If you opt to wear contact lenses, a new pair will need to be purchased every day. Your optometrist can assist in selecting soft or hard lenses to best fit your eyes, but there may also be multifocal options that allow for distance vision. Read the following article to learn more about the options available and tips for regular care to extend the life of your next pair.
Comfort
Contact lenses are thin plastic or glass discs designed to sit directly on your cornea to correct vision. There are two types: soft lenses (which hold more water) and rigid gas permeable lenses. Soft contacts tend to be more comfortable, and can either be daily disposables or extended-wear lenses replaced at intervals prescribed by an eye doctor. No matter which lenses you opt for, proper care must be taken for maximum results and comfort.
Your tears provide essential moisture for the eyes, and contact lenses rely on this moisture for proper positioning and pliableness. However, if your tear chemistry is off balance or blinking frequently enough to leave the tears quickly evaporating away leaving dry, irritated eyes behind – this could be due to allergies, imbalanced tear chemistry or simply being on a computer all day at work and not blinking as frequently.
Rewetting drops may help alleviate this discomfort; otherwise, speak to your eye doctor who may suggest other solutions such as different brands of lenses or eyeglasses to address it.
Reckless handling and cleaning of contact lenses is also a source of discomfort, so always wash your hands with soap and water prior to handling them. Also be wary about using cosmetics or creams on your hands which might get into, around, or under the lens and cause irritation; and avoid hair spray which contains aerosol that coats the lens causing an uncomfortable sensation.
No one should sleep with contacts in, as your tears won’t be able to carry enough oxygen to your eye while asleep and this could result in eye infections or cornea damage. No matter whether they are daily disposables or extended wear lenses, keeping them clean and replacing them on schedule as recommended by an eye doctor are of equal importance.
Durability
Your eye care professional will recommend a schedule for wearing contacts daily or extended wear. Be sure to write this down on the packaging, and strictly abide by it so as to prevent deposits that could potentially cause corneal damage and decrease vision.
Before removing your contact lens, first make sure your hands are clean by washing with tap water and soap to eliminate any residue left from lotions or cleaners that might have come into contact with them. Next, soak the lens in contact solution until its shape returns and it becomes soft to the touch; finally remove from your eye and rinse in with solution to clean before storing in its case.
Daily disposables offer the easiest and safest method of contact lens care, requiring only be disposing of each night after use and bringing home again in the morning. This reduces any chance of accidental cleaning mishaps leading to eye infections as well as decreasing the need for carrying around a contact lens case with you.
Appearance
According to this article, eye color says much about who we are, and choosing contacts with subtle or bold hues can send out powerful signals about what sort of person we are. You have various styles available from subtle tinted lenses with tints to lighten or darken your iris color to those that completely change it and even make them appear larger or smaller than they actually are.
Colored contacts come in an assortment of shades from brown to blue. Some offer transparency that lets your natural eye color show through while others completely cover it up. There are even special tints designed specifically to improve visibility; for instance if you wear contacts for sports purposes then opting for one with a “sports tint” could deflect glare and enhance depth perception.
The best color for your eyes depends on a number of factors, including your skin tone, hair color and eye color. People with warm-toned skin typically look best with brown or honey-colored contacts while those with cool-toned skin often benefit from gray or blue lenses. You should test lenses in different lighting conditions to see which ones look better – low lighting may alter how they appear than bright light conditions.
Solotica contacts offer a large selection of colors and styles, and have earned praise from celebrities, top beauty influencers and prominent publications such as NYLON and Beauty Insider for their high quality and comfort. Available without prescription for added fun without hindering vision health – but be sure to ask your doctor first and check to see if the brands are available cheaper online.
Cost
Not only should you consider the actual price of lenses, but you must also factor in maintenance costs as well. This includes costs such as solutions and cases to store them properly, which can be kept low with retailers like MisakiContacts.com or similar. Ideally, keep an ample supply of solution on hand at all times in your home and replace periodically to keep things clean and fresh. You should also ensure each pair of contacts has its own case so they do not dry out over time.
Monthly disposable contacts are generally the least costly option, yet require greater commitment in terms of cleaning and storage than daily or biweekly contacts. Furthermore, monthly disposables tend to be more prone to loss or damage and costlier overall in comparison. Annual disposables on the other hand tend to last longer with minimal costs over time.
Retailers frequently provide coupons and rebates on contacts, while many optometrists also provide their own discounts. You should always inquire about discounts when buying lenses; professional associations and membership organizations such as AARP may offer discounted contact lens pricing for members.
Before purchasing contact lenses, it is advisable to explore your eligibility for vision insurance, which could cover some or all of the cost. Otherwise, use money from either your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA). Depending on the size and budget of your employer and amount available in either account, this might even allow for enough funds for an entire year’s supply of contacts!