You’ve decided to get rid of your clumsy glasses for a pair of contacts. Maybe you are doing it for cosmetic reasons or you are doing it because you have an active lifestyle. No matter what the reasons, contacts have happily transformed the lives of many people who don’t have perfect vision.
Contacts correct the same vision problems that glasses do such as farsightedness and nearsightedness. They also correct such problems as astigmatism and presbyopia.
It’s important to know that contacts are similar to glasses were you are required to get a prescription written before you can purchase them. So an eye examine is first needed before an eye doctor can prescribe a pair for you. Your doctor will suggest the type of contact lenses you may wear. He will also show you how to clean your lenses as well as have you practice putting them on and taking them off.
There are variations of two types of contact lenses: hard and soft.
Hard contact lenses are stiff and don’t need to be replaced as often as soft lenses. Contrary to what you might imagine, hard contacts are comfortable for many people.
Soft contacts are flexible and the claim is that it is more comfortable than hard contacts. However, they can be bothersome if they get oily or dry.
Sometimes you can’t easy see which side of the contact belongs on the surface of your eyes. Manufacturers have added numbers, such as “123” to help you know if you are wearing them correctly.
Soft contacts are usually disposable and come in daily wear, weekly and extended. There are vial contacts that come to you new in a vial and they are good for up to one year of use.
With the extended versions, you can keep them in your eyes even while you sleep. However, there’s the possibility of developing an eye infection if they become dirty. It’s a good idea to clean them daily to avoid going back to wearing your backup pair of glasses.
To keep your contacts clear and to avoid the possibility of an eye infection, there are cleaning solutions available. Your eye doctor will show what products to use which you can purchase over the counter.
Owning contacts does require an investment in the contact lenses themselves, along with purchasing cleaning solutions and rewetting agents or saline solutions to keep your eyes moist throughout the day. To offset the costs involved there are established and reliable vendors online who can deliver them at a discount. Once you show off your new pair and experience the positive reaction you get from people you know and don’t know, you may never decide to wear those clumsy glasses again.