Eye Doctors Explain How to Choose Contact Lenses

Some people think that they can walk up to that eyewear shop, buy a pair of contact lenses, and wear them. However, this is not how it works. Choosing the most appropriate contact lenses for your eyes is a decision that should be made with the help of an eye care professional. Choosing the right pair of eyewear depends on several factors, such as refractive errors, the degree to which your eyes can tolerate contact lens wear, your expectations, as well as your willingness to properly care for the contact lenses. Eye doctors explain how to choose contact lenses, and after your finished reading this article, search for eyeglasses and contact lens places and research the best place for you. 

Consider how often you’ll wear contacts. Maybe it’s daily, weekly or only on special occasions. Soft contact lenses can be worn full-time or part-time because they are comfortable. Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contacts, however, need to be worn consistently or daily for them to feel comfortable.

The sharpness of your vision also plays a significant role in the choice of your contacts, as RGP lenses may take some time before you get used to them, but they tend to provide sharper vision for those with astigmatism than soft contacts would. If soft contacts do not work or provide the clarity you are looking for, then you should probably switch to RGP lenses.

Similarly, the level of care you’re willing to give your eyewear also determines what contacts you should consider. To avoid corneal ulcers, fungal eye infections, and other serious contact lens-related issues, you should properly care for your contacts by using the right solution recommended by your eye doctor. Whereas you may opt for disposable contacts, daily lens care has been attributed to reduced eye infections and improved overall eye health for those who wear contact lenses. If cleaning and disinfecting your eyewear daily is too much work for you, then you should probably consider disposable lenses that you can get rid of every day. “One-day” soft lenses can be discarded every day after use before wearing new ones the next day.

Another key factor to consider when choosing contacts is whether you’re going to wear them overnight. FDA-approved contact lenses for overnight wear allow oxygen to pass through them and are safe to put on. However, continuous wear may not be safer for everyone and you should consult your eye care professional before considering them. Extended wear contacts require your optometrist to evaluate the extent to which your eyes can tolerate overnight wear so that it is completely safe for you to wear.

Other important considerations include allergies and dry eyes, which may limit what you wear. Some contact lenses are specially designed for dry eyes and may be more comfortable to wear. Just ensure you discuss with your eye doctor before making any decisions related to contacts. Other factors include whether you an eye color change, wear bifocals, cost of contacts, and more.

According to eye doctors, these are some of the factors to examine when considering eye contact lenses. First, you have to consider your eye problem or any other underlying conditions and allergies that may make it uncomfortable to wear contacts or hinder you from wearing some and not others. However, the most important thing is to seek professional advice before making your decision.