A Beginner''s Guide To Contact Lenses

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 12
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Making the switch from glasses to contact lenses can be literally life-changing for some people. As well as the aesthetic benefits, contacts are user-friendly, inexpensive and comfortable to wear.

If you''re keen to give contact lenses a trial run then your first stop should be your optician. He or she will offer you a choice of soft or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses depending on your needs and preferences. Within these categories, there are lenses suitable for daily or extended wear, and different types for correcting a range of vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia.

As with glasses, you will also need to consider aesthetic preferences when choosing contacts. Some lenses are designed to disguise eye disfigurement, while others come in a range of colours and patterns ? from tiger stripes to bright blue and attractive hazel.

To find the right contacts for you, it''s important to consider your aesthetic preferences, the vision problems you need to correct, and the fit. You can buy contact lenses online or from some non-specialist stores with no consultation ? but if you ...
... don''t want to experience problems later than it''s best to have your lenses fitted by an optician. He or she will also be able to diagnose special needs, which should help eliminate potential discomfort.

Don''t be put off switching to contacts by rumours about the difficulty of application. This is a process which many people can find tricky initially, but your technique will improve with frequent practice.

Start by washing your hands to ensure that the lenses remain clean. It''s also idea to get into the habit of starting with the same eye, so that your contacts don''t get mixed up. Take the first lens in the palm of your hand, and rinse it with specialist cleaning fluid before picking it up with the tip of your middle finger. Ensure that the lens is the right way round ? it should look like a full bowl, rather than a shallow bowl with a rim.

To remove your lens, move it the side of your eye and gently pinch it in the middle ? it should pop out easily.

Once you''ve overcome the squeamishness of putting them in and taking them out, contact lenses are straightforward to use. They can be worn comfortably with eye makeup, and good quality lenses will also help to protect your eyes from UV light. There are plenty of benefits to switching your glasses for contacts, so don''t put off making the change ? visit your optician today. Bonny Kominek has worn contact lenses for about 8 years now and has tried all the tips and tricks associated, he advises Vision Direct.