Taking Care of Your Eyes as You Age

Do you need to wear corrective lenses? Are you tired of eyeglasses that get broken all too easily? If you're thinking of switching to contact lenses instead, you are not alone. Eyeglasses can be annoying for many people, especially if you play sports where the glasses can fall off and get broken. Before you ask your optometrist about getting contacts, here are the answers to some of the questions that you may have about them:

Do eye contacts cost a lot more than glasses? While it is true that some brands and prescriptions of contacts can be expensive if you pay for them outright, they don't have to be a huge expense. Although you can't change your prescription, you can look for less expensive brands and available coupons or rebates. If you have vision insurance, you may be able to get contacts either with no out of pocket cost or with the insurance company reimbursing you for your purchase. If you're always losing or breaking your glasses, this can mean that contacts will actually cost you significantly less than wearing glasses.

How long does it take to get used to wearing contacts? The time it takes for you to adjust to wearing eye contacts will vary from person to person. Some things that can make the transition easier is choosing soft daily disposable contacts rather than weekly or monthly contacts. Once you are used to wearing your daily disposables, you can either continue to wear them or switch to extended wear contacts if you so desire. The choice is entirely up to you and what sort of prescription your eyes require.

How are eye contacts cleaned? If you have never worn contacts or known someone who wears contacts, you might assume that you can simply rinse off your contacts in the bathroom every night once you remove them. However, you need to use a special contact lens cleaner to make sure that your contacts are cleaned properly. Regular tap water won't be able to remove protein deposits and other kinds of buildup on your contact lenses. Using tap water could also expose your eyes to infectious agents that may be safe to drink but not to put into your eyes. Your eye doctor will be able to tell you exactly how to care for your contacts, including exactly which cleaning solutions will work best for your prescription and preferred brand.