Contact Lens Types

Finding the right contact lenses

Compared to the drastically limited options available when contact lenses first appeared on the market, anyone buying them today will have a wealth of choices. Modern contact lenses can be used to correct a wide range of vision problems; but nowadays there are also colored contact lenses and special effects lenses available as both non-prescription and corrective contacts.

The kind of corrective or prescription lenses your eye care professional recommends may depend on the type of vision problem you have:

• Spherical lenses are used to correct myopia (near-sightedness) and hyperopia (far-sightedness).
• Astigmatism (distortion in the curvature of the cornea or lens) can be corrected with toric lenses.
• Contact lenses to correct presbyopia (the inability to focus on close objects, caused by aging) include bifocal , multi-focal and monovision contacts.

Choosing the right contact lenses also involves evaluating the pros and cons of soft contact lenses, the most popular option, and rigid, gas-permeable lenses. There are also different replacement options to keep in mind. Some daily-wear lenses can be worn for an indefinite period, but disposable contact lenses must be replaced at regular intervals - every few months, monthly, every one to two weeks or daily.

Recently, a few manufacturers have brought back extended-wear contacts, allowing people to leave their lenses in while they sleep. Some can only be worn for six consecutive days, but other lenses are designed for 30 days of continuous wear. Orthokeratology lenses are actually designed to correct your vision while you sleep, by reshaping the eye to give you clear vision throughout the following day. Specialty contact lenses can also be used to treat other eye conditions, including keratoconus and eye disfigurement.

It’s important to consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist when considering contact lenses. A contact lens is considered a medical device, so the lenses should be fitted professionally and you will need to have the right prescription. After that you may decide to get your lenses directly from your eye doctor or an optician, but you can also turn to chain optical stores or the optical area of a major department store. You might also search for the best value online and order your lenses from a web-based contact lens retailer.