The Different Types of Contact Lenses

There are many types of glasses for different types of vision. Likewise, there are also different types of contacts. Contacts are a great way to improve your vision without having to deal with having glasses. That said, many people use them even if they don’t have vision problems. Designer contacts are just one type of contact lenses. These are commonly used in movies for as a special effect and are also popular as a part of a Halloween costume. Designer contacts are used to change the color of the iris. This way, anyone can have any eye color they want from changing eyes from brown to blue to having cat eyes! The differing types of lenses aren’t just for cosmetic reasons. For example, there are two main types of contact lenses: soft and rigid gas permeable. All contacts fit into one of these two categories. Soft contact lenses are perhaps the most common contact lenses . In the past, most designer lenses were rigid, but today many of these kinds of lenses are soft. Soft lenses are significantly more comfortable to the wearer than rigid lenses. This is because they are made from a combination of water and a polymer-plastic material. There are two sub-types of soft contact lenses: daily disposables and extended wear lenses. Daily disposables need to be removed each day. Some can be stored away in solution overnight and some need to be tossed out each day. Extended wear lenses can be worn overnight. Depending on the lenses, they can be worn for a month or even up to a year! Rigid lenses have come a long way throughout the years. Because rigid gas permeable lenses are now made with silicone polymers, they allow oxygen to circulate around the eye’s cornea. As with soft lenses, rigid permeable lenses come either as long-term lenses or need to be removed daily. Again, this depends on the particular type of lens. Also, it is extremely important to wear contacts only as long as directed for maximum safety. There are several types of vision problems that traditionally have only been correctable by wearing glasses. This is no longer the case. There are bifocal contact lenses for those who are both nearsighted and farsighted. For those with astigmatism, toric contact lenses are available. Toric lenses are very much like bifocal lenses in that they have two powers: one to correct a vision problem and one to correct astigmatism. Because of this, toric lenses are only suggested for those with astigmatism in both eyes. Toric and bifocal lenses feel feel different to the wearer than regular lenses. Having a regular lens in one eye and a toric (or bifocal) lens in another eye can be very challenging. Different people have different vision and lens requirements. Because of this, it’s important not to wear another person’s contact lenses. Contacts must be given out by an eye doctor via a prescription. This ensures the best eye health and vision. Eye patients must be fitted and measured for contact lenses. Even if a person has the same vision as a friend, they may require a different type of lens.