How does contact lenses work

Have you ever wished your eyes were slightly bluer than their natural hue? There are cosmetic contact lenses to enhance, or even change, the color of your eyes. Read more about cosmetic contact lenses. There are even black sclera contact lenses to complete your next Halloween costume. However, since contacts are medical devices, you should speak with an eye care professional before using such novelty contact lenses.

It seems like no matter what your vision needs may be, we now have contact lenses to fulfill them. Skip to main content. How Contact Lenses Work. What do contact lenses do? Types of contact lenses Types of contacts are not all the same. The history of technology—contact lenses Contact lenses and their concept have been around for much longer than most people believe.

Yes, we have come a long way in contact lens comfort. Soft contact lenses In , the soft contact lens was officially introduced, ushering in a new era apart from the hard contact lenses of the past. Daily contact lenses The next major breakthrough in contact lens technology came in when the first disposable lenses were launched.

Silicone hydrogel contact lenses Now we have silicone hydrogel lenses, which offer greater comfort and can be worn for longer periods of time in comparison to their predecessors. Colored contact lenses Have you ever wished your eyes were slightly bluer than their natural hue? Stay tuned! A Brief History of Contact Lenses Modern contact lenses first appeared in the s, but scientists as far back as the 16th century were aware of their potential based upon emerging theories of optics.

How to Put in Contact Lenses People trying contacts for the first time may be a little grossed out by the idea of touching their eyes. These can cause eye irritation or infection. Dry off with a lint-free towel. Put a single contact lens on the tip of your index finger. Use one finger to hold your upper eyelid open and get eyelashes out of the way. Use another finger to keep your lower eyelid open. Look up as you gently place the contact lens near your iris.

Blink to ensure that the lens adheres to the surface of the eye directly over your pupil. While looking up, pull down your lower eyelid with a single finger. Using your index finger, touch the bottom edge of the lens and gently slide it down and off the iris. Apply a bit of pressure to squeeze the contact lens between your index finger and thumb. The lens should come free of your eye.

Daily lenses? Throw them away. Weekly or monthly contacts? Hybrid contact lenses. These lenses have a rigid center surrounded by a soft outer ring. It combines the crisp vision of a hard lens with the comfort of a soft lens. Bandage lenses. These contacts do not have a prescription built into them. Instead, they cover the surface of your cornea for comfort after an injury or surgery. About Foundation Museum of the Eye. Contact Lenses. Contact Lenses for Vision Correction.

Lentes de contacto. By Kierstan Boyd. Contacts can improve vision for people with these refractive errors: myopia nearsightedness hyperopia farsightedness astigmatism distorted vision presbyopia changes to near vision that normally happen with age Types of Contact Lenses Contacts are made from many kinds of plastic.

Hard contact lenses The most common type of hard contact lens is a rigid gas-permeable RGP lens. Soft contact lenses Most people choose to wear soft contact lenses. Decorative contact lenses can lead to serious eye problems.

Want decorative contact lenses? Ask an eye care professional. Halloween Eye Safety: Printable Infographics. What Are Polarized Lenses For? Find an Ophthalmologist. Advanced Search. Ask an Ophthalmologist. Browse Answers. Free Newsletter Get ophthalmologist-reviewed tips and information about eye health and preserving your vision.