They are always visible, are prone to getting fogged up, and for some people, place an uncomfortable weight on your face. Eyeglasses can also get broken or lost if they are not properly taken care of. Unlike glasses, contact lenses are unobtrusive and can barely be felt even when being worn directly over the eyes. Due to their unobtrusive nature, it is possible to wear contact lenses during physical activities, which is generally not possible when wearing eyeglasses.
Since they are worn right on the eyes, the make it possible to focus on the entire field of vision. When wearing contact lenses, no annoying reflections or obstructions appear, nor do they get fogged up. Contact lenses have to be cleaned on a daily basis using solutions that have to be purchased. Not keeping contact lenses clean can result in a serious eye infection that may require costly medical treatment.
Contact lenses can only be worn for a certain time after which eyeglasses have to be worn and a new prescription has to be acquired annually. By now, it is probably quite obvious that eyeglasses can often be more cost-effective than contact lenses. Keep in mind that these estimates can vary under particular circumstances, such as if you end up damaging or misplacing your eyeglasses. Remember, also, that every situation is unique! You can contact our office at , or use our simple online form to schedule an eye exam.
Eye Care Center of Colorado Springs. Skip to content. RGP contact lenses are less common. They can therefore be harder to find and purchase, which can make them more expensive. If you take care of them properly, you will not need to buy another pair for a year, which can save you money.
Daily use contacts are soft, flexible, and common, so there are a lot of options. There are daily disposal contacts, daily reusable contacts that are disposed of weekly, and daily reusable contacts that are disposed of monthly. Daily disposable contacts typically come in a box with 30 or 90 pairs of lenses. Common brands and prices of daily disposable contacts, from lowest to highest, are outlined below:.
Prices for contact lenses go up as the refractive error or specialty needs increase. The most expensive lenses are bifocal or multifocal lenses or those correcting for astigmatism irregular corneal shape or presbyopia farsightedness related to age. More expensive lenses may also have newer technology that claim to be more oxygen-permeable or moist to prevent dry eyes.
Contacts that have tints for color or ultraviolet UV light protection often cost a bit more as well. Disposable contacts that are designed to be reused on a weekly, monthly, or set replacement schedule also come in boxes of varying amounts.
These contacts are taken out each night, disinfected, and used up to the recommended number of uses before disposal. Often, buying a box with more lenses can be more cost-efficient. Common weekly disposable contact brands and types, with costs from lowest to highest, are outlined below:. Just like with daily disposable contacts, correcting for more significant refractive errors can mean specialty contacts are needed, which can cost a little more per box.
Lenses that offer cosmetic eye color choices also typically cost more. Daily use contacts that are designed to last a month to three months before replacement also come in boxes with multiple lenses. Common brands and costs for monthly disposable contacts, from lowest to highest, are as follows:. In general, daily use soft contact lenses are most cost-efficient when buying boxes of lenses that are replaced on a monthly or so basis. Daily disposable contact lenses are convenient.
They often offer the healthiest and most hygienic option, the American Optometric Association AOA publishes, but they will cost a little more. There are some contacts that are approved for extended-wear, which means that you may be able to leave them in your eyes overnight for up to a week or even a month, depending on the type.
These contacts are meant to be more breathable than daily use contacts. Mayo Clinic warns that wearing contacts overnight, even if they are approved for this use, can increase the risk for eye infections.
Some extended wear contacts are meant to be changed once every six or seven days, like the Biofinity, while others are approved for monthly wear. But complications, such as an eye infection, can develop without proper care.
An individual must obtain a prescription for contact lenses from a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist. It is not legal to purchase decorative or cosmetic contact lenses in the United States without a prescription. An individual can buy contact lenses in person at a retail store or by ordering online. Below are several brands of contact lenses, along with information on the types of lenses sold.
They offer daily, bi-weekly, and monthly contact lenses, in various prescriptions, including lenses for astigmatism. Their lenses have a silicone hydrogel design for comfort. Air Optix offers multifocal and color enhancement lenses, available as daily wear or extended wear for up to 6 days.
Each time a person blinks, Smart Tears provides added moisture to reduce dry eyes. Their replacement schedule varies, but they offer a range of options from daily disposable to monthly options for various eye conditions. The material of the lens helps lock water in, which may improve dryness and promote comfort.
There are many online retailers offering contact lenses from multiple brands. Some of these include:. To maintain optimal eye health, the American Optometric Association advises on the importance of regular eye exams, as changes can often be otherwise undetectable. Regular eye exams help diagnose certain eye diseases before symptoms become apparent.
Eye exams are even more important for individuals that wear contact lenses. They come with an increased risk of serious eye conditions , including:. Other complications for those that use contact lenses include:. Regular eye exams and comprehensive eye exams monitor any changes in the eyes attributed to wearing contacts. Several factors affect the cost of the lenses, including lens type, lens material correction needed, replacement schedule, and tint.
Some manufactures offer rebates, which helps lower costs. In this Spotlight feature, we take a look at some of the risky behaviors that need to be avoided when wearing contact lenses that the majority of…. Finding the best bifocal contact lenses online can be easier with proper research.
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