If you think contact lenses are a recent phenomena, then you are absolutely wrong. History of contact lenses can be traced long back. They are as old as the sixteenth century. The present day contact lenses have been the efforts of many scientists and researchers. It has been their hard work that has led to the evolution of the present day contact lenses.

Giving an answer to the question that who can be credited as the real inventor of contact lenses, will be a difficult task as contact lenses were the innovative hard work of a number of people.

However, the credit of the modern form of the contact lenses is generally given to F. E. Muller. He came up with the concept of contact lenses in 1887. Another researcher who is considered a pivotal contributor to the modern day evolution of contact lenses is Rene Descrates. He was the one who brought up the concept of corneal contact lenses. John Herschels, a British scientist also made commendable contribution in the contact lens technology.

A new era heralded in the second half of the nineteenth century as there were incredible inventions that were made in the field of contact lenses. This led to a spurt of knowledge about the contact lenses within the common man. This created a niche of people in the society. At this point of time Eugen Fick's Scleral came up with some new concept of contact lenses. This new concept became a hit among the people. These lenses were then later modified and improved by August Miller.

The contact lens history took a new dimension with the advent of lenses made from scleral plastic. This diverted the attention of the researchers towards the development of more sophisticated form of contact lenses. William Feinbloom took the contact lens industry on a higher stepping stone and is therefore considered a pioneer in the history of contact lenses. Another scientist named Joseph Dallos too earned good accolade for his phenomenal contribution.

As there was a technological revolution, various scientists came up with their contributions. George Butterfield contributed by bringing an improvement in the corneal lenses. With the silicone hydrogel contact lenses coming up, the focus was shifted towards more sophisticated and comfortable contact lenses.

All these points from the history shows that people from time to time were in a need of better form of contact lenses. And even now the innovations have not stopped. Now and then the manufacturers are coming up with newer models of contact lenses. With the coming up of colored contact lenses, there has been a shift in their concept as they do not remain a commodity of vision correction but are now increasingly used for cosmetic purposes.

But as the saying goes: history never ends here. There are many more innovations that are still pending, they may come on the block soon.

fun facts about contact lensesF E Muller factswhat are some fun facts about contact lenses?

Are you one of those who are about to endeavor in the world of putting contact lenses? Large numbers of people in need of curative lenses prefer to put on contact lenses because of the ease and a repugnance to looking terrible with the specs. The glasses burden on the ears, slide down from nose, and also have glare troubles with light. In addition, you should have special lenses and also an additional pair to stay away from the sharp sunrays when wearing spectacles. Contact lenses are very comfortable and easy to put to replace the conventional glasses by endowing excellent peripheral vision without forfeiting on the part of the outlook on appearance.

Many individuals will not be able to recognize even that you are actually wearing contact lenses, as they are virtually impossible to notice in your eyes. However, there are different types of contact lenses that are available in the market. Thus, you should always select a contact lens which will best suit your condition such as line of work, kind of vision disorder and many more. Among the various types of contact lenses the contact lenses can be either soft or hard.

Soft Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses are basically manufactured by a plastic hydro gel polymer, which consists of 35% to 75% of water. These contact lenses are produced from soft plastic and are absolutely water absorbing by nature, which fix at the face of cornea. However, few contact lenses also provide protection from the ultraviolet rays.

The greatest advantage of wearing soft lenses is that, these lenses are generally disposable that means after using they can be disposed, depending on the kind of contact lens is prescribed. This offers a chance to the contact lens user to get a new pair of contact lenses, which further reduces the chance of having any kind of eye infection and also providing ample comfort to the wearers.

Nevertheless, the size of soft contact lens can vary from 13 to 14.50 mm and 100 um thick. These lenses also enable the oxygen comfortably to reach the cornea. Apart, it also has some drawbacks such as they quickly absorbs various pollutants such as lotion or soap from the hands, which further results in irritation in eyes. Furthermore, they can even tear or rip quite easily.

Hard contact lenses

The hard contact lenses are commonly manufactured with a rigid stuff. However, to boost the oxygen permeability, this stuff can be blend with various other plastics. These lenses are available under the range 8 to 18 mm with thickness of 100um.

