Contact lenses are suitable for those people who do not want to opt for a surgery to correct their poor vision or to wear eyeglasses which can tarnish their appearance. Contact lenses look like small little disks that are made to fit exactly into your eye, giving you very crisp vision. You may even opt for a new look by opting for coloured contact lenses.

However, contact lenses should be avoided by people with sensitive eyes or with eye infections. You need to wear it strictly after consulting your eye specialist. In order to make these lenses to exactly fit your eyes, you need to visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist who takes measurement of your eyes. Some people are oversensitive when their eyes are touched. Initially, the doctor can help you to wear your lenses or take them out. After some practice, the individual can manage the task efficiently without supervision.

The doctor would also give you tips on lens care, which needs to be strictly followed in order to take care of your eyes as well as the contact lenses. He would be able to advise the best options for choosing lenses that would suit your eye and appearance.

If the lens is flipped inside out while you wear, it would cause a discomfort while wearing. You can also test it by holding the lens on your index finger. A perfect half circle would be formed without any edges that stick out.

There are various types of contact lenses. Hard contact lenses that are made of hard plastic come with gas permeable or non-gas permeable options. They last as long as 5 to 10 years depending on maintenance and can still provide good vision. However, it takes time to adjust to these lenses. They correct most of the vision problems with ease, but are hard to insert into the eyes. Non-gas permeable lenses should not be worn for a long time; they can cause damage to the eye since oxygen does not reach the cornea. Gas permeable types allow you to wear the lenses for a longer time and are more comfortable to wear as it permits enough oxygen required by the cornea. However, hard contact lenses are rarely used by the people due to better types available in the market today.

Soft contact lenses for daily wear are made of flexible polymer-plastic and allow oxygen to pass to the eye cornea. They are easier to get adjusted to and provide a lot of comfort. They come in various colours and are allowed to be worn for long periods. But, these lenses may not correct all vision problems. The durability of these lenses is not too long.

Extended wear lenses is another type of soft contact lenses that are allowed to be worn for long periods of time as adequate oxygen passes to the eye cornea. Some of the lenses can be worn continuously for about a month (30 nights) before removing it for cleaning, as the material used is silicone hydrogel which allows about six times more oxygen to pass through to the cornea as compared to disposable lenses. Another huge advantage with these lenses is that they do not dry up fast, and the bio-compatible surface prevents the growth of bacteria and does not affect the eyes.