Buying Lenses- Discount Contact Lens Facts

Buying Contacts Online - Are there really Discount Contacts? Consider the facts.

Contact lenses, also known as contacts come in both hard and soft varieties. Contacts usually serve the same purpose as conventional eye glasses but are less cumbersome and almost invisible.

They are often composed of various types of polymers and contain some variant of silicone hydrogel. . This makes them flexible, similar to the human tissue.

Previously, hard contact lenses were made of a polymer known as PMMA, or Polymethyl methacrylate. They have since been replaced by rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Today many contact lenses are made of hydrophilic, or ‘water absorbing’ materials. This allows oxygen to reach the cornea, and make the lens more comfortable to use.

It has been estimated that 125 million people use contact lenses around the globe. About 35 million people in the United States wear contacts. The types of contact lenses people are buying vary tremendously between countries. Japan, Netherlands and Germany buy select disposable contact lenses about 80% of the time and about ninety-five percent of the time in Scandinavia.

In addition to the practicality, many people wear contacts because they think that they appear less attractive when wearing eye glasses. Contacts are easier to replace than glasses and don’t steam up. Glasses can be dangerous when used while doing vigorous activity and eye glasses don’t have the wide field of vision that contacts offer. Some physicians prefer their patients to use contacts for specific vision issue that can’t be addressed with glasses, such as keratoconus and aniseikonia. Patients with these conditions tend to have better vision when wearing contacts.

Many patients with imperfect vision begin wearing contacts when they reach puberty are about 10 years old. This is a time of life when looks is a serious concern. This is an issue for teenagers that are active in sports and programs in which they perform.

Contacts use is continued throughout a patient’s life, especially now that there are more uses for contacts that apply to both the patients’ medical and personal needs, such as color contacts and stigmatisms.

There are numerous options for purchasing contacts. Purchasing contacts online can be hassle free and less expensive than buying from a doctors’ office. The contacts are delivered to your home. It is essential that you buy from a reputable online store that will verify your prescription with your doctor. If this were not taken care of you may get the wrong prescription. They take the time to make sure you get what you need.

Shoplens is a reputable company with a large selection, including PureVision, Colored Contacts - Freshlook Colorblends, Acuvue Oasys and Softlens 66 Toric, PureVision Multi Focal, Pure Vision Toric, Acuvue 2, Acuvue Advance with Hydroclear, and numerous other hard to find and popular products.

When you online the turn around time is very fast. You can elect to pay more and get the contacts delivered sooner, but the delivery time is already great. When you compare the prices of Shoplens to 1 800 Contacts you will find that Shoplens actually passes the savings on to you.

I like the reorder program. It allows you to refill an order with the same prescription as long as it is still valid. It is worry free, when you know that most orders ship directly from the manufacturer. Who would have thought that Buy Contacts could be so easy?

There are 3 primary disorders related to the the eye myopia (shortsightedness), ‘hyperopia’ (farsightedness) and astigmatism. Astigmatism is the only one that can be present in a person right from his/her birth. There are a number of corrective measures that can be taken to prevent the occurrence of these disorders. However, if you are unlucky, you may start having vision-related trouble, you should not feel any kind of embarrassment by wearing spectacles or contacts. Contacts have a number of advantages over eyeglasses. For example, athletes cannot join in competitions wearing eyeglasses. In addition, people who do a lot of physical activity, contacts are the best things to opt for. I have heard rumors that contacts harm the eyes and that people cannot participate in physical activity while wearing contacts. Such rumors are completely baseless. Science has proved that contacts are completely safe to be used. It this was not the case, millions of people would not be purchasing contacts. How can one find the ‘best contacts’? First, it is essential to understand the different types of contacts currently available. There are two types of contact lenses (on the basis of their expiry-period): disposable contacts and non-disposable contacts. However, contacts can also be classified into RGP, soft GP and colored lenses. RGP stands for ‘rigid gas permeable’ contacts. Gas Permeable lenses have an edge over the conventional contact lenses. This is because GP contacts are permeable, that is, they allow the flow of oxygen (or air). So if you are looking for extra comfort, you must settle for GP lenses. Daily wear contacts cannot be worn 24/7; they must be taken out before you go to bed. However, ‘extended wear’ contacts can be worn 24/7. ‘Extended Wear’ contacts last a month. Colored contacts are the very popular contacts today. Special-effect contacts are typically used for theatrical events. Many people who wear contacts report the least amount of eye irritation when they wear disposable contacts. There are specially made contacts for people with dry eyes. Since these contacts are so comfortable to wear them that they are quickly gaining popularity. If you are hunting for the ‘best contacts’, you need to talk to your doctor to find the contact that suites your needs. Simply go on the Internet to a reputable provider such as Shoplens and ‘buy contact lens at a discount. Shoplens offers the best contacts with manufacturer rebates and their prices are hard to beat. Colorblends Color Contact Lenses