The hard contact lenses are very durable but like the soft contact lenses do not provide oxygen that can reach the cornea. Nevertheless oxygen gets dissolved with the tear which in some way reaches the cornea due to eye movements because of the frequent blinking of eye. Despite of their low cost and durability these contact lenses are quite uncomfortable to put and are used by very number of people.

However, it will be feasible to contact your eye specialist before selecting any kind of contact lenses, as he/she will guide you in a better way according to your eye and requirement.

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Wearing contact lenses has become very popular in today’s society. Purchasing contact lenses online has been in high demand over the last couple of years. It is very fast, resourceful and convenient.

A long time ago, in the history of mankind, in 1508, Leonardo da Vinci described and drew the plan to express his design of a contact lens. But it was in 1827 that Sir John Hershel, an English astronomer astounded the world with his idea of manufacturing a mold of a human eye so that a lens could be made to fit perfectly. Sixty years later in 1887. F.A. Muller, a German glassblower used these ideas to create the world’s first known contact lens.

Contact lenses are full contact optical accessories which rest directly on the cornea to facilitate a better and natural vision than contemporary spectacles. Distortion due to side vision and eye-lens distance is nullified in using contact lenses. With spectacles the eye-lens distance makes the size of the objects appear bigger or smaller than actual depending upon whether you are far sighted or near sighted.

Spectacles or eye glasses block the peripheral vision due to the frame. When you look sideways, upwards or downwards, you are looking outside the perimeter of the lens which makes you look at object without the eye glasses resulting in distorted or blurred vision because you are not looking through the optic zone. This is more so because of the smaller frames in vogue today. When you wear contact lenses, irrespective of which way you look, you are always looking through the optic zone resulting in perfect vision. Contact lenses are immune to scratches and easy breakage. They are also immune to fogging and will give clear vision even on a rainy day.

Contact lenses are basically of two kinds; Soft contact lenses and RGP (rigid gas permeable) contact lenses. Both these kinds of contact lenses can be used to correct all kinds of vision i.e. myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. Soft lenses are easier to wear and more comfortable while using initially, the reason why they are chosen by more than 80% users. RGP lenses are used only when you need to wear them continuously over a long period of time.

Choosing a contact lens depends upon the outcome of your optical examination by your ophthalmologist. It is always wise to inform him that you wish to use contact lenses and not spectacles, so that the ophthalmologist can test your eyes accordingly and make time to fit your contact lenses. This might be against your ophthalmologist’s preferences, as some of them do not recommend contact lenses unless you ask them especially for a set.

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Wearing contact lenses are suitable for several people with all types of life styles. They are especially suited for individuals that are very active. For example, athletes, bike riders, acrobats, swimmers, actors, and etc. They are also good for professional athletes because they do not interfere in their professional life. Contact lenses can correct all kinds of vision as referred above. If you are in any of the above professions and prefer to wear glasses, you can wear contact lenses on the job and swap them for eyeglasses in your leisure time activities.

Remember to always properly clean, your contact lenses, with the right cleaning solution and store your contact lenses in the right storing solution. Always see your eye doctor regular.

Visit http://www.businessonlineguide.net/id271.html online contact lens source to help you find popular and hard to find contact lenses. When you get your lenses be sure to continue to maintain good contact lens hygiene.

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Fundamental of LASIK Eye Surgery is an article which can provide people an overall process of LASIK Eye Surgery. It is also a kind of medical treatment of eyes to eliminate the errors of patient which is related with their vision that may be myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. LASIK stands for Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. LASIK Eye Surgery is not for every problem of eye but only for the vision problem like for the farsightedness or nearsightedness that means the people who are not able to see the clear image of distant object they will be able to see them clear and the people who are not able to see the clear image of close to object they will be able to see them clear.

