| Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses. | | | | time for your eyes to adjust to. Because they |
| Many people who live an active lifestyle have | | | | contain anywhere from 25% to 79% water, they |
| enjoyed the ease and convenience of contacts | | | | are more comfortable but less durable. Some also |
| now for many years. Today, there is an | | | | allow you to sleep in them. Soft contacts are |
| extensive choice to best fit your need. | | | | generally replaced more often than gas permeable |
| Contacts now have so many options; it may | | | | lenses. The life expectancy of soft contacts vary |
| seem a bit overwhelming to find the right pair for | | | | from once a day to once every few months. |
| you. In truth, there are a few things you should | | | | This factor depends on upkeep and how sensitive |
| know when shopping for contacts. But when done | | | | your eyes are. |
| right, you will find much better prices and varieties | | | | Gas permeable lenses are made from a rigid |
| than your optometrist could provide. | | | | silicone which is considerably more durable and |
| After a visit to your eye doctor, you can ask for | | | | longer lasting. In the long run, gas permeables are |
| a prescription of your eyes. This little sheet of | | | | slightly more expensive up front but less |
| paper will tell you everything you want to know | | | | expensive over time since one pair will last a |
| about the shape, size, and power of your eyes. | | | | couple of years compared to soft contacts lasting |
| First, you will need to decipher the abbreviations | | | | an average of around a month. |
| on your prescription | | | | A new craze today is color changing or enhancing |
| PWR: this is the strength in diopters your new | | | | contacts. Some people add this feature to their |
| lenses must have in order to sharpen your sight | | | | already existing prescription and some even buy |
| to an acceptable level. | | | | them simply for decoration. Color can come in a |
| BC: Known as back curvature, this number | | | | variety of intensities. |
| indicates the shape of your cornea and helps with | | | | Tinted contacts have a visible tint meant to |
| overall fit and comfort. | | | | enhance the natural color of your eyes. this type |
| DIA: The distance in milliliters across your contact | | | | looks best on light colored eyes. |
| lenses | | | | Color tints have an opaque solid color pattern |
| CYL: For those of you with astigmatism, this | | | | around the center of the lens which can |
| measures how advanced it is. | | | | dramatically change eye color. The color pattern is |
| AXIS: Also for astigmatism patients, this helps the | | | | based off of natural color occurrences in the iris. |
| contacts correct the oval shape of your cornea. | | | | The center is clear so you can see. These lenses |
| ADD: For bifocal users, this will show the additional | | | | come in colors such as blue, hazel, green, and |
| strength in the section of your contacts used for | | | | even violet. |
| reading or close viewing. | | | | Costume tints have been used in movies for |
| COLOR: If you have chosen contacts that will | | | | special eye effects and are now available to the |
| enhance or change your eye color, your desired | | | | general public. Options include white-out, spiral, |
| color will be shown here. | | | | cheetah, and alien. These are obviously not for |
| BRAND: If your doctor has prescribed a certain | | | | everyone. |
| brand for you, in most cases, retailers are | | | | With this information, shopping for the best |
| required to sell you only that brand. | | | | contacts can be a fun and rewarding experience. |
| Now that you know what your prescription | | | | You are almost guaranteed a better price and |
| means, you can now shop for the best contacts | | | | more ease than conventional ordering from your |
| for you, there are some things to note though. | | | | optometrist. The best way to find the best prices |
| After talking to your doctor, you should be aware | | | | is to browse around and compare prices. Be |
| if you need soft or gas permeable contacts. | | | | careful of scammers and stay with reliable |
| Soft contacts are quite common and take less | | | | companies. |