Contact Lenses or Spectacles?

Many people are seeing eye-to-eye these days on the importance of wearing sunglasses. So much so, in fact, that it isn't just stylish to wear shades; you'll often find people wearing them as a statement against sun exposure and its potential consequences. Contact lenses provide a safe alternative to this trend, with all of the benefits that come with not having to remove glasses or contacts when you go outside: your eyes will be protected, and you won't have any bothersome adhesive around your eyes. Sure, they cost more than spectacles and they don't look as cool (unless they're from Urban Outfitters), but contact lenses will make your life so much easier.

Why are contact lenses more expensive than spectacles? Well, there is the cost of the prescription, but that doesn't account for all of it. There's also the cost of replacement lenses, which can be quite a bit pricier than a single pair of glasses.

What about disposable or custom contact lenses? Are these cheaper alternatives to these two options? The price of contact lens replacement versus their disposables is essentially the same. Disposable contacts seemed like an inexpensive alternative to permanent lenses, since you couldn't get a perfect fit every time you tried; however, they ended up just as expensive as regular contacts once you factored in how many times you'd have to throw them away after awhile. (For anyone who is really interested in this subject, the reason for the similarities in cost comes down to simple supply and demand—the price of lens replacement will always be higher than that of disposables, since they are subject to a greater amount of demand.)

What about getting custom-made contact lenses? If you want completely customized lenses and there's no generic brand that will do the trick, then you're going to have to fork over a pretty penny. The other option is just buying one of those "combo deals" at an eyeglass store: if you're selling sunglasses and reading glasses at the same time, these combo deals might be something to look into.

If you're thinking about getting prescription-strength lenses, it's best to get them from a contact lens store. These are the ones that should be doing all of the testing and comparing to determine whether your eyes can handle any type or kind of ultraviolet radiation your lenses might come into contact with. That way, there's no risk of any damage being done to your eyes.

Where do I go to get these?

You can find a contact lens store in virtually any city, although it isn't always easy to find in the suburbs. To find one close by, post on Usenet and start exploring; this will show you what else is out there.

If you're in an urban area, you'll be sure to find contact lens stores in the mall or in one of your local drugstores. You can also go to a specialty store that sells contact lenses: they've usually got great service and they can give you the information you need (be sure to bring your prescription with you, though).

Don't forget that many chains carry contacts as well; this is one good reason not to discount them when looking for a place to buy your contact lenses. Office Max and Office Depot are two that come to mind; chances are there's at least one in every major city. Can't find them locally? The Internet is always an option.

It's important to find the right lenses for your eyes, and that means doing your research. The right contacts can protect your eyes and make them look great, so it's worth the effort.

Article Source: eHow.co.uk

http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_5311076_contac...-or-spectacles.html

Last updated 2011/04/09

Title: Some Misconceptions About Contacts

The same reasons why people are against wearing glasses is why there are many misconceptions about contacts that need to be cleared up. People have this thought process that contacts are not good for your eyes because they do not have proper vision. But, here are some reasons why contacts are actually beneficial for your eyes. 1. Contacts do not affect your eyesight Developed on the basis of a false premise, many people believe that eye-glasses and contacts will be harmful to their vision and health. Eyeglasses and contact lenses cannot affect your sight in any way but can enhance the effect of light to aid in the correction of vision issues such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. However, there is no way that you can reduce or intensify the amount of light entering your eyes through contact lenses or glasses. It is also true that a reader can use his/her glasses to read in bad lighting conditions. This is a misconception as people tend to believe that you will have constant headaches if you wear your contact lenses all day. However, quite the contrary is true - studies have proven that wearing contacts can actually help improve your eyesight and prevent any kind of eye strain. For instance, contact lenses are great for people with presbyopia, or age-related nearsightedness. With presbyopia, the muscles that control your focusing ability weaken with age. This can cause strabismus (crossed eye) and double vision as well as headaches if you do not get rid of these symptoms. The effects of presbyopia can be minimized with the correct prescription for your contact lenses. Contact lenses work by reducing the amount of light entering your eyes, and this is why people with contacts are usually quite successful in improving their reading and vision skills. 2. Contacts will not give you headaches As said above, many people think that wearing contacts will cause headaches. This is not true though because a regular contact lens has no impact at all on the pressure within your eyes or your brain. However, if you have worn contacts for too long, you may experience some minor issues that include eye fatigue. Eye fatigue occurs when your contacts become dry and uncomfortable.  To prevent this problem, you need to keep your contact lenses moist with the appropriate eye drops. If you are using disposable contact lenses, then it is suggested that you change them every three to four hours. Make sure that you have a good eye care professional who can provide the right kind of contact lenses for your eyes. By doing this, you will not only be able to prevent eye fatigue but also enjoy wearing contacts without any issues with comfort or vision problems.

3. Contacts cannot make your eyesight worse This misconception has actually caused a lot of people to avoid buying contacts because they think that their eyesight will get worse by wearing them. This is also a false belief because contacts cannot affect your current vision. What they can do though is to prevent any further damage on your eyes by correcting your vision and preventing you from strabismus and double vision that leads to headaches. Once you wear contacts, it will not only help you see better but also prevent any further damage in the future. 4. Contacts are not really expensive Many people think that contact lenses are really expensive, but this is actually not true at all. In fact, it would be more beneficial for you if you take the time and effort to find out all about contact lenses before making a decision about whether or not to purchase them.

Conclusion

It is true that contacts can actually help with the vision issues you may have, but they are way better than glasses because they improve your eyesight and prevent you from suffering any eye strain. Contact lenses are super convenient being able to change them whenever you want to and not being restricted by glasses when it comes to sleepovers or parties. They also look more natural than glasses, so there is no chance of looking different from other people.

Article Source: eHow.co.uk

Dry eyes can be a painful experience for many people and many opt for artificial tears to relieve the pain when used properly.