Contact lenses are a curved plastic piece that fits directly over the cornea to correct vision impairments. Vision problems improved with contacts include farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism, bifocal needs and vision distortion. According to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, over 24 million people in the U.S. wear contact lenses. Contact lenses come in hard, soft or gas-permeable forms. Patients choose the style of lenses according to individual lifestyle, comfort, activity level, cost. Most optometrists recommend taking all contact lenses out at night regardless of style. Both adults and children can wear contact lenses.
Care For Your Contacts
Contact lenses require simple maintenance. Always wash your hands with soap before handling contacts. Always clean the lenses after wear to prevent infections. Use the manufacturer's recommended cleaning solution and not water, saliva or homemade solutions. If you wear disposable contact lenses, do not wear them repeatedly but dispose of them as scheduled. All styles come with specific guidelines that are recommended for optimal eye health.
Supporters of Contacts
Supporters of contact lenses praise the flexibility, look and low maintenance of contacts over traditional eye glasses. Contact lenses do not contain the facial appearance that eye glasses do. Eyeglasses also come in a variety of styles and colors that may not compliment all clothing when worn. Contacts are invisible and do not hide the face. People who wear glasses know that sudden changes of temperature causes temporary fogging of the lens. Contacts do not fog up. Contacts are not affected by wind or rain. Wearing glasses on a windy or rainy day require frequent touching or wiping. Wearers of contact lenses can change eye colors or wear fashionable non-prescription sunglasses. Athletes love the freedom of focused vision without the worry of broken eye wear.
What Your Optometrist Says About Contacts
Optometrists point out a number of benefits to patients when making the decision of what prescription eye wear to choose. Contact lenses are worn directly on the cornea so all vision fields are addressed. Driving, reading or continuous looking up, down or side to side, benefits from direct eye wear. Because of direct placement on the eye, vision is never distorted. Wearing glasses may cause distortion at times because of the distance the lens is from the eye. Contact lenses are an affordable option for vision correction.
As with any prescription, contact wearers should contact their optometrist if they experience any symptoms of painful, scratchy or red eyes, discharge from the eyes or blurry vision.
Stephanie Radabaugh - I love to incorporate my professional experience, education and love for research in each piece of my writing.
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