Information on Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a rare condition. Keratoconus is a condition of the eye meaning conical conea. The cornea is the major focussing surface of the eye. Keratoconus may occur in one eye only initially but most commonly affects both eyes with one eye being more severely affected than the other. Both males and females are equally affected. As the disease progresses, the cone becomes more pronounced, causing vision to become blurred and distorted. Keratoconus is sometimes an inherited problem that usually occurs in both eyes. The weakening of the corneal tissue that leads to keratoconus may be due to an imbalance of enzymes within the cornea. This imbalance makes the cornea more susceptible to oxidative damage from compounds called free radicals, causing it to weaken and bulge forward. Keratoconus may be associated with allergy or possibly have a genetic component. Keratoconus rarely appears in an individual until puberty or beyond. Keratoconus is not usually visible to the naked eye until the later stages of the disease. In severe cases, the cone shape is visible to an observer when the patient looks down while the upper lid is lifted. When looking down, the lower lid is no longer shaped like an arc, but bows outward around the pointed cornea. Risk factors Keratoconus comprise oxidative injure and weakening of the cornea include an inherited predisposition, explaining why keratoconus frequently affects more than one member of the similar family. Keratoconus is also related with overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun, excessive eye rubbing, a history of poorly fit contact lenses and chronic eye irritation. The primary treatment for patients with keratoconus is to fit rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. In about 10% to 20% of keratoconus patients the cornea may become extremely steep, thin and irregular or the vision cannot be improved sufficiently with contact lenses. Some people with keratoconus can’t endure a rigid contact lens, or they reach the point where contact lenses or additional therapies no longer provide acceptable vision. The cornea may then need to be replaced surgically with a corneal transplant or graft. A surgical treatment involving riboflavin and UV light has been proposed. With this treatment, the corneal epithelium is first removed, and the corneal stroma is subjected to riboflavin and exposed to UV light. Radial keratotomy is a refractive surgery procedure where the surgeon makes a spoke-like pattern of incisions into the cornea to modify its shape.

Contact Lenses Wearers Guide

Reasons for choosing contact lenses

Each wearer has a different reason for using contact lenses. However, in our experience the major reasons why our customers want the option of contact lenses in addition to glasses are:

Convenience: for example daily disposables require no cleaning or care (unlike glasses)

%26#8220;The Look%26#8221;: many wearers prefer the look of contact lenses to glasses and find that it is a confidence booster

Sports Use: many people could not enjoy their favourite sports without contact lenses. Often people will begin wearing contact lenses for sport and end up using them in all walks of their lives because of the benefits they discover

Types of contact lenses

Contact lenses can be split into the following groups:

Daily Disposables %26#8211; replaced with a fresh pair of every day

Two Weekly Disposables %26#8211; replaced with a fresh pair every two weeks

Monthly Disposables %26#8211; replaced with a fresh pair every month

Extended Wear Lenses %26#8211; can be worn continuously whilst awake and asleep

Toric Lenses %26#8211; for patients who suffer from astigmatism

Multi-Focal Lenses %26#8211; provide all in one vision correction for patients who cannot see clearly over long and short distances

Coloured Contact Lenses %26#8211; fashion lenses for people who fancy a change from their natural eye colour

The majority of contact lenses purchased are soft and Lenstore.co.uk only stocks soft contact lenses. Hard (or %26#8220;Rigid Gas Permeable%26#8221;) contact lenses do exist and are typically for patients who suffer from severe astigmatism and irregular corneas. Your Optician will let you know if hard contact lenses are the most appropriate for your eyes but for the majority of people soft lenses provide the best option.

How to get contact lenses for the first time

If you currently wear glasses and want to try contact lenses the first thing you should do is book a contact lens examination with your Optician. He / she will take you through the whole process of getting fitted for contact lenses. Your Optician will first check if your eyes are suited for contact lenses (most people%26#8217;s are). He / she will then train you in how to insert and remove your lenses and will also show you how to clean and take care of them. Next you%26#8217;ll be given a trial set of contact lenses which normally last a week. At the end of the trial week you visit your Optician again and he / she will ensure that your eyes have reacted well to the lenses. At that point you%26#8217;ll buy three months supply of contact lenses from your Optician and wear them. After three months, you%26#8217;ll visit your Optician for the last time during the fitting period and he / she will write you a prescription. Make sure you grab a copy of your prescription. You%26#8217;ve now been officially fitted for contact lenses and can buy them from whichever supplier you choose.

