Contacts Blunders

Because contact lenses have become easy to acquire, and even more easy to take care of, sometimes it becomes overlooked that the contact lenses are still something prescribed by a medical practitioner.

This causes the lenses to be not properly cared for, causing great danger to the wearer. One of the biggest blunders is the wearing of disposable contact lenses for too long.

While disposable contact lenses have proven to be a great invention, they only cause more users to disregard care instructions and doctors' instructions and either sleep in them or leave them in for too many days. The usage instructions that are printed on the box of disposable lenses is only a suggestion for their use, and often an eye care professional will suggest different care, asking you to change them out either more or less often. They will always know best how to take care of your personalized eye care. This rule goes for whether your lenses are daily use, weekly use, or monthly use.

The following stats from the American Academy of Ophthalmology speak for themselves. Extended Wear contact lens wearers show a five to fifteen times greater risk of developing ulcerative keratitis (ulcers in the cornea) over daily wear users.

Ulcerative keratitis is seen nine times more in elderly people using extended wear lenses. It's also nine times greater in people that are using their daily wear lenses overnight. Cases of ulcerative keratitis gets increasingly greater, depending on how many consecutive days extended wear lenses are left in.

In the last year alone, 94% of those diagnosed with fungal eye infections wore soft contact lenses, and 34% of those required a corneal eye transplant. Of course, there was the 2006 Fungal Eye Infection Outbreak during this time, and some of that has been traced to ReNu With MoistureLoc contact lens solution with has since been pulled from shelves. The solution was creating a film in the contact lens case that encouraged the growth of a fungus. The fungus was picked up in the patients' homes.

In addition to fungal eye infections, protein deposits that accumulate on extended wear lenses can cause Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, soft spongy bumps that accumulate under the upper eye lids, and sometimes they can resemble cobblestone. This condition may itch and also have a stringy mucous discharge. This is caused by the contact lens rubbing up against the eyelid for too long of a time. Patients may need to go without wearing contact lenses for a short time after being diagnosed with this, or switch to a different brand.

If you suspect you have either of these diseases, you should contact your eye care professional as soon as possible. Otherwise, there are a number of safety precautions you can undergo to ensure a long healthy life for your eyes.

The first rule of thumb is to always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses. Disinfect your lenses when taking them out and before reinserting them. Never reuse old solution, and always start with fresh. Discount Contact Lenses has a great selection of contacts solution to fit individualized needs. Only wear your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional. If you are prone to problems or worried, think about switching to daily, cheap contacts like Focus Dailies.

About the Author
Laura Tucker is a 42-year-old freelance writer and mother of two. For the past two years, she has been a featured writer at realityshack.com, covering recaps and commentary on American Idol, The Amazing Race, and Big Brother, among others. Laura has also written content for many other websites and has had one of her movie reviews published in a print magazine. She wrote this article on behalf of DiscountContactLenses.com

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Contact Lenses - the Latest Trends

Have you been wearing the same contact lenses for the last few years? If so, it might be time for a change. Contact lens manufacturers constantly work on improving contact lenses, to make them healthier, more comfortable and more affordable.

Find out what is new in a contact lens world and how new contacts can improve your life. www.mycontact-lens.com The goal is to produce lenses that you can wear all day long without any danger or discomfort to your eyes.

Contact lens quality has seriously improved over the last few years. See how modern contact lenses can help your eyes to feel and see better. 30 days wear contact lenses How would you like to put your contact lenses in your eyes in the morning and not worrying about them for the next 30 days? Sounds almost too good to be true, but there are contacts that you can safely wear for a month.

Most contact lenses can be worn for no longer than 8-10 hours in a row because the lens blocks the flow of oxygen to your eyes. This can cause irritation and promote bacterial infection. However, the new generation of lenses, made from a different material (silicone hydrogel lenses), have much higher oxygen permeability. For example, Focus Day and Night lets through 6 times more oxygen than conventional contacts.

With more oxygen reaching your eyes, wearing contact lenses for 30 days becomes a safe option. There are two lenses that are FDA approved for continuous wear for up to 30 days - Focus Night and Day by Ciba Vision and Pure Vision by Bausch & Lomb. The downside of extended wear contacts is that if you live or work in a dusty or smoky environment, tiny particles will get into your eyes, so the lenses won't feel comfortable for several days.

