If you have severe vision issues that can’t be corrected with normal contact lenses and you don’t want to wear Coke bottle glasses then an implantable contact lens might be the solution you are looking for.

Implantable contact lenses, also known as intra ocular lenses or ICL’s are a way to correct the more severe forms of bad vision that can’t be helped through laser surgery or normal contacts. Unfortunately this is a little bit more invasive than just popping a contact lens onto your eye. It involves micro surgery.

If you’re not an ideal candidate for laser surgery either due to corneal thickness or those who have already had cataract surgery then an ICL might work.

This surgery requires a little bit more recovery time than traditional radial keratotomy or Lasik. With this surgery an incision is made on the side of the eye and the lens is slipped behind the cornea. The patient then has to rest for about an hour before being released to go home.  There isn’t instant vision improvement like with laser corneal shaping. Instead this heals up gradually over about two weeks. You’ll have to go back to the Dr. the day after surgery to insure that there are no complications.

One other concern is that for safety reasons you can’t get lenses implanted in both eyes at the same time. Instead you’ll have to wait a week or two after the first surgery to make sure there’s no risk of rejection or infection. The last thing you want is to have problems with both eyes.

So if contact lenses and laser correction aren’t available for your particular vision issue and you’re tired of wearing glasses then implantable contact lenses might be just the thing to restore your vision back to normal and free you from glasses.

Contact lenses have literally changed the way we see.

They were introduced over 100 years ago as hard shell lenses that fit in the eye.

Today soft contact lenses account for the majority of the market.

Soft contact lenses can be found to treat almost any vision problem from astigmatism to the more common myopia. You can even find lenses that are designed just for theatrical effect like pure silver or cats eyes.

One of the newest advancements in contact lenses is the introduction of ultraviolet radiation protection, more commonly called UV Contact Lenses .

UV contact lenses not only give you good eyesight they protect you from harmful UV rays. UV rays can damage the skin and eyes and is one of the leading factors of skin cancer. Additionally, prolonged exposure to UV rays has a direct relationship to the development of cataracts, a clouding on the eye lens leading to blurry vision or in severe cases blindness.

The first thing to realize is that you won’t even notice the UV coating. It doesn’t change the color of objects that you are looking at. You won’t even notice the protection until decades later when all your friends are getting cataract surgery and you don’t need it.

Even though UV contact lenses can protect the eye it’s important to remember that contacts only cover around the iris. You’ll still want to wear sunglasses when going outside to make sure your eyes are completely protected. The whites of the eye can be damaged just as easily as your skin.

UV protection is a great added benefit to contact lenses. It can help reduce damage to your eyes over time. Protecting your eyes is important for years of clear sight. Just because you may have blurred vision doesn’t mean you have to let it get cloudy with cataracts.

Contact lenses have literally changed how we see the world.  If you have bad vision a set of contact lenses is just the thing to help restore your eyesight back to 20/20. You can even buy contact lenses, with a prescription, for purely cosmetic reasons. One way to really bring out your eye color is to use a set of enhancement tint contact lenses.

Enhancement tint contact lenses work just like any other contacts for vision correction but they have the added benefit of accentuating your natural eye color. They work best with light colored eyes such as blue, hazel, and green.

These lenses don’t radically alter your eye color. Instead they make blues bluer and greens greener. They bring out the natural beauty of your eyes.

If you have dark brown eyes and are looking to change your eye color then you are better suited to an opaque tint lens that’s designed for changing eye color. Unfortunately enhancement tint lenses won’t work as well for you.

You care for these contact lenses the same way you would any pair of disposable lenses. Just remove them at the end of the day. Clean them with a multipurpose solution and store in a sealed case overnight. They have about the same longevity as normal wear disposable lenses do.

So if you’re looking for a new set of contact lenses why not check out ones with enhancement tint. You’ll be able to see clearly and have a great new look that will turn heads whenever you enter a room. All you need to do is make an appointment with your eye doctor and get fitted for a great new set of lenses. You’ll be amazed with not only how clearly you can see but at how these lenses compliment your natural eye color.