Putting your contact lenses in

Step 1: Wash your hands with soap, rinse them thoroughly and dry them with a clean towel.

Step 2: Place the contact lens on the palm of your hand, check that it is clean and not torn.

Step 3: Ensure that the contact lens is not inside out (if it is the edges will flare up slightly) and place it on your forefinger (your pointing finger).

Step 4: Insert the lens. Use the forefinger on your opposite hand hold up your upper eyelid to prevent you from blinking. Use the third finger on the hand in which you have the contact lens to hold down your lower eyelid. Look up and place the contact lens onto the white of your eye. Look downwards to allow the lens to slip into position. Remove your fingers and close your eye momentarily. Your lens should be in place.

Step 5: Repeat the procedure on your other eye.

Helpful Tip: get into the habit of putting your right eye%26#8217;s lens in first. It%26#8217;ll reduce the chances of mixing up your contact lenses.

It does take a little practice to perfect your technique so don%26#8217;t despair if you%26#8217;re finding it difficult for the first few days or weeks. If you continue to have difficulty inserting your contact lenses then make an appointment with your contact lens Optician who should be happy to observe your technique and help you improve it.

Removing your contact lenses

Step 1: Make sure the contact lens is in the middle of your eye before trying to remove it. To check the lens is centred cover your other eye. If your vision is blurred your lens is not in the correct place. Look into a mirror and centre the lens with your finger.

Step 2: Pull down your lower eyelid.

Step 3: Whilst you have your eyelid pulled down, place your finger on the bottom edge of your lens and slide it down to the white part of your eye.

Step 4: Squeeze the contact lens gently between your finger and your thumb and remove the contact lens from your eye.

Helpful Tip: Get into the habit of removing your right eye%26#8217;s lens first. It%26#8217;ll reduce the chances of mixing up your contact lenses.

Cleaning and storing contact lenses

Step 1: Place the contact lens in the palm of your hand and apply a few drops of the recommended contact lens solution to the lens. Use your opposite hand%26#8217;s forefinger (pointing finger) to rub the lens gently on both sides.

Step 2: Rinse the lens thoroughly using plenty of contact lens solution.

Step 3: Fill your lens case with plenty of contact lens solution and place your cleaned and rinsed contact lens in the appropriate compartment. Secure the cap of the lens case and repeat with your other contact lens. Leave your contact lenses in the lens case for at least four hours. Letting it soak in the solution will disinfect the contact lens.

Step 4: After putting your contact lenses back in your eyes, pour the remaining solution out of the lens case. Rinse the lens case with fresh solution and let the inside of the case dry out in the open air.

Warning: Please never use water to clean or store your contact lenses. Water does not have the necessary contents to disinfect your contact lens correctly. In fact, cleaning your contact lenses with water may lead to a contamination of your lenses and has been known to cause irreparable harm to the eye.

If you wear daily disposables you do not have to worry about storing your contact lenses as outlined above. However, if you drop your lens or something gets caught in your eye you may have to clean it in which case you should follow the procedure outlined in Steps 1 and 2 above.

How long to wear your lenses for

In general most soft contact lenses have a recommended wearing time of not more than 10-12 hours continuously for up to 5 days a week. It%26#8217;s recommended that you wear glasses for a couple of days a week to ensure that your eyes receive more than enough oxygen to stay healthy. Extended wear lenses can be worn whilst you are both awake and asleep for up to a week. However it%26#8217;s important to realise that the recommended wearing time for a contact lens will vary by the type of lens and the wearer. Contact lens manufacturers provide wearing guidelines for your lenses (usually found on the packaging). Please follow the wearing schedule suggested by your Optician as he / she is uniquely well placed to advice you.

When to get in touch with your Optician

You should get in touch with your Optician if you are:

Close to the expiry date of your prescription / due for a contact lens examination (typically every 12 months)

In need of a copy of your contact lens prescription

Experiencing a deterioration in the standard of your vision with contact lenses

Considering changing to a contact lens solution which was not recommended by the person who fitted your contact lenses

If you experience any of the following symptoms / irritations in your eyes please firstly take your contact lenses out of your eyes (even if wearing them seems to lessen the discomfort or symptoms) and secondly get in touch with your Optician as soon as possible:

Feeling of discomfort

Redness

Excessive watering

Visual disturbance

If your Optician is not available immediately and the problem is causing your severe disturbance you should consult you GP or go to Accident and Emergency at your local hospital. You can, of course, also call Lenstore.co.uk during our office hours and we will advise you on the best of course of action. We will do our very best to help you.