About the Author
Ron Avigad WebSite: www.mycontact-lens.com Email: marketing@mycontact-lens.com

Biomedics Contact Lenses

CooperVision's Biomedics XC contact lenses are 1 to 2 week disposable contacts that are worn as daily lenses for up to two weeks and then discarded.

The lenses are made using Biomedics' patented PC technology, from a unique material containing molecules of phosphorylcholine, which is found naturally in human cell membranes, and they have water content of 60 percent.

Biomedics XC is part of CooperVision's PC Hydrogels family of contact lenses, a special category of lens material designed for daily wear that offers excellent health and optimum comfort. Hydrogels fit a wide range of patient prescriptions. All contact lenses in the PC Hydrogel category go beyond the minimum acceptable oxygen necessary for safe daily wear.

Biomedics Premier
A study conducted by Pete Kollbaum, OD, FAAO and Arthur Bradley, PhD, has shown that Biomedics Premier aspheric lenses effectively control spherical aberrations, a problem that commonly occurs after laser eye surgery.

Spherical aberration is a problem caused when light refracts, or bends, at different angles as it shines through both the contact lenses and your eyes. Those light rays are then unable to focus on the back of your eyes. The Biomedics 55 soft Premier contact lenses are the first disposable lenses to help direct the light rays to their correct position at the back of your eyes.

CooperVision/Ocular Sciences Biomedics 55 Premier gives you clear, comfortable sight, using an aspheric design to provide you with the best vision possible. You only wear them for two weeks, so you avoid the buildup of pollutants that can irritate your eyesight and cloud your vision. The lenses are infused with a light tint, making them easy to locate in cleaning solution.

Biomedics Toric
The need for effective toric contact lens correction is vital, with statistics stating that more than 50 million Americans have clinically significant astigmatism. Biomedics Toric is made of ocufilcon D and is designed for 2-week planned replacement. It also has a spherical counterpart for use in case the patient is spherical in one eye.

Biomedics Colors
In April 2002 what was then Ocular Sciences Inc. (a recent acquisition of CooperVision) announced the introduction of Biomedics Colors, a cosmetic contact lens available in four opaque colors that offers beautiful and natural color enhancement matching the eye's innate appearance, while continuing to provide the clinically proven performance of Biomedics 55.

These lenses make use of proprietary technology that incorporates four patterns of color on each lens, resulting in a natural look that closely replicates the numerous patterns and hues within the human iris.

Of course, with the various types of contacts available, the most important thing to keep in mind is to follow your doctor's orders on which kind is required for your eyes. If you're interested in Biomedics contact lenses, check with your doctor and he/she can prescribe the type that's best for you.

About the Author
Mike Long writes about contact lenses at Contacts-Netguide.com and is currently writing about the new Hydrasoft Toric 1 Contact and how this may effect wearers of prescription-based lenses.

Proclear Lenses: Excellent for Dry Eyes

After a few hours of wearing contact lens your eyes tend to dry up and you will feel scratchy. This happens because contact lenses are foreign bodies lodged in your eyes, which is completely unacceptable to the body.

The body, therefore, reacts to its presence by fighting the contacts with proteins and lipids, which builds protein deposits on the contacts thereby creating friction and dryness. In other words, the user of the contacts finds himself caught in the battle between the body and the lenses like an innocent civilian in the middle of a battlefield.

It is in order to circumvent this difficulty that proclear lenses have stepped in. A substance called phosphorylcholine (PC for short) is found naturally in the body. This substance is used to make biocompatible lenses, which remain moist and dry throughout the day. They are different from ordinary contact lenses primarily because due to the presence of PC the body accepts them more easily and does not react to its presence. In other words, despite being a foreign body, it does not appear and feel foreign to the body.

Secondly, they preserve moisture and are, to a large extent, resistant to dehydration, which makes them stay moist all day long. Besides, they also have a water layer which bars the protein and lipid deposition.

Most of the itching and irritation in the eyes is caused due to protein deposition which is a result of restricted oxygen supply through the lens. The proclear lenses disallow the deposition, thus facilitating the supply of oxygen.

