Taking Care Of Your Vision

It is so fascinating how far the eyes can see sometimes beyond the physical and the imminent. Imagine the colors of the world, the spirit of life all in pitch black. After 10, 20 or 30 years of your life you lived within the colors of the world. How would you feel if at the prime of your life you found yourself in darkness, going to be blind?

Blindness or vision loss has become a major public health concern in the United States in recent years. Over 3.3 million 40-year old or over Americans suffer blindness and loss of vision and it was predicted that this might reach to 5.5 million by the year 2020.

Eyesight killers are usually caused by age-related diseases such as cataract (clouding of the lens of the eyes), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration (deterioration of the macula - the structure of the eye that makes you see). In other situations, pregnant women are at a higher risk of eyesight problems due to unstable hormone levels, high blood pressure and diabetes.

It is wise that before any of these happens to you, proper care for the eyes should be strictly observed. The first thing you need to do is to identify the common risks that your eyes might encounter especially outside or if you are at work:
- irritants and corrosives;
- splashes;
- ultraviolet radiation from electrical work and welding;
- tree branches;
- dust and dirt;
- particles from cutting, drilling, digging and other operations;
- fibers from fiberglass and any other similar materials.

If you are a driller, welder or a carpenter, much care should be given to your eyes. First you have to apply the use of protective eyewear suited for your job and there are some ways you can prevent eye hazards from work or even at home:
- Separate dangerous operations and other work-related processes in isolated areas.
- Use of a good ventilation system may also control fumes and dust.
- Cover dusty surfaces.
- Ensure the proper keeping for sources of mists or vapors and fine dusts.
- Build glass guard around the machines to prevent flying particles and splashing of hazardous liquids.
- Install movable shields around lathes, grinders and similar machines to safeguard other workers.
- Make use of protective screens and wire mesh grids.

Moreover, the protective eyewear you use at work should be in perfect condition and should pass the set standards and these are:
- scratch-resistant and should have good quality;
- follow the international safety standards set for protective eyewear;
- good ventilation;
- can clearly see from the eyewear;
- does not obstruct your vision;
- can prevent harmful radiation going to your eyes;
- can follow your working position easily;
- light and can fit well to you.

Furthermore, your eyes can be protected not only from physical and external factors such as flying particles but also by eating foods that will strengthen your eyesight such as those rich in antioxidant minerals and vitamins. Another protection is through supplements that help in increasing the antioxidant levels, avoiding choices that contribute to a harmful lifestyle and by following and developing good habits.

Eye infections may occur so be sure to prevent the situation from happening by:
- Keeping a habit to wash your hands regularly.
- Avoid sharing your eye make-up with anyone else or your eye drops.
- Avoid touching the tip of the bottle of your eye drops so as not to contaminate it with germs.
- Do not wet your contact lenses with your mouth.

Your mouth is where most bacteria and viruses are found and by using it, they can spread the bacteria and virus so easily in your eyes.
Other suggestions which you can apply in caring for your eyes are:
- Wear your protective eyewear in case needed in your work.
- Always wash your face and never leave your make up on when going to sleep.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before you touch your eyes.
- Be more careful in dealing with household products like detergents, bleach and other cleaners. - In wearing mascara, always make sure that you replace it regularly and do not keep it in places with extreme temperature.
- Regularly have your eye check up.
- Do not use preservative free or natural cosmetics because these allow bacteria to live longer.
- Eat foods that are antioxidant and rich in zinc.

Keep on following all these and you are sure to continue enjoying the colors of the world even after you turn 40.

About the Author
Lee Dobbins writes for http://vision.health-webzone.com where you can learn more about eye care and eye health.

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Color Contact Lenses

According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia © 2001-2006 "A contact lens (also known as "contact", for short) is a corrective or cosmetic lens placed on the cornea of the eye atop the iris.
Contacts can come in a number of varieties, including hard and soft.

Hard contacts are typically not disposable, while soft contacts often are. Some soft contacts are also known as extended wear lenses. The most commonly used contact lenses today are of the soft variety, invented in 1961 by the Czech chemist Otto Wichterle (1913-1998).

Contact lenses (both soft and hard) are made of various types of polymers, usually containing some variant of silicone hydrogel. Previously, hard contact lenses were made of a polymer known as PMMA. They have since been replaced by rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Many contact lenses are made of hydrophilic (water-absorbing) materials, thereby allowing oxygen to reach the cornea, and make the lens more comfortable to wear.

Heavily tinted contacts are tinted to change the color of the iris, and are used for cosmetic reasons. Some standard contact lenses are slightly tinted in order to make them more visible for handling purposes. Color contact lenses are mostly used by teenagers now-a-days to change their looks while attending parties and other special occasions.

