wear out as time goes by. When the eyes are open, tears carry adequate oxygen to the cornea to keep it healthy, but during sleep, the eye produces fewer tears, causing the cornea to swell. Soft extended-wear lenses bind down on the closed eye, but they are porous and allow some tears through during sleep; because they have so little form, their binding has very little effect on the shape of the eye.
Make sure to visit a reputable eye doctor for a complete eye examination once a year, or more frequently if needed. Laser surgery and its risks can be frightening and too expensive for some people; contacts can provide a safe, comfortable and time-tested alternative. Make sure you've done your homework before you buy any pair of contact lenses.
Both Amy Nutt & Helen Hecker are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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