Aftercare

%26#8220;Aftercare%26#8221; is the medical care and advice that should be provided to you after you buy a pair of contact lenses. At a minimum, contact lens aftercare should include both advice on and helping to make arrangements for:

Regular contact lens examinations

Where you can go in an emergency

What signs or symptoms you should watch out for

How to remove your contact lenses during an emergency

Who your local contact for advice is

Aftercare is provided by your Optician and supplier of contact lenses. Lenstore.co.uk provides a lot of advice on our website and over the phone about aftercare and your Optician is obliged provide you with all of the access you need to professional medical advice and care.

Daily Wear Contact Lenses vs. Extended Wear Contacts- Best Contacts

There are three disorders related to the the eye myopia (shortsightedness), ‘hyperopia’ (farsightedness) and astigmatism. Astigmatism is the only one that can exist right from his/her birth. There are several of corrective measures that can be taken to prevent the occurrence of these disorders. However, if unlucky, you may start having vision-related problems, you must not feel any kind of shame in wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Contacts have a number of advantages over glasses. For example, athletes cannot participate in competitions wearing glasses. Thus, people who do a lot of physical work, contact lenses are the best things to opt for. There are rumors that contact lenses harm the eyes and that people cannot participate in physical activity while wearing contact lenses.

The truth is that such rumors are completely baseless. Science has demonstrated that contact lenses are completely safe to be worn. It this was not the case, millions of people would not be buying contact lenses. Where can someone find the ‘best contacts’? First, it is essential to understand the different types of contact lenses available today. There are two types of contact lenses (on the basis of their expiry-period): disposable contact lenses and non-disposable contacts.

However, contact lenses can also be classified into RGP, soft GP and colored lenses. RGP stands for ‘rigid gas permeable’ contacts. Gas Permeable lenses have an advantage over the conventional contact lenses. This is because GP contacts are permeable, that is, they allow the flow of oxygen (or air). So if you want extra comfort, you must settle for GP lenses.

Daily wear contact lenses cannot be worn 24/7; they must be taken out before you go to sleep. However, ‘extended wear’ contacts can be worn 24/7. ‘Extended Wear’ contact lenses last a month. Colored contact lenses are the very popular contact lenses today. Special-effect contacts are typically used for theatrical purposes.

Many people who wear contacts report the least amount of eye irritation when they wear disposable contact lenses. There are specially made contacts for people with dry eyes. Since these contacts are so comfortable to wear them that they are gaining popularity quickly.

If you are hunting for the ‘best contacts’, you need to work with your doctor to find the lenses that best suits your needs. Then simply go on the Internet to a reputable provider such as Shoplens and ‘buy contact lens at a discount. Shoplens offers the best contacts with manufacturer rebates and their prices are hard to beat.

Never compromise on quality as they are to be placed close to your eyes.

Over the years contact lens technology has transformed and today contact lens users have many choices. There are so many options that it is often a dilemma what to choose.

Here are a few guidelines:

1. Before buying contact lenses have a through eye check by a qualified doctor. Be sure to write down your medical history in detail. Determine whether or not you are a suitable candidate for contact lenses.

2. Next make the effort to educate yourself. Find out what kinds of contact lenses are available and which ones are comfortable, safe, and durable. There are several types like hard contact lenses, rigid gas permeable, soft lenses, extended wear contact lenses, and disposables.

3. Evaluate your lifestyle and weigh the pros and cons of wearing contact lenses. If you lead a busy life and rush around or play contact sports, you may not be an ideal candidate. Similarly if you are prone to eye irritations and allergies then contact lens are not for you.

4. Buying and maintaining contact lenses can be expensive. Before you invest find out from other contact lens users what the recurring expenses are likely to be.

5. Surf the World Wide Web and read articles on eye care and contact lenses. This will help you make an informed decision.

6. Once you have decided on the kind of contact lens you are going to buy make the effort of finding out the prices of the lens and who the different manufacturers are.

7. Do a comparative study of costs of contact lenses bought from the doctor’s office, optician, manufacturer, and online. Many users find that buying contact lenses online is cheaper.

8. Make sure the lenses you buy fit the prescription for contact lenses written by the eye doctor. Once the contact lenses arrive verify their power.

9. Always read the instructions for contact lens care and wear before you purchase contact lenses. Some lenses require little care while others need regular replacement, cleaning, as well as sterilization.

10. Always ask for a receipt for purchase as well as guarantee. Never compromise on quality as they are to be placed close to your eyes.

Buying a contact lens is expensive and so the decision must be well thought of. Always buy lens care products like storing and cleaning solutions that are of quality and those that are recommended by the manufacturer of the contact lens or eye doctor. Be sure to check the expiry date and whether the seal is intact.

Contact lenses need great care and you must learn how to wear them from a professional nurse or doctor. Be sure to follow instructions carefully. In case you develop any irritations or redness of eyes immediately visit the doctor.