For the uninitiated, contact lenses can seem like magic. How can a tiny little transparent disk offer you such a substantial improvement in your vision?
If you’ve just gotten your first pair of contact lenses, you’re likely wondering how something so small can rival the magnification glasses provide, but it’s actually quite simple (but very cool!). Contact lenses work by refracting (another word for bending) the rays of light that come into your eye, allowing the retina to focus properly. Contacts remedy all the same sight problems that glasses do, including hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (curving of the cornea), and myopia (nearsightedness). It all depends on what your prescription requires.
Contact lenses are made from a type of medical-grade plastic that cleverly allows oxygen to pass through and reach the eye, which is why you can wear them for extended periods (8 to 16 hours) without issue. The lens is designed to fit comfortably on the tear film, and many are even made to offer UV protection or aesthetic tints that change the color of the iris.
How long your contacts will last depends on the type you buy. Some are disposable after only a day, whereas others, such as Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses, can be reused for 6 months and beyond as long as they’re looked after properly.
It’ll take some time to learn how to put them in properly, so be sure to take a look at the handy infographic below. It features detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to place your contact lenses, with each image directing you towards proper care practices.
Infographic designed by: Feel Good Contacts
