How Do Contact Lenses Work Exactly? A Basic Guide

Most everyone knows what contact lenses are, but have you ever stopped to wonder just how do contact lenses work exactly? Well, even if you haven't you're about to find out. After all, there's no time like the present, right? Simply put, contact lenses work exactly as normal eyeglasses do in that they refocus the light rays coming into the eye in such a way so that they are able to converge on the retina. People are said to have 'perfect' eyesight when this occurs without the need for corrective adjustment of the light coming into the eye.

Contact lenses are essentially thin optical discs worn on the outer surface (cornea) of the eye. They sit on a thin film of liquid (usually your own tears) and because of this are kept in place. Similarly, it is for this reason that 're-wetting' eye drops and such are used to keep the eyes moist. Dry eyes are not conducive to comfortable contact lens wear and can lead to further unpleasant complications.

Eye Problems For Which Contact Lenses Are Suitable

Common eye conditions for which contact lenses are suitable include short-sightedness (myopia) and far-sightedness (hyperopia) and the more annoying problems such as Presbyopia, a condition caused by old age where the eyes lose their elasticity; and Astigmatism, sufferers of which have an irregularly shaped cornea.

The materials used in the creation of contact lenses have evolved considerably since their invention over half a century ago. Hard materials gave way to the slightly improved Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) design, but it wasn't until the discovery of soft contact lenses that these opthalmic devices afforded the ease-of-use and comfort that people demanded. Utilizing a plastic known as hydrogel, soft contact lenses are comprised of a significant amount of water and are therefore more supple. Today, contact lenses can be found in various forms, including but not limited to, disposable and daily-wear lenses and cosmetic and color lenses.

Thus enlightened, why not put your knowledge to good use and browse our range of contact lenses and eyewear linked in the menu at the right hand side of this page? Knowledge is power, after all.

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