Contact lenses are an excellent corrective option for those who choose not to wear glasses full time. There are hundreds of options for soft contact lenses based on replacement schedule, material, or even special features such as colored lenses. With so many contact lens choices, there are options for nearly everyone. If you are interested in trying soft contact lenses, continue reading to learn more about your lens possibilities.
How Often Should You Replace Your Soft Contact Lenses?
Different brands of contact lenses should be replaced at different times, based on lens material and lens design. Monthly discarded every 30 days or sooner, and biweekly lenses should be discarded every 15 days or sooner. Many people who consistently wear contact lenses on a daily basis choose these extended wear lenses. While some extended replacement lenses have been approved by the FDA to be slept in, most eye doctors agree that lenses should be removed and cleaned at night as often as possible in order to improve comfort and decrease risk of infection or lens-associated irritation. Daily disposable lenses are soft contact lenses that are worn for only one day, then discarded. These lenses are a popular option among optometrists because they promote healthier eyes and significantly decrease the risk of eye infections. Daily disposable lenses are also an ideal option for those who plan on only wearing contact lenses infrequently, such as for special occasions or sporting events. Your doctor will prescribe lenses by taking your preferences and wear-schedule into consideration.
Visual Correction Options
Contact lenses can be an option for a wide variety of prescriptions. Spherical lenses are designed with a single corrective power in the lens. These lenses are the most common option for correcting nearsightedness or farsightedness. Toric lenses are lenses with a more complex optical design that are used to correct for an astigmatism. There are even multifocal contact lenses, also called bifocal contact lenses, that can be used in presbyopia. These multifocal lenses contain powers to correct for both distance vision and near vision. Most spherical, toric, and multifocal contact lenses can come in any replacement schedule. There are even some multifocal contact lenses that can also correct for an astigmatism. No matter how complex your prescription is, there is likely a soft contact lens design that can help you see clearer.
Special Soft Contact Lens Qualities
There are special designs of soft contact lenses that can be used for different cosmetic or health-related purposes. Colored contact lenses are soft lenses that enhance or change the natural color of the iris. These lenses can come with or without a prescription. Some of the newest soft lens technology includes UV-activated tinted lenses. Much like photochromatic lenses for glasses, these soft contact lenses transition to a darker tint when exposed to sunlight, and can be a useful option for athletes, those who spend long hours outdoors, or even those with medical conditions that make them particularly sensitive to light. Just like normal soft lenses, these special contact lenses require a prescription from an eye care professional.
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