Cause of vision problem:-

 As a fact, the ability of vision of an individual depends on her or his cornea which focuses the light on the retina of eye to structure the figure of any object.  It works exactly like a camera. When the shape of cornea gets little flawed due to gathering of many dead tissues over the cornea of eye, it causes the defect in the focusing ability of eye. To cover these fault the people used glasses and contact lenses but  some people thought that these decreases the value of their face and want to get released form these. For them LASIK Eye Surgery is a convenient substitute to take their specs and lenses away from their eyes.        

Procedure of LASIK Eye Surgery:-

 As above clarify that during this surgery the surgeons take out the dead tissues that assembles on the cornea of patient’s eye. Usually the surgeons use laser rays to remove these, devoid of disturbing the neighboring cells of the eye.  LASIK Eye Surgery is almost painless and faster than any other eye surgeries procedure because the surgeons make use of painkiller drops to numb the eye of the patient. The patients who are getting operated with LASIK Eye Surgery they gain much improvement in their vision just within sometime of surgery. 

For minimum risks and complications:-

Unlike any other surgeries, LASIK Eye Surgery also contains some risks and complications too. So it is important for patient that they choose a well qualified and experienced surgeon for LASIK Eye Surgery and before you deciding for LASIK Eye Surgery consult with the surgeons or your family doctor to get aware with all the risk factors of LASIK Eye Surgery.    

For years contact lenses were designed with only function in mind. Anyone with vision problems who didn't want to wear glasses could consult their eye care professional and make the change. Contact lenses were an unnoticeable and convenient way to correct vision.

Now even people with 20/20 vision are lining up for contact lenses. Why?

The latest, greatest fashion trend: colored contact lenses.

What Are Colored Contact Lenses?

Colored contact lenses have a tint, color or design embedded right on the contact lens itself. The center portion that fits over your pupil remains clear to allow your vision to be unimpeded.

The tints can enhance your natural eye color, completely change your eye color or for a really wild look, imprint crazy designs or logos right on the iris.

For example: you could have blue eyes one day, brown eyes the next and cat eyes on the weekend. They are versatile, flexible and fun!

When buying colored contact lenses there are two main categories of contact lenses to choose from: Enhancer Contact Lenses and Opaque Contact Lenses.

What Is The Difference Between Enhancer and Opaque Colored Contact Lenses?

Enhancer colored contact lenses use translucent tints that allow certain wavelengths of light to pass through while absorbing others. This results in a vivid enhancement of your natural eye color. It can also change the way the iris looks underneath making your eyes clearly stand out.

Enhancer colored contact lenses cannot change your eye color; only enhance what you already have. They work particularly well for people with green, blue or light colored eyes, creating dramatic and intense looks.

Opaque colored contact lenses use opaque tints that completely mask your underlying iris. No light can pass through the opaque tint, which means your natural eye color is no longer visible. Regular opaque lenses are carefully designed to mimic the natural look of the eye while completely altering eye color. You can go from brown-eyes to green, blue-eyes to purple, there is no limit to the color changes available.

Natural looking opaque contact lenses are also used for cosmetic purposes to cover up any eye disfigurements a person has that would usually be visible.

For a more fun appearance you can use costume or theatrical lenses. These opaque colored contact lenses are used all the time to create special effects in the movies and for Halloween. They can turn you from human to vampire, give you alien eyes, or allow you to have your favorite logo visible in your eye. They can also be ordered with customized iris flecks for a unique appearance.

There is also a new development in colored contact lenses designed especially for the sports enthusiast. They have what are called light-filtering tints. These tints enhance the visibility of certain colors for the wearer and enable them to more easily see objects such as tennis balls. The tints effectively separate the object from the background giving you an advantage during play. There are a number of light-filtering contact lenses being designed for a variety of sports.

Who Can Wear Colored Contact Lenses?

Many colored contact lenses can be ordered in 'plano' form for people who do not need vision correction. There are also designs for people who require bifocal correction and for those with astigmatism.

For anyone wishing to use colored contact lenses you do require an appointment with an eye care professional and a prescription, even if you have 20/20 vision. Contact lenses need to be fitted properly to the curvature of your eye for a safe and comfortable fit.

