Contact lenses are placed directly onto your cornea to aid with some sort of eye problem. This may be for corrective, therapeutic or cosmetic purposes. They do the same thing as glasses but are pretty much invisible. Over 100 million people use contact lenses worldwide.
The first contact lenses were made from glass and were not comfortable at all. Modern lenses are made from either polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or rigid gas permeable polymers (RGP). The former are known as ‘hard’ lenses, the latter as ‘gas permeable’ lenses. Hard lenses don’t allow oxygen through to the cornea, which can cause problems if they are not removed regularly. However they generally provide better viewing characteristics than other types of lens. When you see an optician they will advise on the best option for you. Newer lens types are also becoming available, called ‘silicone hydrogels’. These combine both hard & soft lens characteristics.
Contact lenses need careful maintenance otherwise they may not work correctly and feel uncomfortable. One such maintenance product is a daily cleaner, which cares for both hard and gas permeable lenses. These contact solutions provide moisturising relief from dryness and irritation associated with lens wear. It is also important to wear your contact lenses only for as long as advised. Some must be taken off before sleeping while others can be worn for a week or more.
In comparison to glasses, lenses are less affected by wet weather, do not steam up, and provide a wider field of vision. They also don’t affect how you look, whereas glasses completely change the make-up of your face.