Contact lenses are thin pieces of clear plastic that float on the surface of the eyes. They are usually used to correct a person’s vision, but may be worn for purely cosmetic reasons. Contact lenses provide a safe alternative to glasses as long as the wearer’s eyes are healthy and the person has the ability to care for the lenses properly.

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The two major types of contact lenses are soft lenses and rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. Soft contact lenses are made of soft, pliable plastics that permit oxygen to pass through to the cornea. These lenses are usually easier to adjust to and more comfortable than RGP lenses. Most soft contact lenses are designed to be replaced daily, weekly, or monthly.

RGP contact lenses are longer lasting and more resistant to deposit buildup and tearing. They usually provide clearer vision correction. They’re also likely to be less expensive in the long run, because they don’t need to be replaced as frequently as soft contact lenses do.

There are risks associated with wearing all types of contact lenses, including conjunctivitis (pinkeye), corneal ulcers, corneal abrasions, vision impairment, and even blindness. This is why it is both important and required by law that you have a valid prescription for contact lenses, even cosmetic ones. Your eye care professional should be experienced with contact lenses. He or she will need to fit your lenses and diagnose and treat any problem that might interfere with your wearing them.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. Some of the specific vision conditions that contact lenses can correct are myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision caused by the shape of the cornea), and presbyopia (inability to see close up).
  2. More than 24 million people in the United States wear contact lenses.
  3. Cosmetic lenses are designed to change the appearance of the eye. For example, they can make a brown-eyed person’s eyes look blue or any other color.