There are people who want to have a different look and changing the color of their eye gives that changed look. No wonder it gives a stunning look if you choose the right color of the lens so that it matches your body color and hair color. Blue, Grey, Hazel, Turquoise, Aqua, Brown, Green, and Violet are some of the color in which you get the contact lenses.

Apart from this there is also cheap crazy contact lens available in the market that changes the looks of your eyes to that of the cat or a dog. You can even change your eyes to look as if it is the eyes of a panther or a lizard. Such lenses that give the special effects to your eyes are easily available in the market.

Special effects like flame, cross, and flower are also available. You have a wide variety of choice to choose from. Such special effects lenses are used mostly in parties like Halloween and other special occasions.

Most of these contact lenses come without any vision correction. If your eye needs a lens that needs some vision correction then you have to place an order specially to suit your eyes.

Most of these colored lenses can be bought without any prescription; however there are some stores that require you to furnish the prescription from a doctor to make the purchase. These contact lenses are mostly of disposable type. Daily disposable, weekly disposable and monthly disposable types are available in the market.

There are different brands of lenses to choose from. A simple search on the internet would give you a lot of online stores from which you can order your contact lenses.

About the Author
Ian Koch is an internet publisher who likes to publish Contact Lens Information. You can go to 1st-in-contact-lenses.net for more

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Monthly Disposable Contact Lenses Care Guide

Monthly disposables are amongst the most popular type of contact lenses for the 75 million wearers worldwide. This is because they are cost effective and very comfortable owing to the development of new lens material which allows more oxygen to reach the eye.

We have put together a care guide to help you look after your monthly disposable lenses.

This guide has been prepared by our professional optometrists to ensure that it contains the most useful and up to date information possible.

1. Always wash your hands prior to touching your lenses. If you can, use a non-scented soap as fragranced soap leaves a residue on your fingers which can be transferred to your lenses and irritate your eyes.

2. Keeping your fingernails short and filing away jagged edges reduces the risk of scratching your lenses or eye.

3. Always apply make up AFTER inserting your lenses to make sure that you don't get residue in your eye or on your contact lenses.

4. Never soak your contact lenses in tap water because it contains bacteria that can cause eye infections. Instead you should use specially designed contact lens solution.

5. Don't keep the same contact lens solution in your lens store case and use it for multiple soakings- solution should be used once and then thrown away.

6. Rinse your storage case thoroughly every day with a sterile rinsing solution.

7. Change your lens storage case every three months.

Since monthly disposable contact lenses are worn for a whole month before they are disposed of it is important to take proper care of them. Failure to do so can cause eye infections which can result in discomfort, redness and even distorted vision. If you have any questions about the care tips outlined above please contact your optometrist for information and advice.

About the Author
One Stop is the UK's largest independent contact lens retailer. We sell monthly disposable contact lenses from all the major brands and guarantee to never be knowingly undersold.

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Save Money on Eye Care with Vision Insurance

Vision insurance is a form of coverage that is often not included in many insurance plans offered by employers, although it is becoming more common today. Some plans, if they do have vision coverage, may just be for the eye exam.

With the costs of glasses, contact lens and the various forms of laser surgery today, many people desire and require vision insurance. Some employers will offer vision insurance at an additional cost. These are the cafeteria style benefit programs where the employee selects the coverage level desired and pays the additional premiums.

There are various vision plans available independent of employer-provided insurance. Purchased vision insurance programs differ in the kinds of coverage included and also in the amount of covered expenses.

Most plans provide the minimum coverage, eye exam, glasses and contacts and glaucoma testing with the amount paid depending on the terms of the policy. The cost to consumer is approximately $50 per year. The cost is lower if it is an add-on to an employer provided policy or HMO. However, the HMO will restrict the selection of the provider to one within their network.

Some vision insurance plans, like other forms of insurance, will let you select the level of coverage that you desire. The better the coverage is, the higher the cost is. Some even provide partial coverage for laser correction surgery, although this is not included in many plans. Avesis is one such provider of vision plans. Their plan covers glasses and contact lens and a small portion of the costs of LASIK procedures. Their plan does not cover treatment of eye diseases. The insured has to stay within their provider network to obtain the maximum benefits. If they go outside the network, they have to pay the bill in full and submit a claim for reimbursement of the portion of the benefits covered.

VSP is another provider of individual vision care plans. Their plans are similar to the one described for Avesis, with some variations. Since VSP is in the process of developing programs in various states, the individual has to check their website to see if coverage is available in their state yet. Eyemed, and Spectera are other vision care providers. All of them make a distinction between network providers and out-of-network providers.