These lenses are an innovation in the field of contact lenses and have so far been found to work to the utmost satisfaction of the users. However, the comfort level may fluctuate among the users, which means some may be more satisfied than the others.

So, if you are unhappy with your present contacts, you may consider switching to the proclear kind, which might prove a boon right from the blues. It is, however, recommended that before switching over you consult your eye specialist so that he could advice you on the pros and cons of it.

To read more articles on contact lenses, contact lens basics and contact lens care visit http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/

About the Author
The auther writes articles on different topics. To get more articles on contact lens visit http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/

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The Return of Extended Wear Lenses

If you are one of the regular users of the contacts you must be very well aware of the daily regimen with the lenses. Come back home, remove the lenses carefully, rinse them, disinfect them and place them carefully in the lens case.

However, this is routine for those who wear the daily-wear lenses, and not with the extended wear ones. This other type is nothing too far different from the ordinary daily-wear lens, the only difference being that these can be worn overnight.

It was around 1981 that the overnight wearing of contacts was recognized as medically acceptable by the experts. In the beginning one could keep the lens on for as long as two weeks at a stretch. Later, encouraged by the results, the permissible limit was extended to 30 days. However, the honeymoon did not last long and the researchers found that the likelihood of infections was far more pronounced in those who wore them overnight.

Consequently, the maximum approved wear duration shrunk to seven days. But even that was looked upon with suspicion, for in the opinion of a number of experts, overnight wear itself was way too dangerous. So, soon most of the eye specialists started cautioning the users against the overnight use of the contacts.

However, the extended wear lenses have staged a comeback. These lenses have comeback riding on the wave of disposable lenses, which reduces a few risks. Since one has to replace them periodically, the chances of harmful deposits are curtailed. Earlier the lenses were to be cleaned and disinfected regularly but one had to continue with them for a few years before replacing them. In such cases, the possibility of infection increases.

Now, when the lens has to be replaced weekly, one begins with a new lens every week, which cuts down the probability of infections. The advent of silicone hydrogels has also been helpful in bringing the extended use lenses back as they enable enhanced oxygen inflow, which decreases the chaces of infections further.

To read more articles on contact lenses, buying contact lenses and contact lens reviews visit http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/

About the Author
The auther writes articles on different topics. To get more articles on contact lens visit http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/

Choosing The Best Disposable Lens

Deciding to replace your glasses with something that is much of an invisible asset straight out of a Bond Film is one thing and choosing the right one is quite another. For, in the latter case you have to pick the right one from a great number of available contact lenses.

You have the choice because each one of these is not fit for everyone. Therefore, you have to pick the one that suits your needs and soothes your eyes. After all, the world is only as beautiful as you can see it. Right? To make things easier for you, here are a few varieties of lenses that you may choose from:

Disposable lenses These are a great news because with them comes the freedom to discard them at will. Besides of course you don't need to take too much of care, for the moment you feel that it's not working to your satisfaction you are free to pick another pair. Among the disposables too there is a great variety depending upon how long you want to carry on with one pair.

Daily disposable ones are those that are made to last once and are to be thrown away after single use. The adavantage is that you don't need to worry about cleaning and disinfecting and buying those disintecting solutions and then taking all the care that these disinfectants do not get infected themselves.

In other words, these are hassle free contacts. You wear a fresh pair every time which transalates into clearer vision. They can well be born everyday, but are equally suitable to those who are quite comfortable with their spectacles but like wearing contacts occasionally when the circumstance call for it.

Then, there is the monthly disposable variety. With these, you have to follow the same old routine of wearing through the day, taking them out carefully in the evening, cleaning and disinfeting.

Of course, you get a new pair eventually but that happens once in a month. Annual disposable lenses are much the same as the monthly ones, just that they carry on for a year.
Sports lenses are a relatively new variety meant for those who play rigorous outdoor games ranging from football and cricket to swimming and climbing.

They give one freedom from the never-ending spectacles-worry which all the bespectacled are so very familiar with. They add to the players confidence which makes him or her perform at his or her best. They are daily contacts and are meant to be used just once. They are specially designed for the sportsmen though they are much similar to the single-use contacts.

About the Author
The auther writes articles on different topics. To get more articles on contact lens visit http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/

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Halloween Contact Lens

If you are looking for the perfect finishing touch to your Halloween costume then you might want to try a pair of Halloween contact lenses.

