Do you wear glasses full time and want to transition to contact lenses? Many people choose contact lenses over conventional eye wear to improve their appearance and enjoy the freedom of not having to wear and manage glasses all day. Contact lenses are available in a variety of styles and choosing the right contact lenses will depend on your eye’s health and overall needs. From daily disposables to monthly varieties, you can look forward to near-perfect vision with the right fit. But how do you choose just the right pair?
Here’s a guide to choosing the right contact lenses:
Types of Contact Lenses
When contact lenses first became available, there were only a few options; most were composed of a hard lens made of PMMA that didn’t allow the eyes to ‘breathe’ and could easily irritate the eyes after a few hours of use.
Today, there are a number of different types of contact lenses available that are much more comfortable and healthier for the eyes.
Disposable lenses are available in daily, 2-week, monthly, and bimonthly versions that require you to discard the lenses after a certain period of time. This means you can put on a fresh pair of contacts and keep your eyes as healthy as possible. Daily disposables are a good choice if your eyes are irritated easily, and are especially beneficial if you travel often. These are simply discarded after each use and do not require storage
2-week and monthly contact lenses are often less costly than daily disposables, and do require daily cleaning and disinfecting. These are a good match for you if you traditionally wear glasses most of the time and need to wear contacts for extended periods of time. These soft lenses are easy to manage and require a weekly deep clean to keep them fresh.
Bimonthly disposables are rarely recommended by optometrists, but are another option if you don’t want to invest in daily or monthly disposable lenses. These contact lenses will slowly start to wear out shortly before the month, and require the same care and cleaning as other disposable lenses.
Trusted Brands Available
The most trusted brands of contact lenses available are:
-Acuvue
-Frequency
-Freshlook
-O2 Optix
-Focus
-Bausch & Lomb
Each of these brands offer various types of lenses, and when you’re making your final selection, there are a few key qualities to look for.
Contact Lenses: What to Look For
Most optometrists will offer you a free trail pair of your chosen contact lenses to make sure you’re wearing the right style and fit for your eyes. Contact lenses are now made with a variety of materials that allow for more oxygen to your eyes. This is important for keeping your eyes healthy and preventing eye strain, dry eyes, and irritation.
You’ll also need contact lenses that:
-Keep your eyes moisturized
-Feel as though you’re not wearing anything at all
-Can be cleaned in a few simple steps
-Have a tint to them so you can find them easily if they’re dropped in the sink or on the floor
-Meet your budget needs as it can be difficult on your eyes if you constantly switch brands
Preparing for the Purchase
After your contact lens exam and review, your optometrist will recommend a particular brand that will be most suitable for your eyes and promote good eye health. You can consider a few different brands to find the best fit, and obtaining a trial pair to test each one out for at least a week is a great way to narrow down your choices.
Most of the major contact lens brands offer rebates on multiple boxes, so it’s a good idea to calculate the total cost of each box after rebates and discounts. Shopping online for contact lenses often leads to a lower price overall, and you will need to provide your prescription and doctor’s information in order to process your order.
Choosing the right contact lenses can take up to 2-3 weeks after your initial exam. It’s important to consider a variety of styles and brands, and a trial pair is the best way to find the right match for you.