Many employers, realizing the cost of eye care especially with the advances made, like LASIK surgery, make some form of coverage available and many times at an additional cost to the employee. Those without employer provided coverage can look on the internet for available vision insurance plans. Avesis, VSP, Eyemed and Spectera are the vision care providers. The costs and the level of coverage depend on the plan the individual selects but most plans just cover lenses and exams.

About the Author
For more vision insurance information, visit http://www.1st-insurance-shop.com

Contact Lens Problems

Despite the fact that contact lenses are worn by more than 75 million people worldwide and the majority of these people do not experience any problems, complications can arise.

Problems are normally caused by not looking after your lenses properly. If you do not follow the guidelines given by your optometrist, you risk contracting an infection.

If you do feel any discomfort when you wear your lenses, we recommend removing them and making an appointment to see your optometrist straight away.

Contact lens problems are fairly rare and easily treated. This article outlines some of the most common contact lens complications and what causes them.

Corneal Ulcers
Corneal Ulcers are contracted by not cleaning contact lenses well enough. You are most likely to get a corneal ulcer if you wear soft lenses or extended wear contact lenses.
Corneal Ulcers are extremely unpleasant and cause acute pain, redness and discharge. If you think that you might have a corneal ulcer, you should stop wearing your contact lenses immediately and ask your optometrist for advice.

Corneal Oedemas
Corneal Oedemas are caused by not getting adequate oxygen to your cornea. In the majority of cases you will not experience any physical symptoms if you have a Corneal Oedema. If you do have physical symptoms you might experience eye pain when you remove their lenses and hazy vision.

Regular eye exams can help detect if there is not enough oxygen reaching your cornea before problems actually occur.

Corneal Abrasions
Corneal abrasions can be caused by particles getting trapped under your lenses and scratching your cornea. Corneal abrasions are much more likely to happen with RGP lenses than with soft contact lenses.

Although corneal abrasions are unpleasant you do not normally need medical treatment for them.

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis
Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis is the most common contact lens complication. It is caused by an immune reaction to the protein in your contact lenses. It causes a number of small swellings to appear on the inside of the eyelids makes your eyes red and itchy.

Although Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis will not damage your eyesight, it will make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable.

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis is treated by stopping or reducing the amount of time that you wear your contact lenses for. In most cases the temporary use of steroids is also prescribed.

About the Author
One Stop Contact Lenses is the UK's largest independent online contact lens retailer. We sell daily disposable contact lenses at unbeatable prices- we promise to match any price that beats ours!

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Different Types Of Contact Lenses

If you are considering getting contact lenses, or wondering if there are contact lenses available for your particular vision problem, you may be surprised to learn how many different types of contacts are on the market today.

Soft contact lenses are the most commonly found today, though hard contact lenses are available. The original type of hard contact lenses tend to be uncomfortable and don't allow oxygen to reach the eye, so they can't be worn for long periods of time. You will rarely if ever see these anymore.

There are however hard lenses called rigid gas permeable, or RGP lenses. Unlike the old hard lenses, the RGP lenses are made of a silicone compound which, despite the rigid moniker, is more flexible than older hard lenses, making it more comfortable to wear. It will take a little while to get used to them though. The other advantage is that they allow a lot of oxygen to the eye, in fact, more oxygen gets to the eye than in most soft contact lenses.

There are also contact lenses for vision problems that formerly could not be corrected with contacts. Today contacts are available for astigmatism and bifocals. There are also contacts that can be used for a process called ortho-k. In this procedure, you actually wear the contact lenses only while you sleep, during which time they change the shape of your cornea and correct your vision without surgery.

There are colored contacts, and special effects contact lenses that can cover your eyes with everything from spirals to flames to the logo of your favorite NFL team. While these lenses are available with no vision correction qualities, you still must get a prescription for them. Since they go directly on your eye, they are classified as a medical device and as such, require a prescription.

Finally, contact lens types vary in how long they are designed to be worn. Many RGP lenses will last many years if they are cared for properly. Soft contact lenses last about one year. There are also disposable lenses designed for wear anywhere from one day to two weeks. In between are frequent replacement lenses, which last one or a few months.

Your eye care professional will help you choose the type of contact lens that is best for you based on your type of vision problem, eye health, and lifestyle.

About the Author
Cathy Peterson writes about Contacts LenzCoupons,Contact lenz and Contact Lens Promotion codes

Buying Contact Lenses Online

Most contact lens users are buying disposable contact lenses. By replacing your lenses on a regular basis, you improve the care of your eyes and decrease the chances of infection. But disposable contact lenses require purchasing them on a periodic basis.

If you are going to your local optometrist or eye care center, this can be very time consuming, and your time is precious. Not only do you have to make the drive, which in an urban setting can be a hassle, you also have to wait your turn to be served. I can think of better ways to spend my time. That is one of the reasons I began buying my contacts lenses online. The other being the savings, which can be as much as 50%.

