Best Contact Lenses

If your budget doesn’t stretch to daily disposable contacts, then you will need to opt for extended use lenses, such as 14/30 day, that come with solutions.  All the best contact lenses and solutions are reliable but you need to stick to a few basic rules to avoid eye problems.

Here are the basics:

• Always wash your hands before handling lenses to reduce the chance of infection.
• If your eyes become red or irritated quickly remove your lenses and consult your eye care professional.
• Try and use the best contact lenses and solutions recommended by your eye care professional and internet supplier.
• Do not use contact lens solutions that have gone beyond their expiry date.
• Remember sterile saline solutions are only to be used for rinsing. They are not for cleaning and disinfecting your lenses.
• All the best contact lenses require you to clean and disinfect them properly, following all packaging instructions
• Never reuse any lens solution.
• Keep your contact lenses away from water: tap, bottled, distilled, lake or ocean water. Never use non-sterile water (distilled water, tap water or any homemade saline solution
• Do not put your lenses in your mouth to wet them. Saliva is not a sterile solution.
• Clean, rinse and air-dry your lens case each time lenses are removed.
• For the best contact lenses eye health, replace your lens storage case every 3-6 months.
• Do not transfer contact lens solutions into smaller travel size containers. This can effect the sterility of the solution which can lead to an eye infection.

Soft and rigid lenses are the 2 main options and tend to have different strengths and weaknesses, so it all comes down to personal choice in choosing the best contact lenses

If essential oxygen transmission, for white eye health is important then a GP rigid lens is generally the best. Any contact lens slows the oxygen getting to the eye, but GP lenses are often the most efficient. 

The best contact lenses tend to be smaller making them easier to insert, give excellent vision and tend to last longer

However many people find rigid GP lenses difficult to use and often have to wear them regularly to help the eye adjust to contacts.

If you need lenses for sport then a GP Lens can move about the eye, which is also annoying 

This is why soft contacts are popular as they are very stable in the eye and great for occasional use. They are easy to wear and very comfortable. 

Unfortunately even the best contact lenses don’t last as long and the daily disposable soft contacts will be a bit more expensive as you are paying for the convenience

Dry eyes can be a problem for many people. Maybe you live in a windy climate, work in an air conditioned office or even spend a lot of time outside.

Years ago it was thought that having dry eyes meant you couldn’t wear contact lenses. But that’s not the true today.

 Some of the best contact lenses are really comfortable even if you suffer from extreme dry eyes.

With the latest technology you can get a contact lens with a high water content that makes it so comfortable to wear, as well as allowing that essential oxygen, for white eye health.

These lenses are made from Silicone Hydrogel which is very soothing for dry eyes, and ideal if you need to wear contacts for extended periods

Some of the other best contact lenses are made from a similar polymer called Omafilcon A, as well as Bio Compatible contact lenses, from ProClear, which adjust to the character of your eyes.

If you are using extended wear lenses then you must keep your contacts moist and conditioned with the right solution and hygiene is always critical for dry eyes, so ensure you wash your hands and be careful with makeup

If you need a special lens for astigmatism, no problem. The best contact lenses have a high moisture content, which helps you with dry eye and designed especially for your needs.

As always you should take recommendations from a good eye specialist and get your eyes tested regularly. Always ask for a national brand on your prescription so you can compare and get the best contact lenses and value on line.

So don’t think that dry eyes will keep you from wearing contact lenses. It’s just not true anymore.

It’s import ant that your Prescription Contact Lens details are up to date as you will need them to compare and get the best value on line.

Also you may have noticed it’s different to your glasses, so it’s unique to your eyes and you must never use a friend’s prescription who seems to have similar vision, to buy online. 

First off there are 2 columns headed OS for the Left eye and OD for the Right; and you can also get OU which means the numbers are the same for both eyes. 

The other main headings are:

Power (PWR), which is the strength of contact lens you need, such as – 1:00, -1:75, + 2:00, + 3:00

Base Curve (BC) the inside curve of your contact lens, e.g. 8.6

Diameter (DIA) size of your contact lenses; 13:8, 14:2

Brand: Here you may want to see a major brand such as Acuvue, Johnson & Johnson and Focus. Then you can compare prices for the best deal online.

Add Power (ADD) A measurement of power for multifocal lenses that will help you with close up reading

Cylinder (CYL) is the strength of your astigmatism – 1:00, – 1:25 if you need it.

Axis (AXIS) is the orientation of your astigmatism such as 170 and compensates for the oval shape of your cornea and should improve your blurry vision.

Other stuff to look out for on your Prescription Contact Lens form is the expiry data which is typically 2 years and there will be a note on colours if you want tinted or colour contact lenses.

Internet Shopping has never been easier. But where do you start to get the best and safest deal for contact lenses?

If you’re new to contacts then you do need a prescription from your eye care professional.

Good internet suppliers can help sort this important eye test at a local centre so look out for this service.

Make sure you ask for a prescription that specifies the best contact lenses so you can then shop and compare for the best value.

Why are Contact lenses cheaper on the internet?

Most Contact lens retailers have to pay for premises, opticians’ salaries and other overheads. Online suppliers simply don’t have these overheads to worry about, so they pass on great savings for exactly the same lenses, made by the same company, with just the same prescription.

So know you’ve got your prescription you simply key in the details online and in 24hrs they verify the accuracy of your prescription with your eye doctor and delivery is made direct to your front door.

There’s no hassle or traveling about and you benefit from the best value with a huge selection of brands, 24/7 customer services, best contact lenses pricing and generous rebate terms

And remember the longer the supply you buy, the cheaper they will be; three, six or even 12 months is usual, with big savings on popular daily disposables.

If you prefer longer reusable lenses then the savings on the best contact lenses can be even greater, with great deals on all the latest, highly effective multipurpose cleaning solutions.

What can I do if my eyes are dry after wearing a prescription contact lens?

You may find that your eyes feel dry after long periods of wearing contacts. Initially try some of the artificial tear solutions that are approved for contact wearers and maybe go back to using glasses for a couple of days.

If the problem is still around it may be best to see your eye doctor and consider changing your contact lenses or your wear schedule to daily disposable lenses

What happens if I put two contact lenses into the same solution compartment?

Many people have pairs of clear and colored lenses, but you should always keep them separate.

If they are cleaned together they sometimes stick and the cleaning process just does not work properly, leaving harmful residue on the lens surface.

Can you swim with contacts?

Sometimes your eyes can become irritated and the pool water can damage your lenses. Not everyone seems to have a problem, so it you want to try it with lenses, best to use a good pair of tight fitting goggles, especially in chlorinated pools.

What happens if you sleep in prescription contact lenses?

Fine if they are designed for overnight wear, such as Acuvue Oasys, as they have very high oxygen permeability, for healthy eyes. If it happens very occasionally with your Daily’s then your eyes may feel very dry the next day as the lens isn’t designed to let through the essential oxygen. Best to stick to the wear schedule

How long does a prescription contact lens last?

In short there are 2 dates to look out for. When you receive your box of lenses, there will be an expiry date on them – say 20 Dec 2012. Then there is the life of the lenses once the individual seal is broken i.e. Daily, 14 or 30 day etc.