Contact lenses or glasses?

These days, contact lenses are usually made of different types of plastic, but two of the most common you may hear of are soft contact lenses and rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Soft contact lenses are typically either made of hydrogel or silicone hydrogel, which are soft and flexible. RGP contacts are more rigid than soft contact lenses and mostly worn by people with specific eye issues, like severe astigmatism.

Contact lenses can be more expensive than glasses to start out, but they also may be a lot cheaper to replace than a broken pair of eyeglasses. Contacts also are often wholly or partially covered by most vision insurance plans, which can reduce or even eliminate a patient's upfront costs for contact lenses once they've had an eye exam. If you're interested in contact lenses, it can be a good idea to check your vision insurance plan and see if contacts are covered.

Learn about the cost of contacts

Choosing to wear contact lenses doesn't mean you won't ever wear glasses again. In fact, you should always have a spare pair of glasses to wear for times you aren't wearing contacts lenses. But, if you have a pair of glasses that you no longer need, instead of throwing them away, see if a local business near you collects them to donate—they may help provide your old glasses to someone who does not have regular access to vision care or affordable glasses. Some organizations collect them in person, while other organizations accept them via mail. Also, some organizations collect new and used glasses, and others only accept ones that are new. 

It's impossible for a contact lens to get behind your eye. You might be worried it could happen when a lens slips off the center of your eye, but your eye has what's called the conjunctiva—a membrane that covers the white of your eye and connects with the inside of your eyelids. Because of that, there's no way for a contact lens to get behind your eye.

How to find a "lost" contact lens

It's really common for first-time contact lens wearers to be afraid of getting their contact lenses stuck on their eye. Usually, removing it is as simple as following the instructions given to you by your eye doctor. Remember, practice makes perfect. Although it is highly unlikely for a contact lens to get stuck on your eye, contact your eye doctor if you do run into this issue.

Removing a "stuck" contact lens

Allergens can accumulate on contact lenses, so if you already struggle with allergies, wearing contacts can exacerbate regular symptoms and cause additional irritation. Wearing daily disposable lenses can help reduce the potential for allergen build up.

Contact lenses and spring allergies