Contact lenses are thin, curved pieces of plastic that sit directly on your eyes. These plastic lenses correct vision like glasses but have the added benefit of not being as noticeable.
People wear contact lenses for many different reasons, including the following:
- to improve their appearance
- to correct vision problems
- to protect their eyes from the sun
- to help them see better when playing sports
How do they work?
When you wear contact lenses, they correct your vision by bending (refracting) the light that enters your eye. The lens sits directly on your eyes and changes how the light hits your retina. The retina is responsible for sharp vision and plays a vital role in our ability to see. Without it, we would be unable to see clearly.
The retina is the layer of tissue in the back of the eye that helps transmit light into electrical signals. These are then sent to the brain to be interpreted as images.
What are the different types?
Right now, contact lenses are categorized as lenses hard contact lenses or soft contact lenses. Let’s see the difference below.
● Hard contact lenses
These are also called rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. They’re made of a hard, plastic material that allows oxygen to pass through to your eye. Hard contact lenses are less popular than soft lenses because they’re not as comfortable to wear. However, they last longer than soft lenses and can be a good choice for people with specific vision problems.
● Soft contact lenses
These are made of a soft, pliable material that allows oxygen to pass through to your eye. They’re the most popular lens type because they’re more comfortable to wear than hard lenses. But, they need to be replaced more often than hard lenses, typically every 1-3 months, depending on your prescription and how you take care of them. Contact lenses have various prescription strengths to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Advantages and disadvantages
One of the significant advantages is that they offer a more comprehensive range of vision compared to glasses and can be helpful for people who experience headaches or eye fatigue with traditional eyewear. Contacts also provide a more natural appearance, as they sit right up against your cornea, making them less noticeable than glasses.
Additionally, contacts don’t fog up like glasses do in cold weather or get covered with raindrops and smudges, making them easier to see when performing activities such as exercising or driving. On the other hand, you should consider some crucial disadvantages. First, contacts require more maintenance than glasses, as they need to be cleaned and stored correctly to avoid infection or irritation.
Second, they can be easily misplaced or damaged, resulting in costly replacements. Finally, contacts can cause eye dryness, redness, and discomfort if not used correctly. When it comes down to it, the best way to decide whether contacts or glasses are right for you is to talk or consult with an eye care professional. Read more about How To Photograph Flying Birds?
Factors to consider when choosing a contact lens
When choosing the best contact lens for your needs, there are many factors to consider, such as:
- Your prescription
- The type of lens you want (daily, weekly, or monthly)
- Your budget
- Your lifestyle
- Any allergies or sensitivities you have
- Your eye health history
Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you can narrow down your options. Perhaps the most important thing is how they fit your needs and preferences. In addition, when choosing the best contact lens, it is essential to do your research and talk to your doctor. Talking to your eye doctor can help you try out a few different ones to see what works best for you. This will help you decide on a lens that will meet your specific needs and give you the best vision possible.
Or, if you already have the information you need from your doctor, you can look online on websites such as https://www.contactlenses.co.uk or in-store for different brands and types of lenses. But, whatever type or kind of contact lens you are looking for, there are plenty of options to suit your needs. So take some time to think about what is most important to you, and then shop around until you find the right lenses.
Conclusion
There are a variety of reasons why people choose to wear contact lenses. Some people wear contacts because they have an eye condition that makes wearing glasses difficult or impossible. For some, it is a matter of convenience or personal preference. Others may wear them for cosmetic reasons, to change the color or appearance of their eyes. Whatever the reason, millions of people worldwide rely on contact lenses to improve their vision.