How simple is it to buy contact lenses online?
First, you comparison shop and find who has the best deal. In my research I have found both Coastal Contacts and 1800 Contacts to be excellent online retailers, in addition to having an enormous selection and inventory. Both companies offer deep discounts, rebates, free offers and free shipping.

Once you select an online contact lens retailer you simply shop online (You can also fax your order or phone it in). You select the brand and the quantity. After you find your brand of lenses, enter your prescription information and the quantity you want. Often you will find that the larger the quantity purchased, the more money you save.

You then are asked to provide your eye doctor's contact information or a copy of your prescription. You will then see a confirmation page with an order number. This will let you know your order has been received and is on its way. You will be sent an email copy of this confirmation.

The company will verify your prescription and forward you an email letting you know when your order has shipped and when to expect delivery. Often the contacts show up in a few days. Once you've set-up your account and the company has verified your prescription future orders can be placed in less than a minute.

Now which is preferable? Getting in your car, driving to the local eye care center (with gas at $3.00 a gallon), and waiting in line to place your order, or shopping from the convenience of your home. It should be noted that the larger online contact lens retailers have a massive inventory, so the chances of having your contacts in stock are considerably higher than your local eye care center.

With our hectic lives buying your contact lenses online is one way to simplify it.

About the Author
Fred Waters is a free-lance writer for 888-contact-lens.com, where you can find the best deals on color contact lenses and other popular brands and styles.

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The Solution for Itchy Summer Eyes

The heat wave that has spread across the UK over the last few weeks has made most of us sweaty and uncomfortable and it looks like there's more hot weather to come. According to weather forecasters global warming is going to mean soaring temperatures during June, July and August are likely to be the norm in the future.

The heat does not just make people tired and bad tempered. For many contact lens wearers it can also mean months of itchy eyes. This can make them more sensitive to lenses during the summer months.

The reason for this is that the pollen count increases when the weather is warm which can cause seasonal allergies. If you are suffering from itchy eyes and are finding your contact lenses uncomfortable, do not despair; help is at hand!

Switching to glasses whilst your eyes itch in the heat can be one effective way to alleviate your problems. However, for those of you who prefer the appearance of contacts, there is another alternative.

You could try wearing daily disposable lenses for a few hours every day. Unlike with regular contact lenses, daily disposables get thrown away at the end of every day. This means that deposits are less likely to build up on their surface which increases the level of comfort that they offer.

Another option is to use anti-histamine eye drops to help relieve your itchy eyes. However, if you do use these drops bear in mind that they cannot be used alongside your contact lenses.
Or, how about trying mast-cell stabilizer drops? These are designed to strengthen the cell membrane of your eyes to reduce itchiness.

Many contact lens wearers complain about having itchy eyes during the summer. This is usually the result of seasonal allergies provoked by an increased pollen count. Although the problem is widespread it can be easily remedied by switching to glasses or daily disposable contact lenses or by using anti-histamine or mast-cell stabilizer eye drops.

About the Author
One Stop Contact Lenses sells daily disposable contact lenses at unbeatable prices- we promise to match any price that beats ours!

Contact lenses: For stylish & peripheral vision!

Thanks to the Italian inventor, artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci who described and sketched the first ideas for contact lenses in 1508!

But it was more than 300 years later before contact lenses were actually fabricated and worn on the eyeball. German glassblower F.E. Muller produces the first glass contact lens in 1887.
A contact lens (also known as "contact", for short) is a corrective or cosmetic lens placed on the cornea of the eye atop the iris.

Many people do wear contact lenses on grounds of convenience and beauty, but they really do have some practical reasons too. Contact lenses do vanish to your eyes as soon as you wear them. So, they wear colored contact lenses for altering the appearance of the eye, just for the style.

People choose to wear contact lenses for a variety of reasons. Providing numerous advantages, contact lenses give you more freedom to maintain your active lifestyle. Contact lenses naturally provide better vision than spectacles for some visual conditions such as severe short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, corneal distortion, or post cataract removal.

A wider field of view is provided by contact lenses. For a peripheral vision, contact lenses are really worth for, as it is often blocked, or limited by spectacle frames. Contact lenses do not fog up with changes in temperature, or from perspiration. They are also unaffected by rain. Soft contact lenses pose no weight and because they have no frame they do not constantly slip down your nose.

Lenses are unique for people who play sports, dance, or have active lifestyles. Lenses help your children avoid the psychological and physical traumas related to wearing glasses. Contact lenses can protect the cornea during recuperation. Special soft medical lenses are made for this purpose.

There are some cons too. Contact lenses need frequent replacement, so they are expensive. Contact lenses need to be washed and cleared properly; otherwise it will cause eye infection. Caring for the contact lenses takes time.