Some people out there wonder why people pay out money on expensive contact lenses or expensive glasses. If you've never worn glasses or contact lenses, then chances are that you have good eyesight. In contrast, those that don't have good vision will need to get either contact lenses or glasses in order to have near perfect vision.

In most cases, contact lenses will considerably improve your vision without having to get glasses, which is reason enough to invest in a pair of contacts. They are very lightweight, and they provide you a full range of sight and mobility.

Cheap contact lenses can be found on the Internet, or at your local optician's office. They won't set you a back a lot of money, yet they will give you the vision you need. Contacts are a great alternative to glasses, particularly for those who need glasses but hate to wear them. In you buy cheap contact lenses, it is an ideal solution to glasses, at a price, anyone can afford.

In several different ways, you can buy contact lenses. You can order them online, which is what the majority people tend to do. Companies such as contacts.com offer hundreds of contact lenses and prescriptions, which they transport right to your door. When you order online you can get a great price, and then have the contact lenses brought right to you - with no travel or waiting in line required to get your contact lenses when you need them.

The best thing about buying contacts online is the fact that there is a lot more to choose from. There are a lot of different brands and manufacturers online, many of which aren't offered from your local store. Directly you can buy from a manufacturer's website, or choose a third party dealer that offers a wide selection of brands and models.

With several different brands of contact lenses out there, it can be very difficult when you select your pair. Often times, your optician will suggest a brand to you, although sometimes they won't. Different brands are coming out all the time, which can make it very difficult for first time contact lens users to select the best brand for their eyes and their needs. A few examples of some of the best contact lenses manufacturers include Acuvue, Bausch and Lomb, and Progressive. These are all great choices, offering you a variety models to choose from.

Also, you can also purchase your contacts at your optician's office. If you don't have access to the internet, buying this way is a great decision. You can also purchase at a local store that sells contact lenses and glasses, such as Wal-Mart. Since they offer a variety of different contacts for those who need them, the prices are great here as well. You can also buy solution here as well, making it well worth the trip to get your contact lenses.

If you shop around, you can usually find some great deals for your lenses. The prices of the contact lenses will vary depending on the brand and type your optician prescribed. If you are buying the latest and greatest brands of contact lenses, you can obviously count on the price to be a bit higher. This is to be anticipated, as contacts cost the most when they first come out and are available for purchase.

In order to buy contact lenses, you'll require a prescription. When you go to an optician for the fitting process, he will observe your eyes and let you know if you can wear contacts. There are a few types, such as soft contact lenses and hard contact lenses. Depending on your eyes, you may have to get a unique type of contact lens. The optician will give you his recommendation, and tell you everything you need to know and do for the contacts that he will give you a prescription for.

Amore permanent solution for many individuals exists with a laser eye surgery procedure such as LASIK. In Synergetic, a company that sells ophthalmic equipment used in eye surgery sued two former employees for trade secret misappropriation.

But you should look for a surgeon who has several years of experience - make sure, though, if the surgeon has been doing corrective eye surgery for 10 years or more that he's up to date on all the latest procedures.

The Next Step Since I gave up playing lacrosse long ago and my prejudice against glasses has worn off, some may say that it's time I take the next logical step in my eye care progression and get laser eye surgery. Less pain seems to be experienced along with more rapid healing that LASEK eye surgery.

However, if you are comfortable wearing glasses or contact lenses, you don't really have to have any kind of laser eye surgery.

If you are looking into laser eye surgery for yourself, this is a factor that you should consider. Postoperative swelling after laser surgery is less compared to the swelling that occurs with conventional eye surgery.

As with any type of surgery there have been documented results that are not complimentary, but having said that, the laser eye surgery procedure these days is fairly commonplace and has come a long way since it's beginning.

Myopia (nearsightedness), Hyperopia (farsightedness), and Astigmatism can all be solved through lasik eye surgery. In contrast, other physicians and surgeons consider LASIK laser eye surgery as the best option whatsoever. Laser eye surgery will not help people with age-related vision problems, such as presbyopia.

