There was a time when contact lenses were premium products prescribed only by medical specialists. People would shy away from using them thinking they were painful. Today, with research and development, one can easily pick up cheap contact lenses over the counter without batting an eyelid and without even having to visit an optician.
Contacts, as they are also known, help people immensely in their daily lives by freeing them of the awkwardness of wearing spectacles. In the reasonable category mainly soft lenses are available as semi soft and hard ones still require testing and prescription from a specialist. Most of the over the counter lenses are mass produced, user friendly, pre-numbered lenses that are gas permeable.
They also come in plenty of colors for people looking at cosmetic usage. They are affordable because that is part of their user-friendliness. Cheap need not mean that they lack in quality; in fact, most reputed companies have entered this market as it targets a mass variety of consumers.
Since they come in various pre-prepared numbers, you should know which number would suit your use best. The numbers are not precise to your requirement and you would have to settle for one closest to yours. That is okay as the difference would not be too much.
You can get your eyes checked at any optician or even your eye doctor. Of course, you do not need a prescription to purchase these types of lenses. If you already wear glasses, they could be used as a sample of what number you would need.
For sure, there would have to be clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) besides any other medical association. Avoid lenses that are not certified. They could bring harm to your eyes which could lead to complications.
These custom made lenses, ones that existed before the innovation of mass produced, pre-numbered lenses, cost substantially more as they are medically created. These have a capacity to last for at least a year, that is if you take care of them as advised by the doctor.
There are all types of cheap contact lenses. Plain, single colored, dual toned, 6 month lasting and even daily lasting ones. If you go in for the daily disposables, they will usually come in a 6 month supply pack. These are generally really very easy to use and completely tension free. You do not need to worry about maintaining them; just put them on in the morning and throw them at night! These are the ones that fly off the shelf more than any of the other varieties. Yet of course, you cannot mistreat them and then wear them as they are liable to catch bacteria or some dust which could affect your eyes.