How Many Contact Lenses Should I Buy?

When someone comes to my shop to buy contact lenses, there is always the discussion of how many contacts to buy.  More often than not, the buyer will say "I'll just take a box."   A few months later that same customer will come back, having torn or lost their last contact lens. Upon learning that their special order lenses will take a week or so to come in, they will be upset that they don't have anything and get upset that I don't have an "emergency pair" to give them.  To add to their dilemma, they failed to purchase a backup pair of glasses. This whole dilemma could have been avoided if they had simply taken our recommendation to purchase a years supply.  This is only one of many reasons to purchase in quantity.  Other reasons include:

• Lower Prices-  Most contact lens sellers have discounts or rebates available if your purchase a years supply at one time.  Typically brick and mortar sellers offer mail in rebates.  Online sellers often use instant discounts at the time that you checkout.  Click here for a comparision of discounts available at major online contact lens stores.
• Healthier Eyes- Studies have proven that patients who purchase lenses in quantity are more likely to change their lenses on schedule and less likely to "stretch" their wearing time beyond what the doctor recommends.  Changing lenses on schedule is important to the health of your eyes. 
• Convenience-Purchasing contact lenses in quantity reduces the number of times you need to visit your eye care provider to purchase new lenses as well as the aggravation of not having anything to wear while you are waiting for your new lenses to arrive.

How many boxes is a years supply?  It depends on the type of lens your doctor has prescribed.  If your doctor has prescribed a 2 week lens, a years supply will be 8 boxes.  2 week lenses include most Acuvue lenses and 02 Optix.  If you were prescribed a monthly lens, 4 boxes will last for a year.  Monthly lenses include Purevision, Air Optix, and Proclear.

Should I buy more than a years supply?  While most online sellers will allow you to purchase as many lenses as you want within your prescriptions expiration date, I would only recommend ordering a years supply.  As a licensed optician, I believe it is important to make yearly visits to your eye doctor.  A years supply of contact lenses purchased after your exam will get you through the year until your next vision exam.

10 Myths About Contacts

Working as an optician, I get a lot of questions regarding contact lenses.  Many of these questions are variations of myths that have been around for years.  Here are my top 10 contact lens myths:

Myth #1-"I don't need glasses if I wear contacts."
While it is true that you may not use your glasses as much if you wear contacts, a pair glasses is a must for every contact lens wearer.  I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has come into my work with an eye infection or injury and asks what they can wear from "over the counter" until their eye is healed.  In addition to emergencies, your eyes do need a break from contact lens wear from time to time.  A backup pair of glasses is always a good idea.

Myth #2-"If a contact slides off of my cornea, it could become lodged behind my eye."
A contact lens cannot become lodged behind your eye.  Your eye has a structure called the conjuctiva, which prevents any foreign objects (dust, dirt, contact lenses, etc...) from going behind your eye.

Myth #3-"Contact lenses are expensive."
In the past, contact lenses could be prohibitively expensive because most lenses were custom made to their wearer.  Most modern  contact lenses are mass produced and thus less expensive.  Buying your contact lenses online is a surefire way to reduce the cost of contact lenses.  Click here to view a handy price comparison for the major online sellers.

Myth #4-"Contacts could become stuck to my eye."
This is an old myth that I suspect was started by shop teachers to scare their students into practicing safe welding practices.  The myth goes that a welder was welding without his mask and the welding torch was so hot that it melted the contacts and fused them to his eye. When he tried to remove his contacts he pulled out his cornea and lost his sight.  While this is one of the most extreme stories of this kind, none of these stories are true.  A contact lens is specifically designed to NOT get stuck to your eye.  If a contact lens slightly adheres to the eye, it is usually from a lack of moisture.  A few rewetting drops will remedy the problem.

