Contact lenses are thin, curved plastic disks designed to cover the cornea, the clear front covering of the eye. Contacts cling to the film of tears over the cornea because of surface tension, the same force that causes a drop of water to cling to the side of a glass. Contacts provide a safe and effective way to correct vision when used with care and proper supervision. They can offer a good alternative to eyeglasses, depending on your eyes and your lifestyle. Over 24 million people in the United States now wear contact lenses.
Reasons To Consider Contact Lenses
• Contact lenses move with your eye, allow a natural field of view, have no frames to obstruct your vision and greatly reduce distortions.
• They do not fog up, like glasses, nor do they get splattered by mud or rain.
• Contact lenses do not get in the way of your activities.
• Many people feel they look better in contact lenses.
• Contact lenses, compared to eyeglasses, generally offer better sight.
Rigid contact lenses have been available for a much longer period than soft contact lenses, although many improvements have been made over this time in allowing more oxygen to pass through the rigid material so the eye beneath the lens can remain in good health. They are less than a centimeter across, covering the pupil (the black part) of the eye, with the edges resting on the iris (the colored part of the eye). They take longer to get used to initially due to their rigid structure, but are better in correcting the refractive error of more irregular shaped eyes. Despite a reduction in the number of rigid lenses being fitted, some practitioners believe they provide a more healthy option for the eyes for long-term full-time wear than soft contact lenses. They are worn during the day only and being more durable than soft lenses last for approximately one year. They take a little longer to get used to than soft lenses, but regular wearers find them comfortable.
The most recent types of soft contact lenses to hit the market include:
• Daily Disposables. These soft contact lenses are only worn for one day and then thrown away. The benefits include not having to clean your contact lenses on a regular basis, convenient replacement schedule, and reduction of dry eye and irritation related to contact solutions. If you are an allergy sufferer, these are the contact lenses for you.
• Silicone Extended Wear Disposables. These soft contact lenses are made with a new silicone hydrogel material that can be worn for up to 30 nights and days. The new silicone material also prevents deposit build up and reduces dry eye irritation.
Leave a Reply