Contact Lenses

Millions of people around the world wear contact lenses-more than 24 million in the United States alone.

Depending on your lifestyle, your motivation and the health of your eyes, contact lenses may provide a safe and effective alternative to eyeglasses when used with proper care and maintenance.

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Contact lenses are thin, clear disks of plastic that float on the tear film that coats the cornea, the curved front surface of the eye. The health of the cornea surface and tear film are very important to your comfort and the clarity of your vision when you are wearing contacts.

Contact lenses are used to correct the same conditions that eyeglasses correct:

myopia (nearsightedness);
hyperopia (farsightedness);
astigmatism;
presbyopia.

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You may not be a good candidate for contacts if you have:

frequent eye infections;
severe allergies;
dry eye that is resistant to treatment;
a very dusty work environment;
an inability to handle and care for the lenses.

Choose an eye care professional who is experienced with contact lenses and with whom you can discuss your needs and expectations. Your eye care professional should diagnose and treat any eye problems that may hinder healthy lens wear and be able to correct problems that arise during lens wear.