If you have decided that you want to buy your contacts online like most of the consumers today, then you should know that buying contacts online might get confusing and overwhelming. With so many new brands coming up with new types of lenses every few months, it is difficult to choose the best one.
Read on to know about the three important factors that you must keep in mind while buying contacts online.

Type of lenses
One of the first steps to buying contacts online is to know exactly what kind of lenses you want. For this, the best thing to do is to go through your doctor’s prescription. The brand and the material of the lenses is usually mentioned in the prescription. You can further decide if you want to go for daily disposable contacts, weekly or the monthly ones. You can also choose between opaque and colored contacts, according to your choice.

Choice of brand
A smart tip to follow while buying contacts online is to read the reviews of the top websites and find a brand or a website that has great customer reviews. While checking for the reviews, make sure that you read the bad ones as well so that you are aware of what you are purchasing. It is advisable to spend a little extra and buy your contacts from a reputed brand or a large seller because they sell products, which are high in quality and are durable. Another benefit of buying from a reputed brand is that in case you are not satisfied with your lenses and want to return or exchange them, then you can easily do so. In case of small sellers, they might take longer to ship the lenses because of their small-scale production and their customer care might not be as well managed as the big brands.

Your budget
Once you have decided on the type of lenses that you want to order for yourself, decide on the budget. Ensure that you do not go overboard with your budget because you will be changing your lenses every few months. Once you have decided on the budget, put a price filter on all the top online contacts website and search for a pair of contacts that best suit your requirements. Beware of websites that sell cheap contacts but charge a fortune in the form of shipping charges.

Do not be in a haste while buying your lenses and in case you still feel confused, you can always ask your eye doctor or industry experts to guide you about buying the perfect contact lenses for yourself.

Many people prefer to buy their contacts online instead of going to a store and buying them. Other than saving your time, you also get a better variety and cheaper deals if you buy your contacts online.
Buying contacts online might seem tricky for few people, especially for those who are doing it for the first time.
Read further to know more before you shop for contacts online.

Contacts prescription
According to the law, all the online websites which sell contacts are required to ask for a doctor’s prescription when people buy contacts from their site. So, if you are planning to buy one, ensure that you have the prescription ready. Typically, a doctor’s prescription will include basic details like the type of lenses that you need, measurements of the contacts, preferred brand, and the material of the lenses. The prescription comes with the number of refills that you are allowed and the expiration date of your prescription. It also includes your eye doctor’s details and phone number so that they can be reached if something goes wrong.

Usage of contacts
There are two common types of lenses that you can buy – daily disposable one or weekly or monthly ones. If you are someone who finds its unhygienic to squeeze the contact solution, clean the lenses and use the same ones every day, then the daily disposable lenses are your best option. With these contacts, you wear a new one daily and throw the used ones by the end of the day. Weekly or monthly lenses are great for those who want to wear their lenses in the night and do not believe in wasting lenses by using the disposable ones.

Selecting the brand
Once you have decided to purchase your contacts online, you must then decide which brand and seller you want to buy it from. If you buy the contacts from a small seller then you might have to pay a fortune as shipping charges but there is no guarantee about the durability of the product. On the other hand, if you buy it from a reputed seller, then you will get a wider range of collection to choose from. Since the large sellers have much more lenses stocked up, they will ship your order quicker compared to the small sellers.

Do a thorough research and choose contacts that fit your requirements and budget.

It is very important to take adequate care of your contact lenses to avoid eye infections. Contact lens care guidelines depend on the type of the lens you use. For daily disposable lenses, there are no cleaning and storing instructions. But for conventional contact lenses or monthly disposable ones, you need to properly follow all maintenance protocols for the sake of your eye health.

Guidelines to clean contact lenses

Following contact lens care rules for cleaning and storing can help you minimize the risk of getting eye infections and keep your vision safe.

Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses. Use a gentle soap that is free of perfumes. Rinse your hands thoroughly to remove all traces of oils or other cosmetics. Use a lint-free and clean cotton towel to dry your hands.

To clean your lenses, place it in your palm. Use the cleaning solution and the tip of your index finger of the other hand to remove all traces of grime. Throw away the used solution and if needed, use another batch to clean the lenses. Repeat the steps for both the lenses, every time you use and remove them.

Once the lenses are clean, you can wear them. If you are storing them, make sure the lens case is clean. Throw away the contaminated solution from previous use and clean it. Add fresh solution and then place your lenses in the container.