If your expectations are too high and unrealistic and you are not a risk taker, you will be rejected by your doctor for LASIK eye surgery. Even though laser eye surgery is extremely common practice you should still take the time to investigate if the surgery is right for you. However, with today's technology, laser eye surgery is now a reality.

Laser eye surgery is for the most part a simple procedure that millions of people have recovered from with great success. To correct poor vision Lasik eye surgery has become the popular choice. They will also tell you if you even are a person that can consider having lasik eye surgery at all.

A quality eye surgeon is vital to achieving excellent results from any laser eye surgery. Laser eye surgery can be an option for this problem by helping correct the distortions and improve passing of light rays. Surgeons often tend to specialise in a particular type of eye surgery so ask them how much experience they have in performing the particular procedure you require.

Although Laser eye surgery is a very safe and highly effective treatment, it still needs an experience & trained personnel. Nevertheless, there are some things that you can count on experiencing before you can have your laser eye surgery. Lasik eye surgery can be performed for $1500 at a reasonable eye clinic.

That's why it's important to understand as much as you can about the procedure via Lasik eye surgery reviews. Laser eye surgery weakens the cornea, so persons with thin corneas are not good candidates. Laser eye surgery is one of the most advanced, and is used especially for the correction of problems like myopia (near sightedness), hyperopia (far sightedness), and astigmatism (distorted vision).

With an 'autoimmune disease' like rheumatoid arthritis, or an 'immunodeficiency disease' such as HIV, the risk of infection and other complications following laser eye surgery is greater.

Myth 1: Wearing contact lenses might be painful

Soft contact lenses are designed with the comfort of the wearer comfort as the primary concern. Many seasoned contact lens wearers forget that they are even wearing contact lenses when they are in their eyes. Although it is common for contact lens wearers to feel a new sensation in their eyes when they wear contact lenses for the first time, the eyes will soon grow accustomed to the contact lenses.

Myth 2: I won't be able to get contact lenses into my eyes

Learning how to insert contact lenses into your eye does take a little practice. Your Optician will ensure that you are fully trained in how to do this before they prescribe you with contact lenses. Putting your contact lenses in soon becomes a quick and simple habit for people. For more information on how to insert contact lenses safely, have a look at Lenstore.co.uk's Guide for Contact Lens Wearers.

Myth 3: Contact lenses could become stuck to my eye

Contact lenses are designed not to stick to your eye. If you are experiencing difficulty in removing your contact lenses, it is likely that they have been worn for too long and have become dry. This is easily remedied by adding a few drops of contact lens eye drops to the contact lens. This will lubricate the contact lens and loosen it. The contact lens should then be easy to remove.

Myth 4: Contact lenses could get lost inside or behind my eye

It is absolutely impossible for your contact lenses to get lost inside or behind your eye. A thin membrane which stretches between the eyelids covers the eye. Contact lenses sit in front of this membrane and the membrane is more than strong enough to prevent contact lenses from moving behind the eye.

Myth 5: Contact lenses often fall out and get lost

Whilst this is not impossible, it is very unlikely. If your contact lenses have been properly fitted then the chance of your contact lenses falling out is minimised.

Myth 6: Contact lenses cause eye infections

If you follow the guidelines of both your Optician and the manufacturer of your contact lenses accurately then there is a very low risk of experiencing any adverse effects of contact lenses. To ensure that your contact lenses are not causing your eyes any damage it is essential that you have a contact lens examination with your Optician every 12 months.

Myth 7: I won't be able to get contact lenses which are powerful enough for my eyes

Manufacturers produce a vast range of contact lenses to cater for all kinds of prescriptions. Contact lenses are available which correct myopia (short sightedness), hyperopia (long sightedness), presbyopia, astigmatism and most combinations of the above.

Myth 8: Contact lenses cost a fortune

Contact lenses have come down in price dramatically over the past few years. Different prescriptions will require different contact lenses with different price tags so it is hard to say in general how much contact lenses cost. Buying your contact lenses online will undoubtedly save you money. One of the cheapest suppliers of contact lenses in the UK is Lenstore.co.uk where you can find savings of over £100 a year when compared to the High Street.