Despite these facts, it seems that the benefits the contact lenses offer outweigh the effort that is needed to take care of them. Besides, they move with your eyes to the desired objects. There are so many companies which do arrange for the cheap contact lenses. So, for better sight and clarity, just buy contact lenses online, immediately!

About the Author
Peter Msn is a freelance Writer who researches every article with full consideration of the target audience and for more information regarding the contact lenses, colored contact lenses, cheap contact lenses and buy contact lenses online he advocates this site http://www.eyesonline.com.au/

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Eye Strain: An Inside out Problem

The present age has been called the "computer generation" there have been many advances in technology over the last century that has made life easier on everyone. Our society is dominated by machines especially computers.

Ill-effects of lifestyle changes on your eyes Computers have become an indispensable part of our lives, making everything easier, allowing people to work quickly and efficiently. However, there is a dark side, the constant use of computers can cause medical problems that can plague you for a long time.

Eyestrain The most common health problem you are likely to encounter is eyestrain/damage. Imagine yourself on a regular day sitting in front of your computer for hours as you would normally do, you might not realize that you are harming your eyes by doing so. Once you put strain on our eye muscles, they begin to show signs of breakdown. You might get severe headaches, pain, irritation, or burning sensation in eyes, blurred vision, etc.

Time to realize the gravity of eyestrain Eyestrain is caused by a continuous exposure to computer, television, or any other device that changes color, content, and appearance too often or rapidly. Eyestrain makes your eyes look tired and worn out. Further, if you neglect your eyes, they will be strained to such an extent it will be difficult to do any reasonable repair. You need to be extra careful if your occupation needs you to work with computers, VDTs, wielding machines, etc.

Eyestrain decreases your concentration and leads to chronic fatigue, preventing you from fulfilling your tasks on time. Further, eyestrain has a detrimental effect on your eyes, making them dull and lifeless. Gradually, eyestrain leads to other eye problems like dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles, crow's feet, and so on.

After doing all that hard work in adorning your eyes with costly makeup, it is no fun to view a tired and dull pair of your eyes in the mirror. You can easily avoid such heartbreaks by checking and controlling factors that are likely to cause eyestrain.

Remedies-seek help from professionals What if you notice that you are facing too many health problems due to eyestrain? Well, it is of no use to brood over the problem. You need to search for answers and those answers lie with doctors who treat eye problems. Basically, the doctors who specialize in both medical as well as surgical care of the visual system including the eyes are called ophthalmologists.

They are further classified as M.D. or doctors of medicine and D.O. or doctors of osteopathy. The former is primarily concerned with diagnosis and treatment which vary from one disease to another. On the other hand, the latter are more interested in analyzing the effects of diseases and the consequences. Among eye doctors, those who are specialists in treating specific kinds of eye diseases like glaucoma, presbyopia, astigmatism, nearsightedness, etc. are called optometrists, or doctors of optometry-O.D.

Apart from these professionals, sometimes you might have to seek the help of opticians and eye specialists. Their job is cut out in that they offer valuable vision-related services like providing the suitable products like sunglasses, contact lenses, bifocal lens, etc. as advised by the ophthalmologist. There are creams on the market that help fight the visible signs of aging, such as dark circles. One such cream is Eyederma(tm). Eyederma(tm) is available from www.bodestore.com and Amazon.com

It is wise to prevent your eyes from damage. Be wary of what you do and how you do it, keeping in mind the importance of your eyes. If you keep them healthy and safeguard them from strain, they will stay beautiful and lively. Eyestrain not only makes your eyes tired, it takes away their natural beauty and glow. Tired eyes will reveal your age and worse make you appear sick and dull.

About the Author
Written by the V-Team courtesy Kamau Austin Publisher. The V-Team writes articles for the health and fitness enthusiast. Their timeless health and fitness tips are at the Fit After Forty Blog.

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What To Expect After Lasik Surgery

LASIK, or Laser in-situ keratomileusis, or simply Laser Eye Surgery, is a common eye surgery today and is often the most effective one for deserving candidates compared to alternative methods. However, this procedure is to be treated like a common operation and certain post operative care is essential for the operation to get its intended results.

