Did you know that all contact lenses aren't the same? Take some time to find out about the different types of contact lens and what they can do for your eyes. Of course your doctor will help you to select the right lenses, but it is best to be prepared and know, in advance, what is best for you. All lenses can be divided into groups depending on the material they're made from, their wearing schedule, the design of lenses, their purpose, and their degree of a transparency. Contact lens materials Contact lenses can be distinguished by the material they are made of. To start, they are divided into two major groups - rigid and soft. Rigid lenses are, in turn, divided into rigid gas-tight and the more modern rigid gas-permeable. All soft lenses are gas-permeable to a certain degree, and can be categorized further by the amount of water in the material. They can have a low moisture content (less than 50 percent) or a high moisture content (more than 50 percent). Contact lenses wearing schedule Contact lenses can also be divided by how often they should be replaced. One group is replaced according to traditional guidelines. For soft lenses, this is about one year; but for rigid lenses it can be several years.Another group is defined by scheduled replacement. This might be monthly or once every quarter.There are also frequent replacement lenses, which could be changed daily, weekly, or fortnightly.Finally, there are extended wear lenses, like Focus Night and Day lenses.The more often you replace these lenses, the better it is for your eye health. Disposable contacts provide best vision and are best for your eyes. Design of contact lenses The design of contact lenses can be divided into spherical, toric and multifocal. Spherical lenses are for correction of shortsightedness and a long-sightedness.Toric lenses are for astigmatismMultifocal lenses are used to correct presbyopiaDifferent purposes of lenses Contact lenses can be optical, cosmetic, decorative or therapeutic. Optical contact lenses are intended for the correction of visual anomalies. Cosmetic contact lenses are used to change the appearance of the eye. Color lenses like Freshlook or Acuvue 2 Colors are made to enhance or change your eye color. Decorative lenses are color contacts intended to produce unusual effects - cat's eyes, zombie eyes, vampire eyes, and so on. Therapeutic contact lenses are basically soft contact lenses that can be used like a bandage, to protect the cornea. They might also be used as a reservoir for medications used in the treatment of various diseases of the cornea. Clear and color contacts Contact lenses can be divided into transparent and colored groups. Transparent contact lenses can be completely clear or have faint tint, which makes them easier to find in their storage container but won't affect the appearance of your eyes. Colored lenses change the appearance of your eyes. Cosmetic and decorative contact lenses definitely fall within this category. See color contacts reviews with pictures and suggestions how to select best color contact lenses for you. |
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