These special colored lenses have been used by the film industry to create a non-human appearance. Now Halloween contact lenses are more widely available for people to wear to their parties or when taking their kids trick or treating.

The variety of Halloween contact lenses is huge. You can transform your eyes into those of a wild animal to match your werewolf costume, bloodshot to give your Vampire a more ghoulish quality, or simply change the color of your eyes into an unearthly shade of red - the choice is yours.

The prices vary depending on the amount of detail involved, but a pair can start under $100. The top of the range Halloween contact lenses are those that are hand painted and have vision correction. You can expect to pay over $400 for a pair of these. Your costume is bound to create a stir at the Halloween party if you are wearing Halloween contact lenses.

There are different types of contact lenses, just as with normal lenses. The oldest type of lenses is hard ones, but these are not to be worn for long periods of time because they prevent the cornea from getting the oxygen it needs. Gas Permeable (GP) or Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Halloween contact lenses allow oxygen to reach the cornea because they are made of a breathable plastic.

These are actually custom fit to the individual shape of the cornea. This makes them comfortable to wear but does make them one of the most expensive types of Halloween contact lenses. Soft contact lenses are the most comfortable type of Halloween contact lenses and they are best for your eyes.

As with any type if contact lenses it is essential that you know how to put your Halloween contact lenses on properly. If these are the first contact lenses you have tried to use then there are a few points that you need to follow to prevent damaging your Halloween contact lenses or, more importantly, your eyes:

* Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before you start
* Ensure that your Halloween contact lenses are dirt-free, moist and in perfect condition
* Put one of the Halloween contact lenses on the tip of your finger - using whichever hand is most comfortable first
* Pull down the bottom eyelid lid of the eye that the Halloween contact lens is for
* Use your other hand to hold the top eyelid wide open
* Focus your eyes on the Halloween contact lens and position the lens in the centre of your eye
* Slowly release your eyelids

Halloween contact lenses, especially hard ones, are not designed to be worn for long periods of time. It is essential that you do not keep them in too long or your eyes can become dry. Dryness is one of the main problems caused by Halloween contact lenses. If you have naturally dry eyes, it is worth using eye drops to make wearing your Halloween contact lenses more comfortable.

About the Author
Celia Nemart has been writing about travel and wellness over the last few years, this time she had decided to write about something that is even more fun, Halloween, the things you need to know about Halloween and the Halloween Spirit.

Who Are The Contact Lens Wearers?

When you think of contact lens wearers, where does your mind go? Do you think of people who are vainly trying to conceal their need for eye correction?

Do you think of middle class people who can afford the luxury of contacts but not the cost of laser surgery? Or does your mind go back to the tormented kid from your childhood who was bullied on the school playground and taunted with names like Four Eyes while trying to protect their glasses from being ripped off and broken?

Whatever the case, you are probably partially right. Contact lens wearers come from all walks of life. Some of them are vain about their looks, while others choose to wear contacts because they are more comfortable than glasses. Many wear contact lenses because they can't afford laser surgery correction, while others are simply not good candidates for laser surgery. They feel fortunate to be able to choose between glasses and contacts!

The cost component of owning and caring for contacts has become less of an issue for the sight-challenged as the cost of many brands of lenses are comparable to purchasing a pair of glasses. In fact, for many, contacts may seem like a more affordable option since they can purchase a few disposable contact lenses now and then buy more in the future while glasses must be paid for up front.

It is also likely the horrors of schoolyard bullies play a role in the purchase of contacts. After all, childhood traumas do tend to color the way we view ourselves and others throughout our lives. Wearing glasses may make them feel like victims or geeks, but contacts, well those are freeing! They are the ultimate means of hiding what may be construed as a weakness or personal flaw and actually make them feel more confident.

No matter the reason, contact lens wearers share one thing in common. They want to purchase a product that is easy to care for while providing comfortable, clear vision. To this end, it is important to schedule regular eye exams and to discuss which contacts are the best option for both your budget and your eye care needs.

About the Author
Larry Scott is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Contact-Lenses-Here.com. He provides more tips about contact lenses and free online contact lenses information at http://www.contact-lenses-here.com where you can research at any time, day or night, on his website.