What is to be expected after a LASIK operation? Well, the symptoms differ from person to person, however, a few common ones which are seen in most patients are as follows:
Immediately After the Operation:

* Fluctuation of Vision. The vision will not be very clear in the first couple of hours and will fluctuate from blurred to very clear for certain period of time.
* Dry Eyes. The eyes will be devoid of the natural tear producing characteristic. This is one of the common problems observed in most patients.
* Sensitivity to Light. The eyes will prefer darkness and will feel irritated in bright light, including artificial light. Exposure to bright light immediately after an operation is ill-advised.
* Glares and Halos. The patient might see a halo around objects on which he/she focuses. This is due to the retina taking some time to adjust to the change in the focal lens.
* Burning, Itching and feeling of dust like particles within the eye.
Post Operative Symptoms
* Patients with a case of far sightedness might see a sudden improvement in their eyesight within a day of their operation. Distant objects might appear blurry for a few days, but soon the vision should correct itself. Cases of irritation and dry eyes have also been reported in a number of patients.
* Patients suffering from near sightedness will take some time to heal and will start to see distant objects within an hour's time. These patients might experience some trouble in reading immediately after the operation, but as the eye heals, this condition will improve. They are normally subscribed reading glasses for the duration while the eyesight improves.
Adherences to certain precautions after the LASIK operation are advisable for all patients.

These are enumerated below:
* Take an appointment with your ophthalmologist and keep it.
* Don't assume your eyesight has become better just after beginning to see clearer. It might be a temporary condition. Post operative care is essential to sustain this improvement.
* After the operation, keep some one nearby to take you back home. Don't try testing your newly improved eyesight on the road.
* Do not expose your eyes to bright sunlight or to glaring fog/car lights.
* Avoid computer screens, movies and video as much as possible for a few days.
* Avoid dust and other contaminants from entering your eyes after an operation and for a few days after that.
* Wear eye shield at night for the prescribed time.
* Try not to play very strenuous sports or go to the gymnasium.
* Try and avoid the swimming pools and water parks for approximately 8 weeks after the operation.
* Contact your doctor immediately in case of a problem, which is not listed above, or in persisting problems. It's better to be safe than sorry.

The success of a LASIK surgery depends as much on the operating ophthalmologist, as it depends upon the patient. Proper care goes a long way in assisting the eye to recover faster and better.

About the Author
Isabel Baldry is a freelance writer who writes passionately about a number of subjects. Learn more about what to expect after lasik surgery here.

Contact Lenses: A Buyer's Guide

You have gotten your prescription and are now trying to figure out the best place to buy your contact lenses.

You are confident about the safety and quality you will get buying from your eye care health professional, but you wouldn't mind saving some money, either. If the contacts are just as good from an online service or a warehouse store and are cheaper, why not get them there? Here are some considerations to help guide you through your contact lens purchase.

First of all, a prescription for eyeglasses is not the same as a prescription for contact lenses. For glasses, you need to know how much and what type of correction each eye needs. Since contact lenses fit directly on your eye, your contact lens prescription also has to have information about certain dimensions of your eye. In other words, you need to be fitted for contact lenses, and that part needs to be done by an eye care professional. You will probably purchase at least your first lenses, or an initial disposable pair here.

After that, you are free to purchase anywhere that sells contacts, of which there are thousands. What next? Determine which factors are most important to you. A low price is good, but if the source from which you are buying your contact lenses rarely has your brand or prescription in stock, it's not going to be very convenient.

If your health insurance has vision coverage that helps you offset the cost of contact lenses, will the provider bill your insurance directly, or do you have to pay up front and submit a claim yourself? Customer service is also important. This is not a toaster oven or CD you are buying. If your order is wrong, or you have another question or problem, you will want to make sure you can get a hold of someone now, and preferably someone who is knowledgeable enough to help.

Even which provider has the lowest price can vary depending on different factors. For example, an online distributor may have the best price for some brands, but not necessarily all. If your eye care professional offers services that give you discounts for either your eye exam or your contact lenses if you get both in his or her office, the overall cost may be less than getting the eye exam and contact lenses from separate sources.

If you consider these questions before choosing your contact lens provider, you are more likely to get the right lenses, when you need them, for the best price. And isn't that all you wanted in the first place?

About the Author
James Brown writes about Contact Lens,Contact Lens Coupons Codes

Contact Lenses - Which Style Is Right For You

A contact lens is used either for therapeutic reasons, corrective purposes or as a cosmetic tool. With the recent advances in the manufacturing process of contact lenses, anybody can wear them, whether it is a bifocal, daily disposable or astigmatism-correcting lens.

For millions of people, contact lenses have proven to be a healthy vision option. However, it should be decided only after checking with an eye care professional. If the steps prescribed to removing, inserting and caring for them are rigidly followed the contact lens can be used without any trouble. To check the effectiveness or lack of it from the lens, check periodically with an eye care professional.

If a vision problem is identified and needs a vision correction, one of the viable options is wearing a contact lens. Right from infants who have vision problems at birth, young children, teenagers and all adults can wear contact lenses.

According to doctors, contact lenses are the best option for vision correction for athletes. Contact lenses can improve the vision skills such as perception of depth, awareness of the peripheral area, co-ordination of eye-foot/eye-hand. Since the contact lens stays in place under dynamic conditions, they offer a total advantage to the athletes. They also free them from the risk of glasses-related injuries.

