Is it time to consider contact lenses?
Contacts are a lot different than eyeglasses and there are good reasons why tens of millions of people wear them.
Contact lenses help people with vision problems see more clearly. Contact lenses also offer an alternative to people who already wear eyeglasses.
Often people make the switch as their need for vision correction increases. For people who wear glasses only occasionally, contacts may not be necessary, but for those who need full-time vision correction, they make more sense.
There are currently about 45 million people in the United States who wear contact lenses.1 Before getting and wearing contact lenses, there’s a lot to consider, says Dan Lam, O.D. He’s an optometrist at Fort Worth Eye Center in Texas.
For those who choose to wear contacts, it’s important to understand the pros and cons, along with what’s expected in terms of routine cleaning.
Is there a difference between a contact lens prescription and one for glasses?
For people who wear eyeglasses, it’s important to know that a different prescription is needed for contact lenses. That’s because contact lenses sit directly on top of the eye.2
Besides getting a separate prescription, contact lenses also require a “contact lens fitting,” to ensure they fit right.3 For people who want to spend less time at their eye doctor’s office, eyeglasses may be the better option. (Looking for a new pair? Access vision benefits today.)
There are good reasons why tens of millions of people choose contact lenses. Let’s take a look.
What people like about contact lenses
Many people wear contact lenses because they may not like the way they look in glasses.4
For others, the decision may be more practical. Some common reasons include:4
- Contact lenses may not get streaked by rain, and they may not get foggy when you come in from the cold.
- Contact lenses may make it easier to play sports, since you may not have to worry about glasses falling off or getting broken.
- Contact lenses may make it easier to do jobs that may require the use of safety goggles.
- Contact lenses may provide better side (peripheral) vision, which may be useful for certain activities.
Have questions about whether contacts may be the right fit? Talk to your eye doctor or check to see if you have a contact lens allowance today.
What people may not like about contact lenses
Contact lenses sit on the front surface of the eye while glasses don’t touch the eyes.5
The biggest risk with wearing contact lenses may come from eye infections,4 but this risk may be managed with proper contact lens care (more on that below).
Contact lenses may also increase the risk of dry eye, eye allergies, or bumps or scratches on the eye.5 People who have long-term dry eye or eye allergies may not be a good fit for contact lenses.
It also may not be a good idea for people who are not able to properly clean and care for contact lenses to use them.4 That includes younger children.6
Contact lenses also may not be recommended for people who work around dust or dangerous fumes.4 Debris can become trapped under the contact, or “chemicals can attach to the surface of the lens and be held against the eye longer,” says Daniel G Fuller, O.D. He’s the chief of cornea and contact lens services at the Eye Center at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee.
Finding the right contact lenses
Modern contact lenses may come in many varieties and sizes. They are designed to meet the needs of different kinds of users.
Finding the best fit, with the right comfort level, may require some trial and error. Working with your eye doctor to try different types may be useful.7
In general, contact lenses come in 2 main categories: soft and hard.4,7
- Soft contact lenses are the most common. They’re made from flexible plastics that make it easy for oxygen to pass through them.
- Hard contact lenses are also called rigid gas permeable lenses.4,7 Compared to soft lenses, they’re more durable and may provide crisper vision. They may be a good option for people with astigmatism (an imperfection in the curvature of the eye) or keratoconus (which creates a cone-shaped cornea, the outer layer of the eye).8
Soft contact lenses may also be broken down by how they’re meant to be used. Popular types of soft contact lenses include:4,7
- Daily wear: These are removed and cleaned with lens solution every night.
- Daily disposable: These are worn once and then thrown away.
- Extended wear: These can be worn without interruption for as long as 30 days.
There are also specialized contacts designed for people with astigmatism, irregular corneas or dry eyes.4,7
Safety concerns all contact lens wearers need to be aware of
The decision to wear contact lenses comes with the need to properly clean and care for them.
“That means proper hygiene and changing intervals and no sleeping in contact lenses,” says Dr. Lam. “Some contact lens–related infections are very aggressive and can leave permanent life-changing damage to the eye.”
The safe use of contacts includes:4,6,9
- Washing hands before touching contact lenses
- Keeping contact lenses away from water, which can deposit germs
- Removing contact lenses before swimming or bathing
- Disposing of contact lens solution after each use
- Removing contact lenses before sleep (unless they’re approved for overnight wear)
- Replacing contact lenses and contact lens cases as directed by your provider (a damaging “biofilm” can build up on lenses, says Dr. Fuller)
When might eyeglasses or contact lenses (or both) be necessary?
“If a patient starts noticing things like increased headaches, difficulty driving at night or complaints about eyestrain, then it may be a good indication to discuss full-time corrective lenses,” says Dr. Lam.
Unfortunately, some people do not realize they have vision problems. The best way to know for sure is to speak with an eye doctor. They will give you an eye exam, and if you need corrective lenses, they will fit you for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
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