Myth 9: Only adults can wear contact lenses

Many contact lens wearers are teenagers and children. There is no medical reason for under-18s not to wear contact lenses. However, for non-adults to be legally fitted with contact lenses in the UK they must have the approval of a parent or guardian.

Myth 10: Contact lenses require a difficult and time-consuming care programme

Daily disposable contact lenses require no cleaning at all since they are worn once and then replaced. Two-weekly and monthly wear contact lenses must be cleaned with contact lens solution and stored in a contact lens case. This is a simple process, which is well described at Lenstore.co.uk's Guide for Contact Lens Wearers.

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Visit this site to read an article from the FDA Consumer Magazine about laser eye surgery to correct vision problems. You will learn what types of vision problems can be corrected by laser eye surgery. Occasionally the vision through corrective lenses is actually worse after refractive or laser eye surgery than it was before. It usually has no effect on the final outcome of vision after laser eye surgery and can only be seen through an eye examination. Most patients notice improved vision within a few days after LASIK laser eye surgery.

LASIK laser eye surgery is can cause a loss of "best" vision with or without glasses at 1 year after surgery. Night vision treatment has become possible thanks to advances in laser eye surgery. LASIK refractive eye surgery provides vision correction by reshaping the cornea and changing its focusing power through the use of a laser. Improving vision without laser eye surgery. Accuvision provides laser eye surgery, laser vision correction and laser ... This includes eye mapping, vision testing and medications related to the laser surgery. LASIK laser eye surgery patients often have good vision by the day after surgery. LASIK, or laser in-situ keratomileusis, is the most widely performed laser eye surgery for treating a wide range of common vision errors. Most reputable centers for eye laser surgery note that 20/20 vision from laser-corrected surgery may not be like 20/20 vision with corrective lenses.

The type of laser that is used in laser eye surgery is the Excimer laser. It is also the most expensive type of laser eye surgery. Finally, they answer some questions about laser eye surgery and decide if this type of operation is something they would consider for themselves. This type of corrective laser eye surgery is used to treat patients with open-angle glaucoma. This type of laser eye surgery is used to treat patients who have failed to respond to other types of surgery. However, if the eye disease manifests itself, there is one type of laser eye surgery that can be used: laser photocoagulation.

This guide provides an in-depth understanding of the laser eye surgery procedure, what can be expected, and possible complications. All in all, laser eye surgery is a potent procedure to correct a variety of refractive errors thereby enhancing a patient%u2019s visual acuity.

Clinicians wishing to undertake laser eye surgery should ensure that patients understand the benefits and potential risks of the procedure. Lasik, or laser eye surgery, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce dependency on glasses and contact lenses. The Wavefront laser procedure is carried out using computer aided equipment and doctors have reported improved eyesight results from Wavefront over traditional LASIK surgery.

With an exact map of the eye, they could precisely plan laser correction surgery, or create customized contact lenses, Olivier said. Bausch Lomb spokesperson Holly Houston said that the company is considering applications for both customized laser eye surgery and customized contact lenses. Around 100,000 people, tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses, undergo corrective laser eye surgery in the UK every year. Many people who have always worn glasses or contact lenses are now contemplating whether or not to have laser eye surgery. For some people, laser eye surgery means freedom from glasses and contact lenses.

Those considering laser eye surgery are often advised to have a full eye examination with an experienced surgeon. finding a LASIK surgeon LASIK LASIK has been the most widely performed and accepted form of laser eye surgery since it completed U.S. To gain the information you need to make a decision about Laser Eye Surgery, please consult with a plastic surgeon. During laser eye surgery, a surgeon uses a device called an Excimer Laser to change the shape of a patient's cornea permanently. Finding a LASIK surgeon that you are confident about will be able to give you more information about laser eye surgery.

