How To Choose And Pay For The Right Contact Lenses

According to the American Optometric Association, an estimated 45 million Americans, or 15% of the American population, wear contact lenses. This number is expected to increase over the next five years as more and more individuals decide to make the switch from glasses to contact lenses.
Many people don’t know what to look for when choosing the right contact lenses. Moreover, many users are unsure of how they will pay for their new lenses. Keep reading for a deeper look at both of these questions and the accompanying answers.
Length Of Wear
The first question one should ask themselves when choosing contact lenses is how long they plan on wearing them. Not all contacts are made to be worn for the same amount of time and this is a major factor to consider when deciding upon contact lenses.
- Several Day Wear: Some contacts can be used for up to 30 days depending on the lens. While this simplifies some aspects of wearing contact lenses, it requires the individual to be quite diligent about their lens care. Additionally, wearing the same lenses for extended lengths of time can result in fungal infection on the eye
- Single-Use: By far the most common type, single-use lenses are designed to be worn once then discarded. Although these lenses may be more costly, it significantly reduces the amount of time spent on lens care and lowers the chances of a fungal infection resulting from a dirty contact lens
- Overnight Wear: Contact lenses reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the eye and must be removed while the user sleeps. However, some lenses are designed to allow more oxygen to reach the eye, allowing the wearer to keep them in overnight
Type Of Lens
While there are several different types of contact lenses, the vast majority of wearers will end up choosing between soft lenses or Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses.
Soft Lenses
Soft lenses are made of plastic polymers that are flexible and will form to the wearer's cornea. They’re the most common type of lens, with over 75% of contact lens users wearing them.