Guidelines to wear contact lenses

• It is advisable to abide by contact lens care recommendations for wearing them to avoid problems in the eyes.
• Wear your lenses each day as per the advice of your doctor or optometrist. Also, never prolong the use of extended-wear disposable lenses. Dispose them as needed (daily or monthly).
• It is not recommended to use contact lenses while in the shower or swimming in the pool or using a hot tub. The germs and dirt in the water can harm the lenses and cause infections in the eyes. It is vital to keep lenses away from water. Also, don’t sleep wearing your lenses. This reduces the supply of oxygen to your eyes and can lead to contamination or eye problems.
• Avoid borrowing someone else’s contact lenses to use or lend your lenses to anyone else.
• Other safety guidelines for contact lens use
• There are other safety instructions you can follow for proper contact lens care.
• If you use makeup, do so after wearing your lenses. Remove the lenses before cleaning your face. Make sure no lotions or perfumes enter your eyes immediately before and after you wear your lenses. Don’t use contaminated eye makeup or cosmetic products.
• Use a sterile solution to clean your lens case periodically. It is also a good practice to replace the lens container every few months.
• Use sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays. This is recommended even if you use contact lenses that block UV rays as they don’t cover the entire eye surface.

Colored contact lenses are specially-designed lenses enabling the users to change their eye colors. These are available in bothon-prescription (plano) and prescription forms.

With prescription colored lenses, you can not only correct your vision (be it myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism), but also have fun with different eye colors. Plano colored lenses are designed only for cosmetic purposes and do not correct any vision problem. While it is nice to have an easy option to change one’s eye color, there are risks associated with the use of colored contact lenses just as with the usage of any regular contact lens.

Proper colored contact lens use and care

Whether you want to use a prescription colored lens or a non-prescription one, you still need to follow all recommendations for proper use of lenses. Otherwise you risk contracting eye infections and causing damage to your eye.

• In some countries like the US, the sale of colored contact lenses with no prescription is illegal. So, it is very important that you first consult with an ophthalmologist even if you want to buy only cosmetic contact lenses with no power. Only buy colored contact lenses from places that ask for a prescription. When you consult with a doctor about using any kind of cosmetic contact lens, you are ensuring the safety of your eyes.
• During your consultation, your ophthalmologist can assess, if you are a good candidate for wearing contact lenses, if you have any existing eye infection that can become worse with your contact lens use and provide you with proper measurements for the right-sized lens. Your doctor can also guide you to proper care for your eyes and lenses to minimize the risk of infections and keep your eyes healthy.
• During your consultation, your ophthalmologist can assess, if you are a good candidate for wearing contact lenses, if you have any existing eye infection that can become worse with your contact lens use and provide you with proper measurements for the right-sized lens. Your doctor can also guide you to proper care for your eyes and lenses to minimize the risk of infections and keep your eyes healthy.

Always purchase colored contact lenses from licensed shops. Refrain from buying from online retail shop or any place not authorized to sell cosmetic contact lenses.

After each use, thoroughly clean your lenses and store them properly in the lens case. Also keep the lens container clean by washing it with a sterile solution. Replace the case after a few months of use. Always store your cosmetic contact lenses as per the instructions of your doctor. Remember, you can’t forever use your colored contact lenses. You may need to replace it as guided by your ophthalmologist.

Neither share your cosmetic contact lenses with anyone else, nor borrow lenses from anyone else, even if it is for one-time use.

In case, you experience any redness or pain in the eye during or after using colored contact lenses, seek medical help. These could be signs of an eye infection and may require treatment. For immediate relief from irritation or itchy eyes, remove the lenses and rinse your eyes with clean tap water. Don’t wear your lenses again until you have seen a doctor.

You can safely use colored contact lenses on a regular basis if you follow all care guidance diligently while using them.

Contact lens users have a higher risk of contracting eye infections. Lack of proper care of contact lenses and their improper use can cause mild to severe eye infections requiring immediate medical attention.

Types of eye infections from incorrect contact lens usage

There are different types of eye infections that can occur if you don’t follow proper medical guidance for contact lens use.

One of the most common types of eye infection amongst contact lens users is keratitis. It occurs in the cornea, which is the outer layer of the eye. Keratitis mostly occurs because of bacterial contamination, but can also present itself due to fungal or viral infections.

Eye injury such as minor scratches while wearing contact lenses can cause eye infections. Even if the injury or trauma in your eyes is because of other reasons, contact lens use can aggravate it and cause infections.

There is more risk of catching conjunctivitis as contamination can occur very easily.
Symptoms of eye infections

If you wear contact lenses and experience the following symptoms in your eyes, the right thing to do is to immediately see a doctor about the problem.

• Redness
• Itching
• Pain
• Swelling
• Blurry vision
• Thick eye discharge such as tears or a sticky substance
• Watery eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Dry eyes
• Any kind of discomfort
• Avoiding eye infections from contact lens use
• It is possible to keep eye infections at bay, if you follow proper protocol to clean and wear your contact lenses.

Clean your hands with soap before handling your contact lenses.

When you remove them, use a lens cleaning solution to disinfect the lenses. It is very important to not miss this step. After cleaning them, store your lenses in fresh solution. Throw out the remaining stale solution from the lens container and add fresh supply to it. Just adding extra solution to the remaining one in the lens container is one of the most common ways to invite infections in your eyes. It is also advisable to never reuse the cleaning solution.