Doctors often recommend laser surgery before filtering microsurgery, unless the eye pressure is very high or the optic nerve is badly damaged. Medication following laser surgery In most cases, medications are still necessary to control and maintain eye pressure. Long-term benefits of glaucoma laser surgery Glaucoma laser surgeries help to lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eye. When laser surgery does not successfully lower eye pressure, or the pressure begins to rise again, the doctor may recommend filtering microsurgery.

have always been at the forefront of laser eye surgery earning an enviable reputation as THE clinic to ... I'm hoping to get a referral for the laser eye surgery center affiliated w/my eye doctor's clinic. Get your laser eye surgery done at a clinic that treats all kind of eye conditions not specialising in laser eye surgery. Lexum, which first performed laser eye surgery in 1993, performed 2,703 laser eye operations last year, according to clinic records. The clinic specializes in eye surgery, in particular laser eye surgery.

So you've checked it out, and you've found out that you are a viable candidate for laser eye surgery. Not everyone is a candidate for laser eye surgery. If you can prove that you have a stable prescription, you're a good candidate for laser eye surgery. Initial readings are taken to determine whether or not they are a candidate for laser eye surgery.

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Reasons for choosing contact lenses

Each wearer has a different reason for using contact lenses. However, in our experience the major reasons why our customers want the option of contact lenses in addition to glasses are:

Convenience: for example daily disposables require no cleaning or care (unlike glasses) “The Look”: many wearers prefer the look of contact lenses to glasses and find that it is a confidence booster Sports Use: many people could not enjoy their favourite sports without contact lenses. Often people will begin wearing contact lenses for sport and end up using them in all walks of their lives because of the benefits they discover

Types of contact lenses

Contact lenses can be split into the following groups:

Daily Disposables – replaced with a fresh pair of every day Two Weekly Disposables – replaced with a fresh pair every two weeks Monthly Disposables – replaced with a fresh pair every month Extended Wear Lenses – can be worn continuously whilst awake and asleep Toric Lenses – for patients who suffer from astigmatism Multi-Focal Lenses – provide all in one vision correction for patients who cannot see clearly over long and short distances Coloured Contact Lenses – fashion lenses for people who fancy a change from their natural eye colour

The majority of contact lenses purchased are soft and Lenstore.co.uk only stocks soft contact lenses. Hard (or “Rigid Gas Permeable”) contact lenses do exist and are typically for patients who suffer from severe astigmatism and irregular corneas. Your Optician will let you know if hard contact lenses are the most appropriate for your eyes but for the majority of people soft lenses provide the best option.

How to get contact lenses for the first time

If you currently wear glasses and want to try contact lenses the first thing you should do is book a contact lens examination with your Optician. He / she will take you through the whole process of getting fitted for contact lenses. Your Optician will first check if your eyes are suited for contact lenses (most people’s are). He / she will then train you in how to insert and remove your lenses and will also show you how to clean and take care of them. Next you’ll be given a trial set of contact lenses which normally last a week. At the end of the trial week you visit your Optician again and he / she will ensure that your eyes have reacted well to the lenses. At that point you’ll buy three months supply of contact lenses from your Optician and wear them. After three months, you’ll visit your Optician for the last time during the fitting period and he / she will write you a prescription. Make sure you grab a copy of your prescription. You’ve now been officially fitted for contact lenses and can buy them from whichever supplier you choose.

Putting your contact lenses in

Step 1: Wash your hands with soap, rinse them thoroughly and dry them with a clean towel.

Step 2: Place the contact lens on the palm of your hand, check that it is clean and not torn.

Step 3: Ensure that the contact lens is not inside out (if it is the edges will flare up slightly) and place it on your forefinger (your pointing finger).

Step 4: Insert the lens. Use the forefinger on your opposite hand hold up your upper eyelid to prevent you from blinking. Use the third finger on the hand in which you have the contact lens to hold down your lower eyelid. Look up and place the contact lens onto the white of your eye. Look downwards to allow the lens to slip into position. Remove your fingers and close your eye momentarily. Your lens should be in place.

Step 5: Repeat the procedure on your other eye.

Helpful Tip: get into the habit of putting your right eye’s lens in first. It’ll reduce the chances of mixing up your contact lenses.

