Do You Need Contact Lens
If you're an adult and you’re struggling with your vision, you may want to try contact lenses as an alternative to glasses. If so, this blog post is for you. It covers the basics of what contact lenses are and how they work, reviews different types of contacts that exist on the market, offers some tips for fitting contact lenses at home, and discusses what kinds of eye problems might warrant a visit to your eye doctor.
What are contact lenses?
Contact lenses are a type of medical device that can be used to correct vision problems. They fit like glasses, but serve a different purpose. Typically, contact lenses are placed over the eye’s natural lens, which is made up of two clear parts that sit on top of each other inside the eye. The natural lens bends light as it passes through and focuses it on the retina at the back of the eye. In an ideal situation, this process will cause you to see clearly without requiring your eyes to work harder or making you uncomfortable. Contact lenses function in a similar way, but they sit on the eye itself.
There are two major types of contact lens: rigid and soft. Of these, rigid contacts are more common and generally easier to use. Soft contacts are curved and fit closer to the eye. Note that soft contacts should not be used by people with certain health conditions or by those who have had a recent eye injury or surgery (unless recommended by an eye doctor).
Another type of contact lens is available for those who have problems wearing regular contacts due to allergies or dry eyes. This lens is called a hydrogel, as it does not contain water but rather includes a super-hydrating agent that keeps your eyes healthy through extended wear.
There are several types of contact lenses that are available on the market today. A quick review of these categories will help you choose the most appropriate type for you.
Classic rigid contact lenses . These are the original type of lens and reflect a time when people often obtained their contact lens prescriptions from their eye doctors. They can be made of plastic or glass and can be either wet- or dry-filled. The most common brand is Acuvue Oasys, which is a solution filled version of Acuvue Moist (which we reviewed here). Both brands give great results but have different strengths and weaknesses in their overall design, which we'll discuss below.
. These are the original type of lens and reflect a time when people often obtained their contact lens prescriptions from their eye doctors. They can be made of plastic or glass and can be either wet- or dry-filled. The most common brand is Acuvue Oasys, which is a solution filled version of Acuvue Moist (which we reviewed here). Both brands give great results but have different strengths and weaknesses in their overall design, which we'll discuss below. One day disposable lenses . Also called "soft" or "daily disposables," these contacts are designed to last for just one day before they must be discarded (hence the name). They tend to be less expensive than rigid lenses that are reusable, though they can be more difficult to use because you must wear the same lens for 24 hours. These contacts are typically made of plastic and do not adjust for different degrees of nearsightedness – people with limited degrees of myopia can't use these lenses.
. Also called "soft" or "daily disposables," these contacts are designed to last for just one day before they must be discarded (hence the name). They tend to be less expensive than rigid lenses that are reusable, though they can be more difficult to use because you must wear the same lens for 24 hours. These contacts are typically made of plastic and do not adjust for different degrees of nearsightedness – people with limited degrees of myopia can't use these lenses. Air-filled lenses . These lenses require you to blow air into them so that they can be inserted into your eye. The idea is that the air will help control your lens during the initial adjustment period, so it will fit better once it's on your eye. This type of contact lens is most commonly used for people with an uncorrected prescription and those who have a hard time wearing other types of contacts, because the lens comes in a pre-cut size that is easily placed on the eye.
. These lenses require you to blow air into them so that they can be inserted into your eye. The idea is that the air will help control your lens during the initial adjustment period, so it will fit better once it's on your eye. This type of contact lens is most commonly used for people with an uncorrected prescription and those who have a hard time wearing other types of contacts, because the lens comes in a pre-cut size that is easily placed on the eye. Toric soft contact lenses . These are some of the only rigid lenses available in toric shapes – that is, which have varying strengths in different directions. Toric lenses are used to correct astigmatism, which is a common eye defect that causes the cornea to be shaped like a football rather than an oval. This can lead to blurred vision and headaches. Toric lenses are thought to help relieve symptoms of astigmatism.
. These are some of the only rigid lenses available in toric shapes – that is, which have varying strengths in different directions. Toric lenses are used to correct astigmatism, which is a common eye defect that causes the cornea to be shaped like a football rather than an oval. This can lead to blurred vision and headaches. Toric lenses are thought to help relieve symptoms of astigmatism. Multifocal contact lenses . These are lenses that can be worn for distances as well as near. They are often called "gas permeable" because they have special filters that allow certain light wavelengths to pass through and others to be blocked or reflected. It's the latter filtering process that allows your vision to be focused at different distances.
For most people, rigid contacts are an excellent choice, since they give a convenient option for daily wear with little or no additional adjustment required (they just snap on). Toric lenses may also work well for some people, providing you get a prescription that is correct for youropia but isn't too strong. If you have astigmatism, you'll definitely need to use toric lenses but be careful in your selection – some people don't get the correct fit, which causes headaches and blurred vision.
If you want multifocal contact lenses, be aware that the lenses can only focus at one distance at a time. This means that if someone is driving with these lenses on (which would require focusing very clearly on objects close to them), they won't be able to read a street sign or see an accident happening further down the road. It's certainly not impossible for someone to drive with these lenses; it's just something that people should consider before making a purchase.
Conclusion
The advent of soft contacts and toric lenses has made it easier than ever to get clear vision without going through the hassle of glasses. They can help you maintain your individuality with your choice of frames, and are comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time with little noticeable discomfort.
What's the real difference between soft and rigid lenses? Well, the soft contact lens is so named because it's designed to be worn for longer periods compared to conventional rigid lenses. Both are equally effective at correcting your vision; however, because soft contacts are more pliable, they can also be used in slightly higher prescriptions than traditional rigid contacts.
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Do You Need Contact Lens