Save Your Eyes - Don't Buy Cheap Contact Lenses

By Helen Hecker

Be careful about buying cheap contact lenses. They may not be the quality you want. Discount, quality contact lenses are the most desirable. In the U.S. contact lens marketplace, 82 percent of contact lens wearers wear soft lenses, 16 percent wear rigid gas-permeable, and only 2 percent wear hard lenses. The choice of which lens is right for you should be based only on an examination by your doctor or eye care professional, not over the phone

Before you buy contact lenses from anyone other than your eye care professional, it pays to be a wise, informed consumer first. Ophthalmologists are eye surgeons who study and treat eye diseases and can also perform the same duties as optometrists. Optometrists examine eyes, diagnose and treat vision problems, prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses and in most states they can also prescribe medicine. Opticians grind and dispense eyeglasses and in some states also can dispense contact lenses.

Disposable lenses don't come with instructions for cleaning and disinfecting, while those labeled specifically for planned replacement do come with them. It's important for your eyes to have a good rest, without the lenses, for at least one night following each scheduled removal. There are two general categories of contact lenses - soft and rigid gas permeable. The soft lenses are easier to adjust and are much more comfortable than rigid lenses because they conform to the eye and absorb and hold water.

The expiration date for your lens prescription is currently set by your state requiring a one-year or two-year renewal. If your state has not set a minimum expiration date, government regulations set a one-year date unless your eye doctor determines there's a medical reason for less than a year.

If you live a very active lifestyle, the night and day type of breathable lenses will allow 30 hours of continuous wear. Soft lenses also come as disposable products meaning used once and discarded, or as planned-replacement lenses. Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are more durable, are resistant to deposit buildup, and generally give a clearer, crisper vision. Some eye doctors prescribe disposables as planned-replacement lenses, which are removed, disinfected, and reused before being discarded.

The length of continuous lens wear depends on the contact lens type and your doctor's evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. Extended wear lenses are usually soft contact lenses and are made of flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea.

If you have an insurance plan, the insurance plan's seller's prices may or may not be better than what you can find elsewhere. This should be just one option when you're shopping for contact lenses. Always ask what rebates might be available. Before you buy online, check to see if there are any testimonials on the online supplier's website.

Focus on the value, not just the price. Most people, who are looking for the best price, are really looking for the best value. Get a feel for how the retailer handles customer service calls in the event you have any problems after your order arrives. And check out how long the online supplier has been in business before you buy.

When you receive your order, if you think you've received an incorrect contact lens, see your doctor or eye care professional right away. Don't accept any substitution unless your doctor or eye care professional approves it. You can buy contact lenses from an eye doctor, on the Internet, from an optical store or a warehouse club. When you place your order make sure your lenses are available and not out of stock, because you'll no doubt need them right away.

One sight-threatening concern is the infection Acanthamoeba keratitis, which is caused by improper care of the lens. This hard-to-treat parasitic infection's symptoms are similar to those of corneal ulcers. Make sure to replace your contacts as recommended by your eye doctor because they will wear out as time goes by. Be aware that extended-wear contact lenses - rigid or soft - increase the risk of corneal ulcers, which are infection-caused eruptions on the cornea that can lead to blindness. The symptoms include vision changes, eye redness, eye discomfort or pain, and excessive tearing.

Note that getting a proper fit is essential. Contact lenses that are poorly fitted can lead to eyesores, eye inflammation, and eye abrasions. A basic rule: never swap your contact lenses with anyone else. Soft extended-wear lenses will bind down on the closed eye, but they are porous and allow some tears through during sleep. Because they have so little form, their binding has very little effect on the shape of the eye.

And shopping for contacts online will save you a lot of money. Contact lenses are deeply discounted. If you're looking for cheap contact lenses, you might find that cheap materials or other ways of cutting costs will affect the quality you want for your precious eyes. LASIK or laser surgery and its risks can be frightening and much too expensive for some people. Contacts provide a safe, comfortable and time-tested alternative.

