6 Things You Need to Know Before Getting Contacts
If you ’ rhenium considering getting contact lenses, there are a few things you need to know. This guide is for anyone interest in contact lenses, particularly if you :
- Have contacts but want to buy them online
- Are considering switching from eyeglasses to contacts
- Are getting your first vision correction treatment
- Are interested in contacts for cosmetic reasons
Your eye health is a full of life aspect of your overall health. It ’ south crucial to make an inform decisiveness when deciding which contacts to buy. That ’ south why we put together this scout. We ’ ll answer common questions and help you find comfortable, goodly, and clear sight .
*This guide is not intended to replace the advice of an center doctor. You should rely on a restricted eye care professional for individualized information and recommendations .
1. Schedule a Contact Lens Fitting
The most crucial matter to know is that you ’ ll need an center examen and liaison lens fitting. This can be performed by an eye doctor ( optometrist or ophthalmologist ).
Reading: How to Get Contacts in 2022
During the eye examination, your doctor will check the overall health of your eye. They will determine your eye prescription drug, test how your eyes work together, check the fluid pressure in your eyes, and check to see if you have any center infections or conditions .
An eye examination is not enough to determine your contact lens prescription drug. Your eye doctor will need to perform a liaison lens examination for this. They may measure :
- Your corneal curvature
- Pupil or iris size
- Tear film quality
These measurements will help your eye doctor determine whether you should wear contact lenses or not. They will besides discuss your life style to help you determine a goodly wear and replacement schedule. many center doctors will then give you a rid trial pair of contacts to test out for a week or two .
Your eye doctor ’ second recommendations are the best beginning of information for which type and mark of contact lens or other eyewear you should purchase .
Where to Buy Glasses + Contacts
Best Overall: Warby Parker
Fastest Delivery: EyeBuyDirect
Also Great: Liingo
Best Place to Buy Contacts: 1800 Contacts
2. Contact Lens Prescriptions
reach lens and glasses prescriptions are different. Glasses rest about 12mm from your eyes, whereas contacts are placed directly on your eyes. This means that the strengths of the prescription may be different .
example of a Contact Lens Prescription
model of an Eyeglasses prescription
The two types of prescriptions contain some of the lapp information. Though these may refer to the lapp prescription elements, the numbers may be unlike depending on the device .
For both prescriptions, OD stands for eye dexter, and means right eye. OS stands for eye sinister, and means left eye .
power ( PWR ) or SPHERE ( SPH ) is shown on both types of prescription. This is the refractive baron ( normally called “ strength ” ) of your prescription. ( + ) indicates prevision correction and ( – ) indicates myopia correction. The larger the act, the stronger the prescription .
Cylinder ( CYL ) and AXIS are measurements for people with astigmatism. CYL measures the amount of astigmatism correction. AXIS measures the direction of astigmatism correction. They appear on both prescriptions but will only have a count if the patient has astigmatism .
B.C. stands for base crook and measures the curvature of the at heart of a contact lens. The number is normally between 8 and 10. This should match the curvature of your center to achieve maximum comfort and fit .
DIA represents the diameter of the lens, or width from edge to edge. This numeral is normally between 13 and 15 millimeter ( smaller for rigid gas-permeable lenses ). It determines where the contact sits on your center .
You ’ ll welcome separate prescriptions for your eyeglasses and touch lenses. Be certain to ask your eye doctor of the church for a copy of each. specially if you ’ rhenium planning on purchasing contacts or glasses online .
3. Types of Contacts
There are two types of contact lenses :
- Hard (rigid gas-permeable, or RGP)
- Soft contacts
Rigid gas-permeable contact lenses are not a popular as soft lenses, though some people still prefer them. They are custom-shaped to the patient ’ second center condition, which may provide you with sharper imagination. They are more durable and last retentive ( typically 1-2 years ). RGP lenses move on your center with each wink, allowing oxygen and tears under the lens .
Soft contact lenses are much more common than RGP lenses. Most people find the silicone hydrogel material of indulgent lenses more comfortable. There are a broad variety of soft lenses available. Each type of soft lens will have a particular wear and substitution schedule, so you can find one that fits your needs and life style .
Toric lenses are a especial type of contacts for people with astigmatism. They have a slightly different shape to take the deformed cornea into account .
Multifocal contact lenses are available for people with presbyopia. They can replace bifocal or multifocal eyeglasses .
