Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, and supermodel Helena Christensen—these stars wear glasses. Paris Hilton, Angelina Jolie, and Britney Spears have already settled the debate over contact lenses versus glasses. The latter wear them in their private lives. On the red carpet, celebrities opt for contact lenses. No matter what women choose—glasses or contact lenses—they serve as indispensable vision aids in both their personal and professional lives.
Fashionistas use both as stylish statement pieces. They can transform your look in an instant. One moment, you’re making a confident, professional impression as a businesswoman in your horn-rimmed glasses; the next, you’re captivating your date with the eye color of your choice. No matter how you choose to wear your eyewear, you’ll always see clearly.
For which types of vision problems is wearing contact lenses a viable option?
Contact lenses can correct various types of vision problems. These include:
- keratoconus (corneal deformation)
- myopia (nearsightedness)
- hyperopia (farsightedness),
- Astigmatism (corneal curvature).
Contact lenses primarily correct vision problems caused by irregularities in the cornea.
The Variety of Contact Lens Types
There is a wide variety of contact lenses available. They are made of flexible or rigid plastic, or of glass. They can be hard, semi-soft, or soft. There are also differences in the thickness of the material. Ultra-thin lenses are now part of the lineup. Which type of contact lenses will you choose?
- Soft contact lenses: These thin, watch-glass-shaped soft lenses with polished edges are made of hydrogel or silicone. This type of contact lens requires special care. Because of their high water absorption, dirt particles can penetrate the lenses. Their advantage over hard lenses is the shorter adjustment period. After six months, it’s time to buy a new pair.
- Rigid (hard) contact lenses: Manufacturers make hard contact lenses from a material similar to Plexiglas. You can wear them for several years. Other advantages include high oxygen permeability, ease of handling, and good tolerability. They are well-suited for people who work at a computer.
- Disposable contact lenses: Manufacturers produce these replacement systems at a low cost. You can choose between wearing them for one week, fourteen days, one month, or three months. After that, you replace them with new contact lenses.
- Daily disposable contact lenses are worn for one day and then discarded. Please note that daily disposable contact lenses are not available in all diameters. You should also check that they are suitable for you in terms of curvature before purchasing them.
Ask your eye doctor!
If you’re interested in contact lenses, the eye doctor will check whether you’re a suitable candidate. If there are no risks, the doctor will ask you how often you’d like to wear them. He or she will then assess the condition of your tear film, measure your eyes using computer-controlled equipment, and calculate the appropriate contact lens prescription for you. You’ll wear trial lenses for thirty minutes. Afterward, the eye doctor will determine your final prescription. This often differs from the prescription for your eyeglass lenses.
Where do you get your contact lenses?
You can purchase contact lenses at your optician's, at drugstores, or at specialty online stores.