For more information on color contact lenses and where to buy discount contact lenses visit http://www.VisionNurse.com Helen Hecker R.N.'s popular website which offers tips, advice and resources, including information on LASIK eye surgery, sunglasses, eyeglasses and affordable quality contact lenses

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Can Eye Laser Surgery Be The Right Vision Correction Option For Me?

By David Parton

Ideal LASIK vision surgery candidates need to have a realistic expectation of the results as well an understanding of the risks and serious commitment to reducing their dependence on corrective lenses and eyeglasses. It's a smart idea to do some comparison shopping before you select a clinic that meets with your standards. To establish whether or not a patient will be a suitable candidate for Laser eye treatment, the eye surgeon will conduct a pre-surgical eye examination.

If you have trouble seeing things at a distance, reading the small print on a newspaper or suffer with the overall difficulties of astigmatism, this may be be the right choice for you. These days, one of the most popular forms of laser eye surgery is Laser eye treatment. This process involves an eye surgeon removing tissue from the cornea with an excimer laser. The safety of this procedure is well-documented and you will feel only a mild discomfort.

Astigmatism is the result of a distortion of the image presented to the retina. This occurs because of the not perfectly spherical cornea or lens. Astigmatism is one of the conditions that are regularly treated successfully by Laser eye treatment.

Patients with myopia or nearsightedness, have a problem seeing faraway objects as clearly as nearby ones. When you have myopia, instead of light being focused on the retina where it belongs, it is focussed before the retina. If you suffer from myopia - then Laser eye treatment may offer a solution for you.

People with hyperopia, or farsightedness, see objects at a distance more clearly than close up. Hyperopia is also caused by a cornea that has a curve that is not at a steep enough angle.

You may suffer from presbyopia if you have blurry vision while reading. The normally elastic lens of the eye hardens and becomes less flexible as we grow older reducing the ability for the eye to clearly see nearby objects. Even though Astigmatism, hyperopia and myopia are successfully corrected with Laser eye treatment, this is not the case with presbyopia: which occurs to people over the age of 40. Patients will have to continue the use of corrective lenses for reading after the procedure if they need reading glasses beforehand.

You're visual acuity can generally be restored with Laser eye treatment. A patient's vision improvement after this procedure is virtually instantaneous. The most obvious benefit of a successful Laser eye treatment is the patient's need for corrective lenses to see properly is no longer required.

For more Laser Eye Surgery information visit our Wavefront Surgery site today. Additional Laser Eye Surgery resources can be found at http://www.dimario.info

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Bigger and Bolder - Latest Sunglass Trends

By Beverly Maniago

Yep, when it comes to sunglasses, huge lenses that come with glitters and in different shades of color are what's hot in the market. The retro look is still widely popular, with these updated little ensembles gearing toward complimenting a combination of sporty yet fashionable lifestyles. Consider the simple yet sharply sophisticated designs of designer aviator sunglasses from Polo and Giorgio Armani, and of course, Ray-Ban. And when it comes to detailing, bold is the word.

Designer brands like Gucci, Chanel, and Bulgari opt not to be subtle and understated this year, showcasing their logos in glittering crystals at the temple and studding the arms with gemstones. And it that wasn't enough, neon-colored frames are also included in the fashion must-haves of the season, complimenting the lively hues found in runways. Check out the burnt orange wraparound sunglass from Armani Exchange, the vivid bright pink offering from Roger Vivier that comes with buckle detail, and the multi-colored frames from Selima. Suffice to say these pairs are not for the timid and fainthearted. And who wouldn't want to don a pair of wraparound sunglasses and strut it like a superstar? These sporty accessories are still the choice eyewear of celebrities and stars like Bono and Kate Moss.

But what about those blessed with exquisite fashion sense but cannot afford to shell out hundreds of buck for a pair of designer eyeglasses? It is for this market that replica sunglasses are geared toward. With styles and looks inspired by designer brands, replica sunglasses offer the same look but without the unbelievably expensive price tags. All of the products offered are not just trendy and eye-catching, they are also of high quality. Retailers of replica sunglasses offer opportunities for fashion conscious individuals to get into the latest trends and styles without sacrificing affordability.

With the availability of replica sunglasses through several online retailers, your fashion sense does not have to take a back seat to all the other practical decisions you may make. After all, you can be trendy all you want without breaking that proverbial bank.

