Contact Lens - Their Features & Their Use

Contact Lens

Contact lenses are small visual devices made with curved pieces of plastic shaped in a way to conform directly to the wearer’s eye. They provide an artificial refracting surface to the human eye and are used to correct vision problems like myopia and hypermetropia. Contact lenses aid in eye focusing in the same manner as spectacles do. Apart from these corrective measures, contact lenses can also be used for cosmetic and therapeutic reasons.

Features of Contact Lenses

The lenses are made from different types of materials – soft and rigid – and come in a variety of designs and colors. These include disposable, colored, astigmatic, aphakic, presbyopic and keratoconic lenses. The initial fitting and follow up care are important parts of contact lens usage to give maximum benefits of vision, appearance, comfort and tissue integrity.

Advantages of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are capable of correcting most of the problems that spectacles can as well as some additional ones that glasses cannot.

People not satisfied with their appearance using glasses can opt to use contact lenses for improved appearance. Contact lenses are not in the danger of slipping off, getting wet, or fogging up, which can easily happen with spectacles.

Uses of Contact Lens

The primary use of contact lenses is to correct myopia (short sightedness). They can also be used to rectify hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia and aphakia. Rigid lenses are used to correct irregular corneal trauma. Soft lenses are used as bandages for conditions like bullous keratopathy, recurring corneal erosion as well as to increase comfort, vision and postoperative wound healing.

The Adverse Effects of Contact Lenses

People have difficulty in using contact lenses if they have eye irritations due to allergies or dust and chemicals. Overactive thyroid gland, severe diabetes or extreme arthritis in the hands, dry eyes related to pregnancy, contraceptives, diuretics, antihistamines and decongestants and eye disease prevents a person form using contact lenses.

The usage of contact lenses may give rise to problems like eye infections, allergic reactions to lens care solutions and deposit on lenses, redness of the eyes, scratched corneas, alteration in corneal shape and structure and abnormal blood vessels growing in the apparently clear cornea. You should consult your eye specialist without delay if there is burning, extreme sensitivity or hazy vision or pain.

What type of Sunglasses You Choose?

Take a cue from celebs and fashion types who know that the right pair of sunglasses can add instant mystique, chic and polish to any look.

But also know that sunglasses are more than just a fashion statement: they are a necessity to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Protection

The color and degree of darkness of a lens doesn't tell you anything about sunglasses' ability to block UV rays which can harm your eyes, according to the American Academy of Opthalmology.

Look for sunglasses that block at least 99% of harmful UV rays (check the label!).

Lens

A sunglass lens can be made of glass or plastic and can have special hi-tech treatments.

• Mirrored - Thin layer of metallic applied to lens that may reduce visible light to reach eyes, but not UV rays according to AAO.
• Gradient - A tinted lens that is darker on the top fading to no tint on the bottom
• Polarized - Cuts the glare from smooth surfaces such as water, snow or pavement.
• Photo chromic - These lenses are sun-sensitive and transition from light to dark shade according to light conditions.
• Tints - A color called neutral density gray will shade but not change your color perception, according to Dr. Bert Dubow on AllAboutVision.com.

Styles

Sunglass trends have taken their cue from runway and street fashion. Retro looks like aviators and oversized, "Jackie O" frames along with sleek, futuristic shield shapes compliment what's going on in fashion.

Trendy tints span the rainbow, so look for a hue that flatters your coloring.

• Wraps - Extending past the eye to the temple, this style "wraps" around the face.
• Shields - One-piece shields have a modern look and are often partially rimmed or rimless and come in a wide range of tints.
• Aviators - Shaped like a teardrop, metal-rimmed aviators have enjoyed waves of trendiness since WWII when pilots favored this style.
• Clip-ons - An easy way to convert prescription eyeglasses to sunwear, clip-on shades can attach with either clips or magnets.

Flatter Your Face

In general, you should choose a pair of shades in a shape that is the opposite of your face shape.

For example, round faces look best in anything but round shades. A rounder face can carry off geometric shapes, ovals, wraps and shields.

More angular or thin faces look better in rounder frames; oval faces can carry off almost any style.