There are all sorts of different contact lenses out there, from hard gas permeable lenses to the more common soft disposable ones. Any lens will correct your vision and help you get rid of the hassle of glasses.

Contact lenses have come a long way in just a few short years. What was once strictly for vision correction can now be used as a cosmetic. If you are looking to change your eye color then opaque tint contact lenses are just the thing you are looking for.

Opaque tint contact lenses can change any eye color even deep dark browns. They have a unique structure that allows you to see normal color range but change what your eyes look like. You can go from brown to green hazel or blue just by putting in a different lens.

These lenses require the same amount of care as any other extended wear disposable lens. You still need to remove them at night, clean them, and store them.

Opaque tint lenses don’t lose their color over time either. You don’t have to worry about a tinted dye bleaching out. They will look exactly the same at the end of the month as the 1^st day you put them in.

Like all contact lenses these will require a prescription even if you don’t need vision correction. Only an eye doctor can find the lens that is just the right fit for you.

If you’re looking to change your appearance subtly or dramatically then opaque tint contact lenses are a great starting point. You can find them in every shade from natural to outrageous. You can even order a set of red ones to use around Halloween.

All you need to do is make an appointment with an optometrist and show up for a quick vision check and fitting. You’ll love the dramatic effect the lenses will have.

You can find contact lenses in every color imaginable. What was once solely for vision correction is now being used to great cosmetic effect by thousands of people. Changing your eye color is just a simple matter of putting in a set of contact lenses. You need a prescription, but don’t worry; you can get one even if you don’t need vision correction.

One of the funkiest looks out there today is mirrored contact lenses.  They can make your eyes appear silver. It’s a really out there look that works great for Halloween or the Goth/industrial scene.

Mirrored contacts remove the pupil definition leaving you with a flat silvery reflective futuristic look. Think Vin Diesel in the movie Pitch Black.

Believe it or not though mirrored lenses do have a practical use! If you are a fisher or athlete then mirrored lenses can help your vision. They can be tinted in such a way that certain colors pop out much more vividly such as the white of a baseball or green of a tennis ball.

The mirror finish is an intrinsic part of the contact lens. The lenses are soft and pliable. Plus you never have to worry about scratching the mirror coating of the lens.

You care for mirror tinted contact lenses just like you would any other. They just need a quick rinse in saline solution, a little bit of daily cleaner and a storage case. With proper care they can last a long time.

So if you are shopping around for a really unique look, the next time you visit the optometrist ask about mirrored contacts. They will probably need to be special ordered but if you get lucky you may be able to score a free sample. Just try them on and take a look in the mirror. It’ll be a great effect to see yourself reflected in your new mirrored lenses.

What are they?

Also called contacts, they are small, round, rigid or floppy lenses that sit on the eye. The thought of this makes a lot of people squirm but they actually float on the layer of clear liquid that bathes the eye.

They can improve sight, just like spectacles, or they can be worn for cosmetic reasons – such as colored or special effects lenses.

Specialized therapeutic lenses can be used to deliver medication or to heal an eye wound.Some lenses may be implanted inside the eye during an operation to improve sight.

Most lenses now have a pale tint of color which doesn’t show when they are being worn, but it does help to wearer to find them in the soaking pot or if when they are dropped.

Why do people wear them?

They may just hate wearing spectacles! Contacts are also more practical – they don’t steam up, don’t go streaky when it rains and give the wearer a wider field of vision and are better for those who love sporting activities. Worldwide, about 135 million people with vision problems wear them.

Can Anyone Wear Them?

Contacts are not recommended for people who:

• Are very near sighted
• Have a history of corneal infections
• Work in an industry where they are exposed to chemical fumes, dust, or dirt
• Have allergies to lens-care products
• Are diabetic because they are prone to infections and their bodies may not tolerate even a mild infection
• Are under the age of nine

If you have very dry eyes, you may have problems but you could try using lubricating eye drops or Acuvue Oasys contact lenses.

Up until a few years ago, people with astigmatism couldn’t wear contacts. Now, many of them can, with the arrival of toric and Multifocal lenses. As a general rule, if your prescription is not too complicated, there is no reason why you shouldn’t wear contact lenses.

