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August 02, 2006

An Introduction to Contact Lenses

Today, contact lenses are as much for vision as they are for fashion. Giving wearers the ability to change eye color and design in literally the blink of an eye, contact lenses are no longer only for the nearsighted. But before you run out and purchase a pair sporting your favorite team's emblem you need to carefully consider all that is involved in this seemingly harmless decision.

To wear or not to wear...

Whether to wear contact lenses or not is a big decision and it's one that should be well thought out. This type of cosmetic enhancement, while beneficial in most cases, can lead to the onset of serious eye and vision trouble if maintenance guidelines are not strictly adhered to. It's not that contact lenses require a considerable or complicated amount of maintenance, but ensuring that the lenses are properly cleaned and stored does take a few minutes, every single time the lenses are worn.

A few minutes of work sounds like an acceptable trade-off for not having to deal with the awkwardness or cumbersome nature of wearing eyeglasses and it is. Contact lenses that fit right and that enhance a person's vision can really change a person's life for the better. The problem for contact lens wearers lies in the realization that cleaning and storage, those 2 critical contact lens maintenance issues, generally take place before going to bed, a time when contact lens wearers are usually most tired. For some, the tendency to 'skip' these steps in exchange for an earlier arrival into bed is just too good a temptation to pass up, and that decision is what leads to trouble.

Fortunately, those individuals have options. They can opt for disposable or extended wear contact lenses, both of which are designed to be maintenance-free. Wearers simply toss the lenses into the garbage and pop in a new pair when the recommended wearing period has lapsed.

Requirements for wearing contact lenses

There are only a few requirements for wearing contact lenses, the most important of which is the willingness to properly care for them. From there, a person must have a vision problem that contact lenses are able to correct. Even if being used for aesthetic purposes, individuals still need to be properly fitted which requires a prescription.

Tremendous improvements have been made to contact lenses since they first appeared on the market, and new technologies have expanded the number and type of vision problems that can benefit from corrective lenses. But still, not every vision problem can be corrected. That's why the first step is to visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist to get a complete eye exam including a contact lens fitting.

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That session is what will determine whether or not someone is a good candidate for contact lenses. Dry eye and age (maturity level) are some issues that might make a person a less viable candidate. The eye examination will also assist in determining the most beneficial type of lens so that a proper prescription can be written. With prescription in hand, the rest is fairly easy.

Posted by Vision at 12:13 PM | Comments (0)

August 01, 2006

Colored Contact Lenses

Changing your eye color to match your mood or your outfit with colored contact lenses has never been easier! They are a great fashion accessory and even if you don't need them for vision correction, that doesn't matter. You can still get colored contact lenses in an assortment of vibrant colors.

Right now it's estimated that only a small percentage of contact lens wearers realize they're good candidates for colored contact lenses. Most don't realize that there's been an explosion of availability and that now almost every contact lens prescription is available in practically every standard color option. And even when people do realize this, many are hesitant to give colored contact lenses a try. But don't worry. The color change can be subtle or it can be dramatic and that's part of the fun of wearing them.

Even though you may not need them to correct your vision, if you want colored contact lenses you will have to visit an eye doctor to obtain a prescription. A prescription for contacts that doesn't include vision correction is called a plano prescription. This type of prescription measures the width and the curvature of the eye and will insure that the contact lenses fit properly. If they don't fit right you'll know in a moment because the pain will be persistent and irritating.

Unfortunately, there's a belief among wearers of colored contact lenses that because a pair lacks vision correction it's okay to share the contact lenses with others. This is wrong! Under no circumstances is it ever a good idea to share contact lenses so don't. Not only might they be the wrong size and cause discomfort, if they haven't been cleaned, the other person likely will introduce harmful bacteria into the eyes which can cause irritation and other eye problems.

Within the world of colored contact lenses you'll find many options and it's important to understand what these options are. For example, opaque colored lenses are absolutely necessary when a person wants to completely change eye color. Colored lenses are actually tinted, and besides changing color you'll find other types of tints, some of which aren't necessarily designed to change eye color.

One of the benefits of a visibility tint is that the tint makes the lenses easier to handle by making them easier to see. Clear contacts can end up anywhere when they're dropped and they'll be invisible and nearly impossible to find. But the colored tint on the lens will help pinpoint their location. Enhancement tints have a deeper tint that will enhance and intensify a person's eye color.

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Lenses that are coated with UV/UB protection tints are preferred among those who participate in outdoor sports. The tints help to reduce glare which improves vision and hopefully the game. And speaking of sun protection, there is a brand of colored contact lenses that darken to a color that resembles that of sunglass lenses when exposed to light. Once inside, the color transitions back into clear.

Posted by Vision at 12:15 PM | Comments (0)