Choosing and Caring for Soft Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses are a popular method of vision correction. Many people prefer them to eyeglasses because they're discreet, comfortable and affordable. There are many different kinds of soft contacts available these days. The type you should choose will depend on your individual vision correction needs, personal preferences, price range and the advice of your eye doctor.

Soft contacts are available from a variety of manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, Ciba Vision, Biomedics, Wesley Jessen, and many more. Along with the wide variety of brand names out there, there are also a wide variety of types. Some of the most popular are the disposable type of contact lens. There are one-day disposables, which are only worn for one day before being disposed of. Some people prefer these because they like having a brand new pair of lenses every day. Then there are one and two-week disposable lenses, as well as one-month disposables. There are also what are called vial lenses, which are normally replaced once a year. Within all these categories are selections like toric lenses, bifocal lenses and even colored contacts that change or enhance the natural color of your iris.

What you'll need to do to care for your contacts will depend on the particular type you have. Disposables, especially one-day disposables, require little to no care. With the other types of disposables, your eye doctor will usually recommend you clean and store your lenses in a sterile multi-purpose solution. Contact lens solutions have come a long way. In the past, you had to rinse your lenses in simple saline solution and rub them to remove dirt and irritants. These days, however, there are solutions that are called 'no-rub' and 'all-in-one.' These types of solutions can simplify your lens care routine. With vial lenses, you will probably be directed by your eye doctor to use an enzymatic cleaner on a regular basis to remove protein deposits.

Soft lenses can be comfortable and convenient if cared for properly. However, there are some precautions to consider. If you do not sanitize your lenses correctly, you run the risk of eye infection. With disposables, you need to make sure you're throwing them out as directed and not wearing them past the specified period. If you experience discomfort or redness, you should remove your lenses immediately and consult your eye care professional. Also, if you incur injury to the eye such as a scratched cornea, you should stop wearing your contacts until your eye doctor says it's okay.

While you will need to see your eye doctor to be fitted for soft contact lenses and obtain a prescription, once you do you can choose to purchase your contacts online. Buying your soft lenses online is convenient, fast and can often save you money. Two good sites where you can choose from a wide selection of contacts are http://www.lensesbymail.com and http://www.lens.com. Both of these sites feature amazing selections and satisfaction guarantees -- not to mention competitive prices!

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