It does take a little practice to perfect your technique so don’t despair if you’re finding it difficult for the first few days or weeks. If you continue to have difficulty inserting your contact lenses then make an appointment with your contact lens Optician who should be happy to observe your technique and help you improve it.

Removing your contact lenses

Step 1: Make sure the contact lens is in the middle of your eye before trying to remove it. To check the lens is centred cover your other eye. If your vision is blurred your lens is not in the correct place. Look into a mirror and centre the lens with your finger.

Step 2: Pull down your lower eyelid.

Step 3: Whilst you have your eyelid pulled down, place your finger on the bottom edge of your lens and slide it down to the white part of your eye.

Step 4: Squeeze the contact lens gently between your finger and your thumb and remove the contact lens from your eye.

Helpful Tip: Get into the habit of removing your right eye’s lens first. It’ll reduce the chances of mixing up your contact lenses.

Cleaning and storing contact lenses

Step 1: Place the contact lens in the palm of your hand and apply a few drops of the recommended contact lens solution to the lens. Use your opposite hand’s forefinger (pointing finger) to rub the lens gently on both sides.

Step 2: Rinse the lens thoroughly using plenty of contact lens solution.

Step 3: Fill your lens case with plenty of contact lens solution and place your cleaned and rinsed contact lens in the appropriate compartment. Secure the cap of the lens case and repeat with your other contact lens. Leave your contact lenses in the lens case for at least four hours. Letting it soak in the solution will disinfect the contact lens.

Step 4: After putting your contact lenses back in your eyes, pour the remaining solution out of the lens case. Rinse the lens case with fresh solution and let the inside of the case dry out in the open air.

Warning: Please never use water to clean or store your contact lenses. Water does not have the necessary contents to disinfect your contact lens correctly. In fact, cleaning your contact lenses with water may lead to a contamination of your lenses and has been known to cause irreparable harm to the eye.

If you wear daily disposables you do not have to worry about storing your contact lenses as outlined above. However, if you drop your lens or something gets caught in your eye you may have to clean it in which case you should follow the procedure outlined in Steps 1 and 2 above.

How long to wear your lenses for

In general most soft contact lenses have a recommended wearing time of not more than 10-12 hours continuously for up to 5 days a week. It’s recommended that you wear glasses for a couple of days a week to ensure that your eyes receive more than enough oxygen to stay healthy. Extended wear lenses can be worn whilst you are both awake and asleep for up to a week. However it’s important to realise that the recommended wearing time for a contact lens will vary by the type of lens and the wearer. Contact lens manufacturers provide wearing guidelines for your lenses (usually found on the packaging). Please follow the wearing schedule suggested by your Optician as he / she is uniquely well placed to advice you.

When to get in touch with your Optician

You should get in touch with your Optician if you are:

Close to the expiry date of your prescription / due for a contact lens examination (typically every 12 months) In need of a copy of your contact lens prescription Experiencing a deterioration in the standard of your vision with contact lenses Considering changing to a contact lens solution which was not recommended by the person who fitted your contact lenses

If you experience any of the following symptoms / irritations in your eyes please firstly take your contact lenses out of your eyes (even if wearing them seems to lessen the discomfort or symptoms) and secondly get in touch with your Optician as soon as possible:

Feeling of discomfort Redness Excessive watering Visual disturbance

If your Optician is not available immediately and the problem is causing your severe disturbance you should consult you GP or go to Accident and Emergency at your local hospital. You can, of course, also call Lenstore.co.uk during our office hours and we will advise you on the best of course of action. We will do our very best to help you.

Aftercare

“Aftercare” is the medical care and advice that should be provided to you after you buy a pair of contact lenses. At a minimum, contact lens aftercare should include both advice on and helping to make arrangements for:

Regular contact lens examinations Where you can go in an emergency What signs or symptoms you should watch out for How to remove your contact lenses during an emergency Who your local contact for advice is

Aftercare is provided by your Optician and supplier of contact lenses. Lenstore.co.uk provides a lot of advice on our website and over the phone about aftercare and your Optician is obliged provide you with all of the access you need to professional medical advice and care.