Contact Lens

The invention of contact lens is significant and one which I consider to be in the top 5 list of the greatest inventions of the 20th and the 21st Century.

Until contact lens came along, there was no alternative to eyeglasses. Playing sports, involvement in certain occupations, one’s appearance were all affected by wearing glasses. Wearing contact lens are desirable for many reasons and are a great contribution to cosmetics, occupations and most importantly to one’s self-esteem.

Why Wear Contact Lens?

Contact lenses have many advantages over framed lenses. Here is the list of some of the benefits:

   1. They do not steam up when the wearer goes from the cold outside to a warm room.
   2. They can be worn safely during sports.
   3. They eliminate the need for less attractive lenses.
   4. Peripheral vision is increased
   5. The incidence of breakage is extremely low.
   6. Contact lens cheaper than glasses now, cost of frames alone is high nowadays

Sometimes, the adjustment period in learning to use contact lens properly can be longer than for eye glasses, especially for younger children. However many kids or teenagers don’t like to wear glasses as it can impact their self-esteem. I remember when I got my glasses in grade 5, I was petrified. I always feared being teased about them so I often didn’t wear them and as a result my eye sight worsen. Contact lens are easy to use. You insert them in the morning, and basically, you forget about them. No need to worry about lost or misplaced glasses, or getting them dirty and having to clean them perpetually.   Glasses are bulky, easily broken and misplaced and hide the one’s natural look.

 Following link does a comparison of Contacts vs. Glasses
Contact Lens vs. Glasses


Types of Contact Lens
From: http://www.mamashealth.com/eye/contacts.asp

There are two general categories of contact lenses – soft and rigid gas permeable. All contact lenses require a valid prescription.

• Soft Contact Lenses
• Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
• Extended Wear Contact Lenses
• Disposable Contact Lenses

Soft Contact Lenses
Soft contact lenses are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. Soft contact lenses may be easier to adjust to and are more comfortable than rigid gas permeable lenses. Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels to provide more oxygen to your eye while you wear your lenses.

Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are more durable and resistant to deposit buildup, and generally give a clearer, crisper vision. They tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft contact lenses. They are easier to handle and less likely to tear. However, they are not as comfortable initially as soft contacts and it may take a few weeks to get used to wearing permeable contact lenses, compared to several days for soft contacts.

Extended Wear Contact Lenses
Extended wear contact lenses are available for overnight or continuous wear ranging from six nights up to 30 days. Extended wear contact lenses are usually soft contact lenses. They are made of flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. There are also a very few rigid gas permeable lenses that are designed and approved for overnight wear. Length of continuous wear depends on lens type and your eye care professional’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. It’s important for the eyes to have a rest without lenses for at least one night following each scheduled removal.

Disposable Contact Lenses
The majority of soft contact lens wearers are prescribed some type of frequent replacement schedule. “Disposable,” as defined by the FDA, means used once and discarded. With a true daily wear disposable schedule, a brand new pair of lenses is used each day.

Some soft contact lenses are referred to as “disposable” by contact lens sellers, but actually, they are for frequent/planned replacement. With extended wear lenses, the lenses may be worn continuously for the prescribed wearing period (for example, 7 days to 30 days) and then thrown away. When you remove your lenses, make sure to clean and disinfect them properly before reinserting.