Contact lenses, as a form of eyesight correction, have been around for decades. The earliest forms of contact lenses were made of a glass-like material that would often become quite uncomfortable and irritate the wearer.
Since then, major advancements have been made in material types, leading to greater comfort and increased wear-time for users. Contact lenses these days come in a huge range of prescriptions, have greater oxygen transmission (which is important for the health of your corneas) and are less likely to dry your eyes out.
Most contact lenses prescribed now are disposable – they are worn a certain number of times before discarding them. Daily (one day wear) disposables are now the most common type of contact lenses prescribed in the world. As the name suggests, these lenses are discarded at the end of each day, meaning the wearer does not have to clean them and store them overnight. They are also considered the healthiest option for your eyes. Other disposable wearing options include fortnightly or monthly contact lenses.
Soft conventional contact lenses can also be prescribed (which can last a few years), as well as hard contact lenses, which are typically used for more complex corneal problems.
Contact lenses can be beneficial in numerous ways. Sport is a prime example. Many people also enjoy contact lenses when they are out and about, socialising.
It is very important that you do not wear ‘off-the-shelf’ novelty contact lenses as these have increased potential to do harm to your eye health and eyesight.
Most optometrists are more than happy to discuss and fit contact lenses should they be suitable for you. You are never too old either. There are many different types of contacts available that can correct both your distance and reading vision.
So, if you are interested, the next time you have an eye test ask your optometrist about contact lenses!