Now it's easy to order the perfect contact lenses online at a great discount. Contact lens sales are regulated by the FDA (Food And Drug Administration) and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission.) Among the many kinds of contact lenses you can buy are: novelty, colored, crazy, Halloween, special effects, theatrical, costume, scary, glow in the dark, wild eyes, mirrored, black, white, and red.

You'll want to take simple precautions to make any lens purchase safe and effective. There are 75 million contact lens wearers worldwide and 31 million in the U.S. alone.

If you live an active lifestyle, NIGHT & DAY breathable lenses will allow you 30 hours of continuous wear. Disposable lenses don't come with instructions for cleaning and disinfecting, while those labeled specifically for planned replacement do. Extended wear contact lenses are used for overnight or continuous wear ranging from one to six nights or up to 30 days.

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. The length of continuous lens wear depends on the lens type and your doctor's evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. Bifocal correction is possible with both soft and rigid lenses.

Rigid gas permeable lenses tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft lenses. Keep in mind that contact lenses are often more complex than it appears. People who have good distance vision but need help for reading can get a monovision reading lens for one eye.

Rigid lenses generally give you more clear vision. You can mark rigid lenses to show which lens is for which eye; they don't rip or tear, so they're easy to handle.

Ask about prices at your doctor's office when you have your eye examination, or during a follow-up visit after you get your prescription. You can buy contact lenses from an eye doctor, on the Internet, from an optical store or a warehouse club. 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.

Preferably buy your contact lenses from a supplier you're familiar with and know is reliable or has name familiarity. When you place your order make sure your lenses are available and not out of stock, because you'll need them now. Before you buy online, check to see if there are any testimonials at the online supplier's website.

Compare prices - get quotes from two or three online and offline suppliers. 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. Beware of attempts to substitute a brand different from the one you want when buying contacts.

Don't wear lenses any longer than they're prescribed for, nor when sleeping unless you are otherwise directed. The FDA has approved extended-wear lenses for use up to seven days before removal for cleaning; but there are risks with use of extended-wear lenses even for one night. Basic rule: never swap your contact lenses with anyone else.

Microorganisms may be present in distilled water, so always use commercial sterile saline solutions, if you plan to use enzyme tablets in water for disinfections. 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. Extended-wear rigid lenses can cause unexpected, undesirable, reshaping of the cornea.

Make sure you've done your homework before you buy any pair of contact lenses. Ordering discount contact lenses online has never been simpler with, and sometimes without, a credit card. If you prefer the way you look without glasses or find glasses to be cumbersome and awkward, contacts can provide the ease, convenience and comfort you need.