Glasses are cool for sure. They give an undeniable edge to your look; make you stand out in a crowd if you’ve chosen an attractive frame, make you look distinguished…we could go on. But you’ll have to agree that at times, they are not a very convenient option, especially if you’re into sports. Enter: Contact Lenses.
Now, if you’re thinking of getting yourself a pair of contacts, there are a few things you must keep in mind like what are the types of lenses out there in the market, prescriptions, safekeeping of lenses, and how to never run out of lenses at an affordable price (hint: Lenskart).
First things first, if you are someone who needs vision correction of any kind, get an appointment fixed with your eye doctor at the earliest. It is advisable to get a routine eye checkup done annually or every six months, regardless of whether you’re facing vision problems or not. And if contact lenses are something you feel you need, your eye doctor would be the best professional to guide you! Read on to know about contact lenses in more detail:
Types of Contact Lenses
There are five types of contact lenses, based on type of lens material they are made of:
- Soft lenses are made from gel-like, water-containing plastics called hydrogels. The water content in these lenses help keep your eyes from drying and refreshed at all times.
- Silicone Hydrogel Lenses are very similar to soft lenses but more advanced. They allow oxygen to pass through the lens and reach the front surface of the eye maintaining good eye health. One could say it’s a popular choice today.
- Gas Permeable Lenses (GP) or Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses are used to correct astigmatism and other refractive errors of the eyes. They’re smaller in size and take a bit longer to get adjusted to, as compared to soft lenses. But those who wear these claim that GP lenses are just as comfortable.
- Hybrid Contact Lenses have a rigid gas permeable lens (RGP) to correct corneal astigmatism but are also surrounded by a skirt of a soft lens. They’re designed to provide crystal clear vision and comfort.
- PMMA Lenses or Conventional hard contact lenses are made of a fairly impliable plastic (polymethyl methacrylate, or PMMA), which does not mold to the shape of the eye. They are easy on the pocket and durable, however they are the least comfortable type of contact lens.
Hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses are available in a variety of designs, depending on their intended purpose like Spherical contact lenses, Toric soft contact lenses, Multifocal contact lenses, and Cosmetic contact lenses.
There are two categories of contact lenses based on recommended wearing time:
Daily wear contact lenses — These must be removed every night before sleep.
Extended wear contact lenses — Or Continuous wear lenses, can be worn overnight (for a limited number of days). Some variants available in this category can be worn for 24 hours to a maximum of 30 consecutive days.
Why Should You Think Of Switching To Contact Lenses?
Safety – Contact lenses are safe, and highly effective in correcting common vision errors. Any potential issues are easily avoidable with proper care and close attention to hygiene.
Comfort – Contact lenses are designed in a way that it provides comfort to the eyes and also help alleviate symptoms of dry eyes, as most of them are made using hydrogel that provides moisture to the eyes.
Anti-fog – Unlike glasses that restrict your movement or fog up when you’re eating or drinking something hot, or wearing a mask, lenses make for a convenient option in such situations.
Flexible – Did you ever imagine you could enjoy 20/20 vision and also play sports, swim, ski and more without your glasses? With contact lenses it is possible.
When Should You Replace Your Contact Lenses?
Contact lenses should be routinely replaced to avoid the build-up of lens deposits and contamination that increases the risk of eye infections.
Things To Keep In Mind Before Buying Your First Pair Of Contact Lenses
Make an Appointment – Your local optometrist will be the best person to help you with your prescription and fitting.
Determine The Brand You Want To Go for – Once you’ve learnt how to insert your lens properly in your eye and its proper use, consult your optometrist about which brand you should opt for along with the saline solution options to take care of your lenses. It’s ideally recommended to not keep switching brands of contact lenses often.
Useful Tips For First Timers
Finally, congratulations on getting your first pair of contact lenses! Under normal circumstances if you’re wearing a pair of contact lens for the very first time, you’ll be spending your free time marveling at the tiny visual details that you could never spot before – like dew drops on grass and the attractive colors and patterns around you. But with anything new and exciting, comes a phase that is intimidating and scary too. Here are a few tips to help you navigate your new life with contact lenses successfully:
Relax: Yes, it is new and you’re itching to constantly touch, scratch or rub your eyes. Relax, inserting and removing contact lenses may make you nervous at first but once you get used to it, it’s a cake walk.
Keep your lenses clean: It is essential to keep your lens solution handy and clean and disinfect your lenses at regular intervals. To know about how to care for your lenses, read here
Hydrate: Whether or not you wear contact lenses, it’s important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Stick to your prescription and replacement schedule: Wear your lenses only for the length of time that your doctor says is safe to, and replace the lenses according to the schedule. Wearing them beyond the suggested time could be harmful to your eyes.