According to many eye specialists, contact lenses, which are made of a firm plastic lens, may slow or control the progression of myopia or near sightedness. In contrast, conventional spectacles or soft contact lenses do not offer such advantages.

In 1971, when contact lenses were introduced it was an advanced technology and offered comfort not provided by the old-style spectacles. With the latest technology, it is now possible to get better corneal health, sharper vision and a longer life for the lens.

Contact lenses need cleaning and disinfecting every day. Due to the slick surface offering no scope for building up of deposits, there is no need for frequent enzyming, which is a type of extra-strength cleaner, used weekly, for the removal of stubborn deposits from contact lenses.
Daily disposal lenses are worn everyday and discarded without any need for maintenance. Weekly disposal contact lens should be cleaned during the night, soaked in a solution containing disinfectants, until they are removed for usage again.

Color of the eyes also can be changed by using soft contact lenses even if vision correction is not needed. However they are also a prescribed medical device and should be used under the guidance of an eyecare professional. These types of contact lenses are used mostly by theatre and film personalities to get a closer resemblance to the character portrayed by them.

About the Author
Anastasia Phocas is a proud contributing author. Find more articles here. For more info visit Contact Lenses or Colored Contact Lenses

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How To Avoid Fungal Eye Infections

Earlier this year, contact lens wearers around the world got a scare when news of an outbreak of an eye infection called fungal keratitis came out. This fungal eye infection can be treated relatively easily if caught early, but more established cases may lead to a need for a corneal transplant or worse, loss of the affected eye.

According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), as of May there had been 130 confirmed cases of fungal eye infections in the US in a one year period and of those cases, all but 5 were in contact lens wearers.

37 of these people have required corneal transplants. Bausch and Lomb's ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens cleaning solution has been blamed by some for the outbreak, since 76% of contact lens wearers who contracted fungal keratitis used that particular solution, while it holds only a 10% market share in contact lens cleaning solutions.

The product has since been pulled from the market while investigations continue. The consensus seems to be that the fungus is not present in the solution itself, but rather that it forms a film in contact lens cases that prevents disinfection of the case. The fungus itself, Fusarium, is quite common and can be found in water, soil, and plants, so could easily end up in contact lens cases that are not properly disinfected. There have been cases in Europe and Asia as well, and links to ReNu products there are being investigated.

There are several steps that soft contact lens wearers can take to protect themselves from fungal eye infections, many of which they should be doing already in routine proper care of their contact lenses. First, if people have any of the ReNu with MoistureLoc solution, they should stop using it and throw the rest away.

Second, follow basic hygiene good sense, like washing your hands before you touch your contact lenses. Clean your contact lens case thoroughly, store it where it will not get contaminated, and replace it periodically. There are new lens cases available that are made with antimicrobial agents to prevent contamination. Don't mix old and new cleaning solution, and don't wear lenses longer than their prescribed schedule.

If you are afraid you may have a fungal eye infection, seek help right away. Symptoms include blurry vision, clouding of the eye, loss of vision, excessive irritation, discharge, lesions on the eye, and new sensitivity to light.

About the Author
James Brown writes about Contact Lenz, Contact Lens Promo Codes

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The Dangers Of Decorative Contact Lenses

So, you've been thinking about getting non-corrective, decorative contact lenses to turn your eyes from a brown to blue - before you spend your hard-earned money, do you know the risks associated with those cool lenses?

Did you know that contact lenses are part of a product line that must be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prior to distribution? You may be wondering why non-corrective, decorative contact lenses need to be approved by the FDA? The answer to that question lies in the nature of contact lenses.

A contact lens is a thin, convex plastic covering that is placed directly over your cornea. If fitted improperly, the contact lens can damage your eye - resulting in discomfort, temporary or even permanent vision loss. Contact lenses can be purchased from eye-care professionals licensed by the FDA, yet decorative lenses are often purchased in beauty salons, record and video stores, flea markets, convenience stores, beach shops, and various other retail locations.

Dr. Victor Crosby, an ophthalmologist located in Athens, Ga. sees cases on a regular basis involving teenage patients who obtain decorative lenses from local flea markets. In one such case, a teenage female patient ended up in the emergency room after wearing the lenses for a few days.

"She suffered from a burning, redness, and sensitivity to light in both eyes." Dr. Crosby states, "The main problem was a poor lens fit. Contac lenses that are too tight can damage the cornea." The patient was treated by a topical steroid antibiotic over six days, recovering completely.
Yet, not everyone is as lucky. Thomas Steinemann, director of the Metro-Health Eye Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio tells us of one of worst cases involving non-corrective, decorative contact lenses ever reported to the FDA.

