Contact Lenses May Be The Right Choice To Replace Your Eyeglasses

Contact lenses are worn directly on the eye and provide great freedom over eyeglasses. About 45 million people in the United States wear them. Surprisingly, there’s a large split based on sex and most users of contact lenses are female. Contacts were first introduced in the late 1930s. These were rigid, plastic lenses that were not very comfortable and difficult to adjust to. In the early 1970s, soft plastic contacts were introduced amid concerns about safety and infections. Although about one in 500 contact lens users can have a serious infection linked to their contacts, this may be related to the 40 to 90 percent of users who fail to properly care for them. Some contact lenses can even temporarily correct myopia or nearsightedness. These special lenses are worn during sleep, causing temporary, corrective changes to the shape of the cornea. Since their advent, many improvements in contact lenses have occurred, such as daily disposable lenses, which offer both greater convenience and safety.

Benefits of Using Contact Lenses

Because they sit directly on the eye's surface, contacts provide much more natural vision than glasses do. In fact, some people with moderate astigmatism may actually see better with contacts as opposed to eyeglasses. Astigmatism is a common condition in which the eyeball is irregularly shaped at some point or points. This can result in fuzzy, distorted vision. For people with higher degrees of myopia or nearsightedness, contacts provide clear vision without the need for eyeglasses with relatively heavy corrective convex lenses. The same is true for hyperopia or farsightedness.

Some people feel self-conscious when wearing glasses, even though there is no need for this. However, for them, contacts may help with self-esteem. Contacts can also provide a fun fashion statement by changing eye color or even producing special effects like glitter or stars for a festive occasion. Contacts don't slip down the nose or become uncomfortable in hot weather. They don't collect dust, sweat or skin oils that are annoying and interfere with vision. Contacts provide full side vision.

The Downside of Wearing Contacts

Contact lenses offer many advantages over eyeglasses, however, they are not for everyone. An eye infection, keratitis, is linked to contact lens wear. Contact lenses are typically more expensive. They must be properly cared for. Although the risk is low with proper care and attention to hygiene, eye infections are always a possibility. Contact lenses may not be comfortable for someone with low tear production. Unless they are intended for extended wear, contact lenses only provide clear vision for about 12 hours at a time, at most, then glasses will still be necessary. Great improvements in contact lenses have occurred since they were first introduced, but a prevailing problem is still the issue of blocking oxygen from the surface of the eye. However, today's contact lenses are thinner and more permeable than ever.

Contact lenses must be inserted into the eye. This requires some training, although it's not hard to learn. However, some people have a great deal of difficulty overcoming the natural blink reflex long enough to insert the lens.

Popular Contact Lens Brands

There are many lenses that are popular and provide good products. Some of the best include: 

• Dailies - These soft disposable lenses feature many options, such as colors, multifocal and toric lenses for astigmatism. They contain special moisturizers continuously activated by the blinking reflex for greater comfort throughout the day. The lenses eliminate edge distortion with special technology.
• Air Optix - These lenses allow for greater oxygen permeability, leading to healthier eyes and greater comfort. They're safe to wear during sleep, too.
• Acuvue - This is the most popular brand on the market today. They offer daily wear, weekly and monthly extended wear lenses. Acuvue has lenses for astigmatism, multifocal needs and presbyopia and more.
• Soflens - This is an older brand that is still going strong. The lenses provide great visual clarity and comfort. They're available in toric, multifocal and daily wear disposables.
• Biofinity - These comfortable lenses are available in multifocal and toric styles, among others. The Aquaform technology maintains lens moisture and allows oxygen to flow through it. The extended wear version allows for up to seven days and six nights of continuous wear.