Thoroughly clean your lenses before wearing them. This step is very important to remove any remaining contamination or dirt from your last use.

Also, regularly clean your lens case. It is best to replace it every few months or even earlier, if needed.

Always remove your contact lenses before you sleep. If you sleep while wearing your contact lenses, it reduces the supply of oxygen in your eyes. This makes your eyes more susceptible to getting bacterial infections. Sleeping in your contact lenses also increase the risk of injuries and abrasions in the eyes, further putting your eyes at a risk from infections.

Remove your contact lenses when in the swimming pool, shower and bath. Essentially, avoid contact with water while wearing your lenses to avoid eye infections. Pollutants or germs in the water and those present in pools and hot tub can infect the lenses.

There are several different types of contact lenses available in the market today. These cover different materials and properties to suit the needs of all users. Before you see your optician for contact lenses, it may help you to know the range of choices available for you. This information can help you make the right choice for your contact lenses in terms of your comfort and budget.

The two basic types of contact lenses are soft contact lenses and hard contact lenses.

Soft contact lenses are thin and very comfortable to wear. Made from a plastic material called hydrogel, these lenses are the most popular in use. You can buy soft lenses to correct your vision due to conditions like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (blurry vision due to change in the eye curvature) and even presbyopia (age-related loss of near vision). Soft lenses come in many varieties such as daily disposable lenses, two-weekly disposable, monthly disposable, extended-wear use and colored lenses.

Daily disposable lenses offer a lot of comfort to the user in terms of cleaning and maintenance. Designed to wear for a day only, with this contact lens type, you don’t need to bother with cleaning solutions and the lens container. Since these lenses are to be disposeddaily after use, there is lesser risk of contracting eye infections.These lenses can be expensive than the other types of contact lenses.

Two-weekly lenses are best for first-time users or those who suffer from dry eyes. You need to clean them everyday, store them in a lens solution and dispose them after using them everyday for two weeks.

Monthly disposable lenses are an excellent choice for those who want to wear lenses daily, but at a reduced cost of daily disposables.

Contact lenses for extended wear are soft lenses made from silicone hydrogel. This material is a fairly new innovation that makes it possible for users to wear contact lenses for up to 30 days without the need to remove them. This type of contact lens is best for people who are pressed for time or are averse to making time for proper maintenance required for lens care.

Colored lenses allow users to change the colors of their eyes. These are available as both prescription and non-prescription ones. If you have myopia or hyperopia, you can more easily find colored lenses for your needs. For other vision problems like astigmatism, finding suitable colored soft lenses may be difficult.

Hard contact lenses are called gas permeable lenses (GP) or rigid gas permeable lenses (RGP). Hard lenses have declined in popularity since the introduction of soft lenses, but these offer many benefits to the user. These are more durable than soft lenses and can be worn for longer periods. You need to replace them as per your optician’s recommendations. Hard lenses are comfortable enough to use and can be made to suit specific eye prescriptions.

There is nothing more irritating than getting a pair of thick eye glasses that poke fun at your face indirectly. You might complain and even argue with your optician that the frames and the glasses do not suit you in spite of the many trials. Well, if you are dissatisfied or if you feel that you do have some serious self-reliance issues, then it is high time that you give the contact lenses a shot and more so because of contact lens deal that you might be able to avail. Although there are many myths surrounding these lenses and while most of them may have existed before, contact lenses have advanced to phenomenal levels and they are extremely easy to use. Let us look at breaking some of the myths.

Think contact lenses and the next thought that might come to your mind would be the sticky nature of the lenses on your eyes. Earlier, contact lenses were always dry and ended up doing more damage to the eyes. They frequently made your eyes itchy and arid and many times moved easily on your eyeballs that you had difficulty adjusting them. However, the lenses of the new age are made with cutting edge precision and are getting advanced with each passing year. Clear contact lenses have replaced the conventional contact lenses with œAcuvue Oasys being the market player.

The contact lenses that you wear today are so silky smooth and feather light that you do not feel the sensation and they have long durability. They do not move on your eyeballs and they can be put on easily and removed easily. You will be provided with lens solution and a small box that can carry your lenses when you sleep. Always ensure that you remove the lenses with care and replace the solution in the box every day. There are two types of lenses “ the short duration clear lenses and long duration. As the name suggests in the short duration contact lenses, you will be provided with a box of lenses that you might have to change after a week. Usually, the box contains about 6 “ 10 lenses for both the eyes. In the longer variations the contact lenses can be easily used for many months before disposing them off. These types are usually suggested when you use the lenses only for short duration. Also, the lenses can come in shades, in case you would want to make your eyes speak a different tone.

Contact lenses can be safely worn by almost everyone. Only in rare cases, if you do not have enough water content in your eyes, you might be asked to refrain from using them. Do check with your ophthalmologist before using them and always ensure that you follow the guide lines for its safe use.