In September 2001, a 14-year-old female suffered from an aggressive infection caused by the Pseudomonas bacteria in one of her eyes. "She wanted to turn brown eyes green to match an outfit," Steinemann says. "The result was a lot of pain and suffering. Not only could the teenager lose vision from this infection, but they could lose the eye. The patient needed to be hospitalized and treated with antibiotic drops every thirty minutes over four days. Though the infection was eradicated through aggressive topical therapy, the eye remained inflamed for a long time."

As a result of her use of unapproved decorative contact lens, the patient lost vision in the infected eye for two months. After that period of time, just when it seemed like her vision had returned, scar tissue formed - resulting in further vision loss. In June 2002, Dr. Steinemann performed a corneal transplant, removing the diseased cornea and replacing it with a donated cornea. Recovery from this type of transplant takes about a year, yet there is no guarantee that her vision will ever be fully restored.

While non-corrective, decorative contact lenses may be fashionable, a certain amount of responsibility must be exercised when being purchased. Getting an eye-exam, a valid prescription, and purchasing any contact lenses from an eye-care licensed professional are just a few things that can be done to protect your eyes while still looking fashionable.

Finally, properly maintaining and cleaning your lenses will prevent any bacterial infections. Whether you need corrective contact lenses or simply want to change your look to remain fashionable, if you take care of your eyes, they will take care of you.

About the Author
Linda Polansky writes about Contacts Coupons , EyeCare products Coupons and Promo Codes

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Five Tips For a Smooth Transition to Contact Lenses

So, you've made the decision to wear contact lenses! The excitement is building and you can hardly wait to see the "new you." But just a few minutes of educating yourself on the "basics" can make that transition from glasses to contact lenses successful the first time out. Just follow these few suggestions:

1. Have your eyes examined and fitted by a reputable eye care specialist.
Your doctor not only can make sure your prescription is right for you, but he/she will take into consideration the overall health of your eyes, as well as your daily activities and budget when recommending the type of contact lens that will best suit your needs.

Today, contact lenses come in many different types, styles and colors. But not all will be suitable for you or your lifestyle. Your eye care specialist will help you make that decision.

2. Don't wear your contacts longer than recommended.
When you first begin wearing contacts, your doctor will suggest limited wear-time, increasing at intervals until you wear them all day with comfort.
Wearing contacts too long in the beginning can be harmful to your eyes and even irritate them to the point that you can't wear them at all, thus defeating the purpose.

After the initial phase, then follow the recommended wear-time for the type of contact lens you have. Some lenses are "extended wear" and can be worn for extended periods of time. Some are daily disposables. Be sure you wear them only the recommended length of time.
But, above all, never wear your contact lenses longer than they are comfortable.
Your eyes will let you know when they've had enough!

3. Always make sure your hands are clean and lint-free before inserting or removing your contact lenses.
Dirt, lotions, soap and chemicals (or even lint from a towel) can be transferred to your contact lenses through touch. Contaminated lenses can cause eye irritation or even blurred vision or worse.
If your contacts sting your eyes, remove them immediately and clean them thoroughly with the recommended cleaning and disinfecting solution.

4. Keep your eyes lubricated!
Some people are more prone to dry eyes, but contact lens wearers in general need to keep moisture in their eyes. There are many saline and rewetting solutions on the market. Ask your doctor to recommend a solution for your contact lenses.

If you are prone to dry eyes, the new Silicone Extended Wear Disposables help reduce dry eye irritation. In fact, they can be worn for up to 30 days continuously, assuming they are comfortable.

If your contact lenses dry out and stick to your eye, put a few drops of rewetting or saline solution in your eye and close your eyes for a moment before trying to remove the contact lens.
Never use saliva or water to rewet your contact lenses.
Use only eye drops that are recommended specifically for contact lenses.

5. Clean and disinfect your contacts daily (even extended-wear contacts).
As soon as you insert your lenses in your eyes, promptly clean the contact lens case with a sterile solution or boiling water. Make sure it's dry before closing the lid. When you're ready to remove your lenses, remove them one lens at a time and clean them with the recommended solution.

There are many solutions on the market, some requiring you to rub the lens in a few drops of the solution. Read and follow the directions carefully. Place your lens in the case and fill with the appropriate soaking and disinfecting solution.

Once a week, clean your contacts with enzymatic cleaner. This helps remove protein build-up.
Following these 5 simple tips will help make your contact-wearing experience an enjoyable one! But if you have any problems, consult your eye care specialists immediately.

About The Author
Debbie Pettitt is a contact wearer herself and has a website, Contact Lens Vision, which is full of information and resources to assist people in all aspects of contact lens wearing, buying and care.
http://contactlensvision.com

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