Contact Lens

Contact lenses, like eyeglasses or refractive surgery, can correct your nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Of the people who need vision correction in the United States, about one in five wear contact lenses.

While some people enjoy the fashion statement of eyeglasses, others prefer their appearance without them. Contact lenses can achieve this without irreversible surgery. Contact lenses can also provide a full field of unobstructed vision, which is good for participation in sports.

Contact lenses have been around for more than 100 years. During that time, much advancement has been made that allow just about everyone to wear contact lenses. If you were told in the past that you couldn't wear contact lenses, odds are that's not true today. There are more convenient and healthy contact lens options than ever.

If you're new to contact lenses, your first step is to see an eye doctor. Contact lenses are a prescription item, just like pharmaceuticals. They must be prescribed and properly fitted by an eye care professional (ECP). Your ECP will evaluate your visual needs, your eye structure, and your tears to help determine the best type of lens for you.

The many types of contact lenses currently available can be grouped in various ways according to:

• What they're made of
• How long you wear them without removal
• How often you dispose of them
• The design of the lens