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LASIK Eye Surgery -- Is It Worth The Risk?

By James Yawn

LASIK is one of the best types of corrective eye surgery. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. This procedure can permanently reshape the cornea, which is the clear covering of the front of the eye with the help of a laser. LASIK is performed on millions of people every year. There are a wide variety of different optical lasers. This procedure can be used to correct near and far sightedness as well as astigmatism.

Before you can get LASIK surgery done you need to get your eyes examined by a doctor to see if you are a good candidate. If you wear contacts, you will have to stop using them for a few weeks before the Lasik surgery and only wear your eyeglasses. This is to allow the cornea to return to its original pre-contacts shape, or else the measurements of your eye may be wrong, resulting in poor results after surgery. These measurements help the doctor decide how much tissue is to be removed from the cornea, and have to be redone a week after your first evaluation as well as before the LASIK surgery, to make sure the eye has not changed.

Common LASIK is not the only game in town anymore and it is not the best procedure for every candidate. Find an eye surgeon who is comfortable and experienced with several other procedures, like LASEK, CK, PRK, HD LASIK and clean lens replacement, including some of the latest technologies. If you find out that your eye doctor is knowledgeable about these other procedures, you should feel safe in his or her choice as to which one is right for you.

Most patients do not report any problems after the laser surgery. The number of problems is less than 1%. The surgery is done on an outpatient basis for nearly everyone. You can usually return to work the next day.

Side effects can happen with any type of surgery. After the surgery, the number one complaint for candidates is dry eyes. The reason for this is the laser eye surgery decreases the lubrication amount for the eyes. The severity of dry eyes can vary from serious to very serious. These problems can be solved by using artificial eye drops commonly found in any drug store.

Undergoing LASIK surgery or any other type of laser vision correction can be a daunting task. Does the reward of having freedom from glasses or contacts make it all worthwhile?

Should you get LASIK surgery to correct your vision? Find out this and the answers to all your LASIK questions at http://www.healthychoicez.info Discover the things you should know before getting this type of surgery and get a free LASIK evaluation at http://www.healthychoicez.info

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Lasik Eye Surgery For The Enquirer

By Steve Knowles

Lasik eye surgery stands for Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis. It actually reduces people’s dependence on their glasses or contact lenses and involves a simple short surgical procedure on your eye using a cool laser beam. The whole procedure is virtually painless, takes only minutes per eye and is a one day procedure so you may go home the next day. The Lasik procedure is as simple as the following three easy steps.

1. The cornea is like a few layers of stacked paper. An instrument called a microkeratome gently glides across the top two of these layers creating a flap which has like a hinge.

2. The doctor then has access to the third layer or the stroma of your eye. The Excimer Laser then alters the shape of the cornea by the effect it has on the stroma.

3. The flap is then repositioned back over the newly contoured stroma without the need for stitches as eye tissue binds together very quickly and simply on its own.

After this simple process, you are then sent home to rest. You will feel a little discomfort, rather like having an eye lash stuck in your eye for about 12 hours or so until the healing process is well under way.

On average, one in 5 people are not suitable for Lasik surgery and this can only be determined by a professional. Those not deemed suitable for Lasik may be more suited to other types of surgery so it is important to be aware of your options.

One of the best parts about Lasik eye surgery is that by the next day, your vision will have improved to the point where you can at least drive a car. Many people report their eyesight having improved to 20/20 vision!

The end result hopefully of Lasik surgery is to return the cornea to as close to a normal shape as possible, and in doing so improve your vision. Although Lasik surgery appears to produce what seem to be miraculous cures, it is also possible that complications may be included in the end result.

For those in the forty plus bracket who decide to try Lasik surgery, they may discover that they still require eyeglasses for reading. If you are thinking about Lasik eye surgery, you would be well advised to do thorough research, gather all the facts and get a solid understanding of what you should expect before committing to the procedure.

You are welcome to seek further information about Lasik eye surgery at our web site. At our web site you will discover further resources that provide information such as laser eye surgery pros and cons.

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Are Reading Glasses Over Contact Lenses Really Necessary?

