Are you thinking of buying contact lenses? If so you will be one of the 75 million people around the world who wears this form of eye correction. Contact lenses offer a number of benefits but can also raise certain questions. In this article we shall discuss some of the advantages of wearing contact lenses and answer some frequently asked questions about them.

Benefits of Wearing Contact Lenses

Some people prefer how they look without glasses. Others simply find that glasses are inconvenient and even a nuisance. For these people contact lenses can offer an excellent alternative. Contact lenses are very comfortable which means that you can forget that you are wearing them. Plus, unlike glasses you cannot really see if someone is wearing them which means that they do not interfere with your looks.

The flip side is that contact lenses can affect your looks if you want them to. As there are a range of coloured contact lenses available, it is possible to change the way you look by altering the colour of your eyes. Coloured contact lenses allow you to have baby blue eyes one day and brooding brown eyes the next. As a result they can make a striking difference to your face.

Contact lenses also offer a real advantage to people with very active lifestyles; in for athletes in particular. Unlike glasses they do not risk falling off when you run. Furthermore, they can provide first rate peripheral vision which helps when driving and playing sports.

Many people have considered eye laser surgery to correct their vision so that they do not have to wear glasses. However, there are some risks involved with this and it is very expensive. Contact lenses on the other hand offer a cost effective and safe alternative.

Are there people who should not wear contact lenses?

Although contact lenses can be an excellent solution to many people with eye sight problems, they are not suitable for everyone. For example, people who do not produce enough tears should probably not wear contact lenses because they will be prone to dry eyes which can cause discomfort. People whose medical history shows that they have had a number of eye infections in the past will also not make good candidates. This is because they are likely to be extra susceptible to infections that can be produced by contact lenses.

Your optometrist will be able to advise you on whether or not he/she thinks that contact lenses would be suitable for you.

Where can you buy contact lenses?

Contact lenses are not available without prescriptions. There fore the first step in buying contact lenses is to get your optometrist to write to a prescription. Once you have a prescription you can buy contact lenses online from a number of cheap online contact lens retailers or from a pharmacy.

What type of contact lenses is best?

There are a number of different contact lenses which each have their own advantages and disadvantages. As a result different contact lenses work best for different people. If you are in doubt about which contact lenses would be best for you speak to your optometrist for guidance.