Are Contact Lenses Right for You?

Over ten million people in this country, of which 75 percent are female, have been fitted for contact lenses in the last fifteen years (Mandell, 1974). Of those seeking contact lenses between the ages of 17 and 24, about 80 per cent are female (U.S. Vital and Health Statistics, 1971, p. 10). Despite the fact that regular glasses have become very fashionable in recent years, the number of women wearing contact lenses has increased, though research shows that many abandon their lenses after wearing them for only a short time.

These facts raise several questions. Why do females constitute the majority of contact—lens wearers? Have you ever heard that men don't make passes at women who wear glasses? This may sound stupid, sexist, crazy, but look at yourself with your glasses and then without. What do you think? Except for sunglasses, how often have you seen a movie star wear glasses in a movie? In the movies of the forties beautiful women disguised themselves behind glasses. When the leading lady took off her glasses all of a sudden an incredibly gorgeous woman appeared. This may not be fair, but is seems true - we look better without our glasses on. One alternative is to go without your glasses and bumble around all day. Fortunately, contact lenses provide an easier solution and you can now be more beautiful and still be able to see.

Teenagers love to wear contact lenses for a variety of reasons. Glasses might be too clumsy when they play sports or they think they look better if they have contacts. Teenage girls want to have their pretty eyes show brightly to the boys. Even though eyeglasses have become very fashionable in every color of the rainbow, teens prefer to wear contact lenses. Boys also like wearing novelty contact lenses at parties to scare their friends or show off a hot trend.

Contact lenses let people see clearly without the hassle of glasses. Contact lenses move with your eye and allow for a natural field of view. There are no frames to obstruct your vision and they greatly reduce distortions. Contact lenses do not fog up like glasses, nor do they get splattered by mud or rain. They do not get in the way of your active lifestyle. Some contact lenses have UV protection built into the lens material. Many people feel they look better in contact lenses. Also, who wants to worry about losing or breaking their glasses? In this article, you will learn more about contacts so you can decide if they are right for you.

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP)

Advantages: Excellent vision, can correct for astigmatism, comfortable to wear, easy to put on and care for, durable with a relatively long life, relatively inexpensive.

Disadvantages: Require consistent wear to maintain adaptation, can decenter more easily than other types, debris can more easily get under the lenses.

Daily Wear Soft Lenses

Advantages: Very short adaptation period, less lens awareness, less apt to dislodge or decenter, available in tints, relatively inexpensive.

Disadvantages: Vision may not be as sharp as with RGP lenses, lenses must be replaced more frequently, handling may be more difficult, higher incidence of contact lens-related complications.

Disposable/Planned Replacement

Advantages: Require simplified cleaning and disinfection, good for eye health because lenses are replaced more often, wide prescription availability, having spare lenses available.

Disadvantages: Vision may not be as sharp as with RGP's, handling may be more difficult, relatively higher cost.

Within the soft lense category there are many different varieties. There are bifocal contact lenses,lenses designed for astigmatism sufferers, colored contact lenses, extended wear, one-day disposable and many more. There are even colored lenses which can change or enhance your natural eye color. Acuvue makes some of the most popular types of contacts worn today. One of the newest varieties is Acuvue Advance with Hydraclear. These lenses offer long-lasting comfort with all day moisture. They feature a visibility tint so that lenses are easy to see and handle, as well as UVA and UVB protection. Another popular type is the 1-Day Acuvue and Acuvue 2. As the name suggests, these are only used for one day before being disposed of. Many people enjoy these because they don't have to deal with the hassle of protein deposits or thorough cleanings.

If you are considering contacts for yourself but are concerned about the expense, there are many discount contact lens choices available. You can often find coupons and sales, and if you buy online you can sometimes get free shipping. With all the different types of contact lenses out there, you're sure to find the perfect type for your individual vision needs. The first step is to see your eye doctor to find out the kind of lenses you will need. He or she can check your vision and fit you with the perfect pair!

Copyright 2007 Mark Schwartz - All Rights Reserved