Can a contact lens get lost behind my eye?

No. At worst, you might have trouble finding it under your upper eyelid if you rub your eye and dislodge the lens from its proper position. If necessary, your eye care practitioner can help you locate and remove the lens.

 

 

How old must children be before they can wear contact lenses?

That depends on how responsible the child is. This decision is best made jointly between you, your child and your eye doctor. Please see our Contact Lenses for Kids article for more information.

 

 

What kinds of contacts are available?

Contact lenses come in various material types, replacement schedules and wear schedules. Many wearers find disposable contact lenses and extended wear contacts are the most convenient.

 

 

Replacement schedules. 

Your eye doctor will prescribe your replacement schedule. It depends on the contact lens material and design, as well as your lifestyle and the condition of your eyes.
 

• Conventional soft contacts can last up to a year; conventional rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lensescan last even longer.

• Frequent or planned replacement contact lenses last one to several months.

• Disposable contacts last from one day (daily wear) to up to two weeks (extended wear).

 

Wear schedules.

Daily wear contact lenses must be removed before sleep. Extended wear contacts can be worn continuously (day and night) for up to a certain number of days, usually seven to 30 days.

 

 

Special contact lenses.

Special contact lenses include bifocal contact lenses, colored contacts,orthokeratology contact lenses that correct your vision while you sleep, theatrical contact lenses, contact lenses for astigmatism and UV-blocking contacts.

 

 

Are disposable contact lenses worth the extra money?

Many doctors highly recommend disposable contact lenses. They are an excellent choice health-wise, because there is less opportunity for protein and bacteria to build up on them. Also, if you wear daily disposable contact lenses, which are discarded at the end of the day, you won't need to buy contact lens solutions to clean and disinfect them after each use.

 

 

Is there really a big difference between daily wear and extended wear contact lenses?

Yes. Extended wear contacts are made of special materials that allow more oxygen to reach your eye, which makes them safer for wear during sleep.

 

The FDA determines the maximum amount of time that extended wear lenses can be worn before removal. Some brands are approved for up to seven days of continuous wear; others can be worn for up to 30 days.

 

 

I'm looking for a specific type of contact lens. Do you know where I can find it?

If you don't have a contact lens prescription for the lens you are interested in, you must first visit your eye doctor for an eye exam and a contact lens fitting.

 

This is true even if you don't need vision correction and are interested in only colored contacts or novelty (special-effect) contact lenses.

 

Why? The FDA considers contacts to be medical devices because you put them in your eyes; it has created these guidelines for your safety. Plus, each contact lens and each person's eyes are a little different, so the doctor needs to perform a specialized fitting for you. When contact lenses don't fit correctly, they can cause serious eye problems.

 

 

How many people wear contact lenses in the United States?

In 2014 the total was about 39 million, as estimated in the VisionWatch report released by The Vision Council. About 34 percent are male, and 66 percent are female. By age, U.S. wearers break out like this:

 

 

• 18 to 34 years old: 48 percent

• 35 to 44: 22.5%

• 45 to 54: 16.3%

• 55 or older: 13.2%