Color
contact lens pictures |
 |
|
Contact lenses are available from a person’s optometrist
or ophthalmologist’s office, or to save money, prescriptions
can be taken to a Target or Wal-Mart store or ordered
from one of many online suppliers. Be sure to check carefully
before ordering online, to make sure the supply house
you ordered from is legitimate. The Better Business Bureau
has a list of real companies, so you can check their website
(www.bbb.org) before placing any online or telephone orders.
The contact lens wearer should be aware of some important
things about contact lens use. Contacts need to be cleaned
with a cleaning solution, and should not be worn overnight.
The eye needs oxygen, so lenses should not be kept in
the eye over an entire 24 hour period. Eyes that are deprived
of oxygen for too long can get infected, and the vessels
in the eye can swell for lack of oxygen. This swelling
can lead to permanent eye problems. So, be sure to clean
the lenses regularly, and let the eye rest during sleep.
Good examples of oxygen permeable contacts are Focus
Day and Night or Acuvue Oasys.
Besides oxygen, the eye needs moisture. Modern contact
lenses are designed to act like sponges, retaining essential
moisture in the eye. Still, the contact lens wearer may
experience dryness from staring at a computer screen,
working in air conditioned places, or strain from reading.
There are many eye drop products that can help moisturize
the eye while wearing contact lenses in these situations.
There are different types of contact lenses. Extended
wear lenses can be used for a long time with regular cleaning
and daytime only use. Disposable lenses are thinner and
therefore more comfortable, but accumulate dirt particles
quicker and tear more easily. They are designed to last
for 2 weeks and then be replaced with a new, clean pair.
They are cheaper than extended wear, which need to be
replaced every 3-6 months. The most recently developed
lenses have very high water content, allowing for longer
more comfortable wear. Still, cleaning is essential to
avoid infection.
If your eyes do become very irritated or infected while
wearing contact lenses, give your eyes a few days to rest,
and throw away your lenses to avoid re-infecting the eye.
It may be necessary to see your ophthalmologist for some
antibiotic drops. Contact lenses can be enjoyable and
freeing to wear, when done responsibly for the eye health
of the wearer.
Finding contact lenses suitable for your eyes may take
some experimentation. If the lenses your doctor prescribed
don’t feel very comfortable, don’t be afraid
to ask for another brand, finally you will find contacts
that are right for you.