Myth #5-"I don't need to see a doctor to wear contacts."
A proper fit is imperative to wearing contact lenses successfully.  A poorly fit contact lens can cause many problems the least of which is discomfort, the worst of which could be very painful (corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers, etc...).  For this reason, in most states, you are required to have your eyes checked every year to examine the health of your eye if you want to continue to wear contacts.

Myth #6-"Wearing contact lenses for long periods of time cannot harm me."
Don't believe this myth for a second!  Overwearing your contacts can cause serious damage to your eyes.  In extreme cases, your eye doctor may refuse to allow you to wear contacts anymore.

Myth #7-"Children cannot wear contacts."
There are many children who successfully wear contact lenses.  If they are responsible enough to take good care of the lenses and wear them properly, there is no reason they cannot wear contacts.  In fact, there are babies just a few weeks old that wear contact lenses (with their parents assistance of course) for certain vision defects.

Myth #8-"I can't wear contacts because I need bifocals."
Bifocal contact lenses, monovision, and wearing reading glasses over your contacts are all suitable options for most bifocal wearers.

Myth #9-"Contact lenses cause eye infections."
Most lens related eye infections are due to improper wear, or improperly caring for your lenses.  Always following  your eyecare professionals advice for the proper care, handling, and wear of your contact lenses will significantly reduce your risk of infection.

Myth #10-"Contact lenses are difficult to take care of."
Modern contact lenses are easier than ever to care for.  For most contact lens wearers, a single solution for cleaning, rinsing, and storage, is sufficient.  If you wear daily disposables, you don't need to clean them at all, you simply throw them away and replace them.

For more information regarding contact lenses, please visit http://comparecontacts.webs.com/

Contact Lens Related Problems

The great majority of complaints coming from contact lens wearers involve relatively minor, easily treated problems. But some common eye diseases, disorders and contacts-related complications can lead to more significant problems. Symptoms of serious problems include pain, irritation, sensitivity to light, redness, discharge or blurred vision. Any of these symptoms, if persistent, should prompt a visit to your eye doctor. Here are some of the main problems:

Corneal Abrasion
This most common problem occurs when a particle of abrasive material gets under the lens (which happens far more often with RGP lenses than with soft lenses). It also may result from wearing an RGP lens with an edge defect or a soft lens with an edge tear. If pain persists, medical treatment may be required. Infection of a corneal abrasion may lead to a vision-threatening corneal ulcer.

Dry Eye Syndrome
Also called “tight lens syndrome,” this is another very common malady in which people cannot produce tears in enough quantity or quality to maintain lens performance and corneal health. Dehydration can lead to reduced oxygen transmission and increased risk of infection. Intermittent dry eye can be induced by a variety of factors, including heavy alcohol consumption, use of an oral contraceptive, or just dry, windy weather. When it is a chronic problem, wearing time has to be reduced and a preservative-free “artificial tear” solution should be used often. Consult an eye doctor for recommendations.

Conjunctivitis
An infection of the membrane lining the inside of the eyelids and connected to the sclera. Usually bacterial but sometimes viral, it is caused primarily by the wearer’s failure to disinfect the lenses or to wash his or her hands. Symptoms include red eyes, often some discharge that causes the eyes to be “stuck together” upon wakening, and sometimes a burning sensation. Warm compresses can be an effective therapy, but medical treatment may be required if it persists. Lenses should not be worn if there is discharge that sticks the lids together.

Keratitis
An infection or inflammation of the cornea, having potentially vision-threatening complications if not properly treated. Symptoms include pain and sensitivity to light. It is most common with soft lenses that are not properly disinfected, or that have been stored or rinsed with contaminated water or solutions. It requires medical treatment—on an emergency basis when severe.