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Advantages Of Wearing Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are the rage these days with more and more wearers discovering the comfort and ease of wearing contact lenses. It also enhances the looks of a person as contact lenses are worn on the eyes and can be a fine substitute for a pair of spectacles. Thus one can see one's face without the hindrance of spectacles over the bridge of the nose that shades away the beautiful eyes.

What then are contact lenses? One might wonder. A contact lens is actually a thin piece of plastic or glass that is fitted over the cornea of the eye. Thus it can eliminate the need for spectacles as defects in one's vision can be set right merely by wearing these thin pieces of glass or plastic over the cornea of the eye. Thus contact lenses can be worn easily by people with vision defects like myopia. Hyperopia, astigmatism, and other related problems.

These corrective measures to be worn over the cornea of the eye come in two different types. Contact lenses come with hard or soft lenses. They are defined as soft lenses as these contact lenses are made of soft plastic and are much preferred by the today' wearer. They are very comfortable to wear, as they can hold water. Most times soft lenses are disposable lenses as well. Thus the busy wearer of today, who cannot be strapped to a routine of regular lens cleaning in addition to his or her other responsibilities, is rightly suited for wearing soft lenses.

The contact lenses that are made with a glass piece are usually the hard lens variety. These lenses are rigid and gas permeable. Some of these hard lenses may even have a colored tint so that locating these lenses for the wearer becomes easier.

They are also fitted with UV protection in most cases and can be fitted with bifocal lenses as well. The wearer of such a lens is blessed with durability though cleaning these lenses has to be a regular routine.

As these lenses are now made with silicone polymers, they allow oxygen to circulate freely to the cornea. They are meant for regular wear, but extended wear over the night is not recommended. Constant wear can limit the flow of oxygen to the cornea and in some cases can even lead to damage of vision.

By and large, with a little precaution, one can find the contact lens that is ideally suited for one's lifestyle and go about one's work unhindered by the hassle of having to carry a pair of glasses as one of the essential items in one's bag.

About the Author
http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/ & Contact Lens provides detailed information on contact lens, color contact lens, acuvue contact lens and more.

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The Truth About Toric Contact Lenses

Regular contact lenses and Toric contact lenses are made from the same materials. The most significant difference is that Toric lenses are designed for people with astigmatism, one of the most commonly treated eye conditions.

What's remarkable is that modern toric contact lenses offer astigmatism sufferers a selection and freedom that was unavailable in the past.

Toric contact lenses are created with two focal powers in them, as opposed to regular contacts, which only have one. Torics are designed to include different angled curves: one of them is for the astigmatism, and the other is for the nearsightedness or farsightedness of the user.

Because the astigmatism curves must be aligned with the eye in a specific orientation, toric contact lenses also come with a mechanism that helps the contact lens stay relatively stable on the eye. This allows the wearer blink or move their eyes without concern for the lenses shifting around, guaranteeing the torics will provide the clearest and most comfortable vision correction possible.

If this measure was not taken and the lenses could move around when the wearer blinked or moved their eyes, the lenses would rotate and prevent the wearer from seeing as crisply as possible.

With this added clarity and comfort comes increased complexity, causing toric contact lenses to cost a bit more than their standard spherical lens counterparts. The main cause for the bigger price tag is the time intensive prescription process. In order to properly fit a toric lens, an eye doctor must invest more time.

The requisite added curves require more expertise from both the eye doctor (to get the fitting correct) and the manufacturer (to produce the lens properly). This means that not only will the exam and fitting fees run slightly higher, but that the lenses themselves will sport a steeper price as well.

Fortunately for people with mild astigmatism, such as between zero and 1.00 diopter (either +1.00 or -1.00), it is usually recommended to simply wear a regular spherical RGP or even a spherical soft lens rather than the more complex toric contact lenses.

The standard spherical lenses are rigid enough that the wearer's cornea will actually conform to them more than they conform to it, effectively hiding the effect of the mild irregularity of the cornea (astigmatism). When using regular soft contact lenses, optometrists will often compensate for mild astigmatism by prescribing a slightly stronger prescription. Of course this may not work for everyone, so the doctor may need to use trial and error to find the right prescription and fitting for a specific patient.

About the Author
Patricia Brown writes for several web sites, on consumer choices and shopping topics.

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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.

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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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