How Long Can I Wear Them For?

It depends which sort of lenses you have:

• Daily wear lenses are worn during your waking hours.

• Extended wear or EW lenses can be worn continuously. You can sleep in them for 6 or more consecutive nights and then dispose of them.

• CW or continuous wear lenses are usually made from silicone hydrogel. You can wear these for up to a month and then discard them.

These last two are becoming very popular. The reason that they may be worn for such a long time is because they let a high amount of oxygen through to the eye – as much as 5-6 times more than ‘normal’ soft lenses.

You can take a short nap in ‘normal’ lenses but don’t ever try wearing them overnight – it’s extremely uncomfortable and could damage your eye.

How Often Should I Replace Them?

Again, it depends on which sort you have.

• Daily disposables should be worn for one day and then thrown away. They come in multipacks. These are great for anyone with any kind of eye allergies as the short life of the lenses doesn’t allow for protein to build up on their surface. They’re also very useful for occasional wear.

• The most common types of contacts are worn during the day and then disposed of after two weeks or a month.
• Extended wear lenses are worn for 6 or 30 full days and nights and then disposed of.
• Rigid gas permeable lenses are durable and if looked after well, can last for several years!

When contact lenses first became popular, they were mainly ‘Hard’ Lenses. These were replaced quarterly or annually but in order to last so long, they were thicker than what we’re used to now. They needed regular cleaning with protein removers which meant you couldn’t wear them while that was occurring. People used to join a ‘contact lens scheme’ – like an insurance policy so that if you lost one, you could get a replacement. With multipacks available that’s no longer necessary.

Are They Safe?

If good hygiene is used and you care for your lenses as instructed by your eye care professional, you shouldn’t have any difficulties. The most common causes of eye infections are poor cleaning and careless storing of the lenses.

If you wear contact lenses, you must see your eye care professional every six months to make sure that your eyes are tolerating the lenses successfully.

If you wish to buy colored or pattered lenses from the internet, you must have your eyes measured properly first in order to obtain correctly fitting lenses. Some sites sell ‘one size fits all’ lenses but the simple truth is that there is no such thing and wearing them would not only be uncomfortable but could damage your eye.

How come they’re less expensive to buy online?

Many people are tempted by the lower prices on offer but are worried about buying cheaper lenses online.

‘Cheaper’ doesn’t mean lower quality lenses. These online companies sell exactly the same lenses as your High Street provider. You just pay less for them online. This is because there are only a few main contact lens manufacturers and they just repackage the same lenses for their different ‘own brand’ outlets. It’s as simple as that!

If you already wear lenses and you get them from the High Street or a mall, do a search online and you can find out what brand your lenses actually are. Once you know, you can shop around to find the best deal! Buying ‘multipacks’ works out the cheapest and is also useful as it means you always have spare pairs of lenses.

Online providers don’t have to pay fees on expensive premises, eye doctor salaries or other overheads. They also buy in bulk directly from the manufacturer. All of these savings mean that they can afford to sell them more cheaply – and still make a profit! This method of selling has proved so successful that supermarkets and High Street eye doctors are now offering their own discounts. It’s a buyers market!

Do I need a prescription to buy lenses online?

Yes – you must have a prescription that is no older than a year. And, if you are buying colored or patterned lenses as a cosmetic feature and not a sight correction, you still need to have your eyes measured for the lenses to fit properly. How do I get a prescription?

If you are already a contact lens wearer:

• If your prescription is over a year old, you will need a sight test and to have your eyes checked to make sure they are healthy. Measurements will be taken to see if the shape of your eye has changed at all.
• If you can’t find your prescription and it is under a year old, your provider is legally bound to give you a copy, free of charge.

If you’ve never worn lenses:

• You will need to see an eye care doctor for a sight test and to have your eyes measured. If your sight is normal – just ask for measurements for contacts.

• Your contact lens prescription legally belongs to you and you should be given a copy of it at each appointment.

Contact lenses can revolutionize your vision and your appearance. Just follow the care instructions and make sure you get your check ups…and enjoy!