Corneal Edema
A swelling of the cornea, caused by insufficient oxygen supply. It is most often brought on by improper use of extended wear lenses. Symptoms include hazy vision, halos around lights and pain upon removal of lenses. Allowing the condition to continue could result in permanent scarring and infection. It might be necessary to replace lenses or to limit or eliminate sleeping with lenses in.Many people wearing contacts experience halos around lights at night, and sometimes “ghost images.” This is mostly normal—occurring when the pupil is dilated to a size larger than the optical area of a soft lens or the lens itself in the case of an RGP. But seeing a rainbow around lights indicates corneal swelling, meaning that the lenses have been worn too long and should be removed.Blurred vision in one eye or the other with a lens that was previously clear could indicate a more serious eye problem and should be checked. Again, any persistent symptom should get the attention of an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Blepharitis
A backup of the oil glands on the lid margins, often accompanied by overgrowth of normal skin bacteria around the lashes. Lack of oil in the tears produces poor quality tears and “dry eyes,” and also increases contact lens deposits. Daily hot packing of the lids with a hot washcloth, followed by side-to-side scrubbing of the lashes with the cloth is often recommended to eliminate or alleviate this condition.

Disposable Contact Replacement Time

Disposable contact lenses are made to be worn for a specific length of time that is usually determined by the manufacturer of the lens.  Unless your doctor approves, it is not recommended to exceed wearing your contact lenses for longer than the manufacturer's recommended wearing time.  Doing so puts you at high risk for injury or infection.  Most contact lenses can be divided into daily disposables, 2 week disposables, and monthly disposables.

Daily Disposables
Daily disposal lenses are made to be worn for 1 day and  are removed before going to bed.   They are a convenient option for patients who only wear contact lenses occasionally or those who do not want to worry  about caring for the lenses (cleaning, storing, etc..).  Typically these lenses are very thin and comfortable.  Some advantages of daily disposables include increased comfort, convenience, and reduced risk of injury or infection.  Common brands include Focus Dailies and Acuvue One Day.

Two Week Disposables
These lenses are the most commonly prescribed.  They are designed to be worn for up to 12 hours per day after which they should be removed, cleaned, and stored properly.  After being worn for 2 weeks the lenses should be disposed of.   Commonly prescribed brands are Acuvue Advance, Acuvue Oasys, and O2 Optix.

Monthly Disposables
Monthly lenses can be worn for up to 30 days.  Many monthly lenses have been approved by the FDA for extended/overnight wear making them a convenient option for patients who have unusually long shifts at work or who want to minimize the amount of time they wear glasses.  In most cases, the FDA recommends wearing them overnight for no more than 7 days, after which they should be cleaned and stored for at least 24 hours.  Air Optix Night and Day is one commonly prescribed lens approved for overnight wear.  Other monthly lenses include Air Optix Aqua,  Focus Monthly, and Frequency 55.

Disposable Contact Lens Types

The majority of contact lenses prescribed are some type of disposable lens. Disposable lenses are more comfortable, easier to care for, and are more economical than most conventional contact lenses.

There are 3 main types disposable contact lenses:

Regular (Spherical) Contacts
Simple, single-vision lenses for myopia, hyperopia (farsightedness) and presbyopia (aging eye).  Well known brands include Acuvue Oasys, Air Optix Aqua, and Focus Dailies.

Toric Contacts
Cylindrical lenses to correct astigmatism. They are weighted to rotate via gravity to the exact position that matches the “warp” of the cornea.  Commonly worn brands are Acuvue Oasys for Astygmatism, Air Optix for Astigmatism, and Vertex Toric.

Bifocal/Multifocal Contacts
For people with presbyopia. Two or more corrections can be provided in a progressive version that allows gradual changes from one correction to another.  Purevision Multifocal, Acuvue Bifocal, and more recently Air Optix Multifocal are all commonly prescribed multifocal lenses.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog. I am a licenced optician and have been in practice for 7 years. The #1 question I get in my line of work is "How much do contact lenses cost?" So, I decided to create a blog to inform readers of online pricing for contact lenses. I will post the latest offers from the major online contact lens sellers. I will also post reviews of the sellers. If you have any questions about contact lenses please feel free to ask. I will do my best to answer them.

In the future, I hope to have time to include information about purchasing eyeglasses.