By Steve Cogger

It is not at all uncommon that people who wear contact lenses eventually find the need to add a pair of reading glasses to their visual toolbox. So why is it that, if you are wearing contact lenses do you still require a pair of glasses? And, are they always necessary, or is it possible to get away with just wearing your contacts?

Depending on your necessary vision correction, your contacts have probably been prescribed for optimal distance correction; which is what most people need prior to the age of about 40. After or around the age of 40, presbyopia sets in and another correction for reading is required.

So as a 40 something contact lens wearer, what exactly are your options? Let's start with the simplest. If you are happy with your distance vision and you are happy to flaunt some of the stylish reading glasses available today, you can keep your lenses the same and simply slip on a pair of readers when necessary. You will want to be sure to remember to bring them when you go out to dinner, as dim lights make everything more challenging to see.

Another alternative is to visit your friendly contact lens fitter and see if they can upgrade your lens system into a multifocal or monovision design. Fitting multifocal contact lenses is a bit more time consuming than your average distance vision fitting, however if you are dealing with an experienced lens specialist, you are certainly going to be pleased with the end results.

Multifocal contact lenses come in many varieties, from soft disposable lenses to gas permeable designs. And most recently, the hybrid multifocal contact lens that promises the comfort of soft contacts with the superior vision of gas permeable lenses.

Monovision, or modified monovision, allows your contact lens practitioner to evaluate and adjust your lenses based on eye dominance and visual demands. As stated earlier, mulitfocal lenses are a fantastic option when in the hands of a qualified lens fitter.

With all the options available, you can see that the need for reading glasses does not mean you have to wear eyeglasses around your neck for the rest of your life. Multifocal lenses can drastically reduce the need for them. I encourage you evaluate a pair of multifocal lenses; give them a week or two to get used to the vision. And if you still like to find a pair of quality reading glasses, enjoy and have fun with them.

Steve Cogger is a contact lens specialist practicing in New York City. For more information on multifocal contact lenses or to find designer reading glasses visit obrigcontactlenses.com today.

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Potential Hazards of Wearing Contact Lenses

By Cyndi Schoenhals

Contact lenses are safer now than they’ve ever been! They are less abrasive and more comfortable to wear than the early contact lenses. They allow many individuals who need vision correction to shun eyeglasses and show off their beautiful eyes to the world. Nonetheless, contact lenses do present potential hazards to contact lens wearers.

Eye Irritation

Some people experience eye irritation as a result of wearing contact lenses. The symptoms may include discomfort, itching or burning, excessive tearing, a gritty sensation (like sand particles scratching the surface of your eye), and/or excessive redness. Eye irritation may also lead to pain, swelling, blurred vision, and eventually, eye infection or ulcer of the cornea.

If your eyes become irritated from wearing contacts, you should immediately remove your lenses and do NOT put them back in! Consult your eye professional right away, and take your contact lenses with you, in case the professional wants to check them out to help find the cause of the eye irritation.

More Serious Hazards

Continuing to wear your contacts after developing any type of eye irritation can lead to more serious problems. Among those problems are eye infections, pink eye, and corneal ulcers (open sores in the outer layer of the cornea).

According to the Food and Drug Administration, steps CAN be taken to reduce these serious risks.

Replace your contact lens storage case every 3 to 6 months.

Always clean and disinfect your lenses properly

Never reuse contact lens solution! Always use fresh solution each time you store your lenses. And never, ever use distilled or tap water for storing or cleaning your contact lenses! Distilled water and tap water are NOT sterile!!! (By the same token, saliva is NOT acceptable for cleaning your lenses, either!)

Remove your contacts before swimming or going to bed. Even though some types of contact lenses are said to be safe to sleep in, doing so can increase the likelihood of eye irritations and infections.

Sensible and Safe Use of Contact Lenses

If worn with precaution and by following good, hygienic care, contact lenses may be safe and convenient. Be sure to follow the advice of your eye care professional on how to clean, disinfect, and store your lenses. Also, wear your contacts only as prescribed!

Cyndi Schoenhals is author of 888-Contact-Lens.com, where you can get the best deals on Color Contact Lenses, and other popular styles.

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