by August Aurora James

Created on: July 28, 2010   Last Updated: July 29, 2010

I have been wearing contact lenses for over four years, and everyday I am grateful for the convenience that they provide. It is amazing to me that two little spherical lenses made of plastic can correct vision.

There are three types of lenses: soft, hard, and gas-permeable. Soft contact lenses are typically the most comfortable of the three, and are most often prescribed to those with astigmatism. They are thinner and more flexible than the other two types of lenses, though this makes them more prone to tearing. Hard contact lenses also have a tendency to “pop out.” Gas-permeable contact lenses are a compromise between the hard and soft, allowing greater comfort than the hard lenses and less chance of tearing than the soft lenses.

Typically, contact lenses are worn during the day, a recommended eight hours at maximum, and taken out at night for cleaning. It is usually not a good a idea to sleep in contact lenses because this makes your eyes prone to irritation and infection. There are also extended wear contacts for those who plan on wearing their lenses for more than an eight hour period. There is even a one-a-day contact lenses that is gaining popularity. These contact lenses are only worn for a day, and then thrown out. Though they are more expensive than regular contact lenses, they eliminate the hassle of everyday cleaning, and are usually more comfortable because there is less protein build-up on them due to their short life-span.

Whatever type of lens you wear, there are few things to remember when handling and wearing your contact lenses for maximum comfort and safety. They are as follows:

-Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling your contact lenses. Make sure your nails aren’t too long or sharp, as you can tear the lens or injure your eye.

-Never use tap water to clean your lenses. Tap water contains bacteria, that while not harmful if swallowed, can cause a severe eye infection.

-Never reuse eye contact solution. Fill your contact case with fresh solution after every use.

-As was already mentioned, never sleep with your contacts in. If your contact lenses are not meant for overnight use, they can damage your cornea.

-Follow the directions that come with your lenses. If the packaging says to only wear your lenses for a specific amount of weeks, wear them for that amount and throw them out. Usually the life span of most contact lenses is anywhere between two weeks to a month. Single use disposable contacts are only meant to be used once.

-Avoid heat and smoke, as they can dry out your contacts and cause irritation.

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