4. Wear & Replacement Schedules
soft contact lenses all come with recommend patient wear routines. These, combined with your eye doctor of the church ’ second personalized directions, will make up your wear and replacement schedule .
There are three standard types of soft lenses :
Daily disposable lenses are worn for one day and then discarded. They are rising in popularity due to their public toilet and guard. With dailies, you don ’ t need a contact case or solution .
You simply throw them off at the end of the day. Weekly or monthly lenses are susceptible to the build-up of proteins and lipids, which can cause eye infections. daily lenses negate the risk of build-up. They are besides very popular with people with dry eyes .
Weekly/bi-weekly lenses get replaced every workweek or two, depending on your eyes. They offer a balance wheel of convenience and ease. The popular Acuvue Oasys lenses are an example of bi-weekly lenses .
Monthly contact lenses need to be replaced 30 days after opening. They are the most cost-efficient type of easy lenses. however, they do require more clean and care than daily disposables .
Extended wear contacts are FDA approved for nightlong wear. Most are approved for seven days and six nights. While Air Optix Night & Day lenses are approved for 30 days and nights of continuous wear .
*Important Safety Information: not all patients can wear the lenses for extend wear. approximately 80 % of patients are able to wear the contacts during the day and at night. Always follow the eye concern professional ’ sulfur recommended lens wear, care and substitution schedule. nightlong break of contact lenses has been shown to increase the gamble of certain unplayful contact lens–related complications .
5. Buying Contacts Online
Buying contacts on-line is dim-witted, condom, and commodious ( and often cheaper ) as long as you’ve had a professional contact lens fitting beforehand .
If you have never worn contacts, you should see an eye doctor. They will perform an center examination and fitting and give you pointers and help you put your contacts in for the foremost clock time .
however, once you know what brand of contacts work good for you, purchasing contacts on-line can be more convenient and cost-efficient than visiting your eye doctor to ordain. many sites allow you to buy contacts as a erstwhile purchase or sign up for a subscription .
hera are some of the best sites to purchase contacts online :
1800 CONTACTS started 25 years ago, and have been pushing the vision industry in new directions ever since. They offer a huge excerpt of contact lenses, ( probably more than your eye sophisticate ), adenine well as highly rated 24/7 customer serve .
You can buy contacts one box at a time or sign up for their extremely commodious subscription service so new contacts show up right when you need them .
Find Your Contacts at 1800 CONTACTS
LensDirect has been a drawing card in vision care products for about 30 years. They are a family ply business that constantly receives high rankings in industry reviews. They have a huge selection of contacts, eyeglasses, and sunglasses, and can ship products the same sidereal day .
Find Your Contacts at LensDirect
AC Lens has besides been providing services for over 25 years. They offer a large choice of contacts, eyeglasses, sunglasses, readers, and other center care products. Their prices are systematically lower than most other on-line retailers .
Find Your Contacts at AC Lens
6. Contact Lens FAQs
Can I sleep in my contact lenses?
lone sealed contacts are FDA approved for extended wear. Most extensive wear brands are merely approved for 6 nights of continuous wear, while some are approved for up to 30 days/nights .
If your contacts are not approved for continuous wear you should never sleep in them. It could seriously damage your eyes. besides, not all touch lens wearers are eligible for extend wear contacts .
Speak with your eye doctor to find out more significant guard information and to see if you are eligible .
How many hours a day can you wear contact lenses?
Most people can wear contacts comfortably for 14 to 16 hours per day. however, many eye caution professionals recommend wearing contacts for no more than 12 hours a day. Follow any advice from your eye doctor of the church .
Can I swim or shower in my contact lenses?
No, the FDA states that contact lenses should never be exposed to any water. This includes exploit, bottled, distilled, lake, or ocean urine. Water contains countless microorganisms that can cause eye infections, irritation, and tied corneal ulcers .
Who has the cheapest contact lenses online?
AC Lens and DiscountContactLenses.com have systematically lower prices while still providing beneficial customer military service .
Best Places to Buy Contacts
Best Overall
1-800 Contacts is our # 1 recommendation to buy contacts online .
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Also Great
GlassesUSA has a huge choice of contacts, glasses, & sunglasses.
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Best Places to Buy Glasses
Best Overall
Warby Parker has stylish, high-quality frames at low-cost prices .
Shop Now
Also Great
Liingo Eyewear is another capital choice to buy glasses online .
Shop Now
Best on a Budget
EyeBuyDirect has a broad kind of budget frames starting at $ 6 .
Shop Now
