May 31st, 2006
Bifocal Contact Lenses - Ready To Wear
Eyeglasses with thick lenses and a line across them were the only option for people with both nearsightedness and farsightedness. Eyeglass frames were heavy and not only that they were to say the least unattractive. Bifocal Contact lenses were difficult to get used to wearing. Going down stairs especially, you need to look either up or down. While getting adjusted to wearing bifocals some people get dizzy.
People had only one choice if they wore bifocals, eyeglasses. When contacts hit the market bifocals still had to be in eyeglasses. That was then and this is now. Contacts offer as many choices if not more than the choices available for eyeglass wearers. Many people are joyous because bifocals now come in contact lenses. Contact bifocals are available in rigid, soft, and gas permeable materials.
What people need to use bifocal lenses? Those who when focusing on near objects, have trouble. What they have is called Presbyopia. It is unusual for this to develop before the age of 40. Bifocals glasses are similar to Alternating Design because half the lens has distance power and the other half has powers for near objects.
Blended prescriptions for both near and distant vision are Simultaneous Design; they fill in the area of the pupil. Whether you are looking near or far your eye will adjust and learn to interpret the circle power choice. Concentric Design lenses are the radials of contact lenses. The inner lens works on the nearness vision while the outer part works on distant vision correction or vice versa.
Translating Design- these are also very similar to bifocal eyeglasses, the distance correction is above the near correction. The lenses are divided by a line. The lens has a flat bottom so that when you blink it won't move around in your eye. The center of the Asferic Design lenses is where both the near and distant vision is located.
The center of the lens is where the near vision correction is and it's surrounded by distant vision correction. In some situations they can be reversed. You can decide this with your doctor. You wear one power lens in one eye and the other in the other eye with Mono-vision Design lenses.
The distant vision is placed in the dominant eye usually. Here again your doctor's exam will be able to determine this. Simultaneous vision contacts are also available. Focusing on both near and far objects at the same time is possible with these lenses.
Concentric rings form the near and distant correction. Light from both near and far objects can be focused on at the same time since the near and far parts of the lens are in sight all the time.
Simultaneous vision contact lenses have a problem. When the eye is looking through the lens some of the light from the distant objects will enter theddistant part and vice versa. The eye, at the same time takes in out of focus and focus.
The brain has to figure out which image is correct. Your doctor must provide you with a subscription for contact lenses not matter if they are bifocal or not. Your eye doctor will do a very thorough exam to decide if you are a candidate for bifocal contacts and what type might be right for you.
Lenses that fit and are comfortable may take time to find, as with any contact lens there is an adjustment. Bifocal lenses may not be for you, at least not in the contact lenses currently available. Don't give up the search for the right lenses. Do your research and keep up to date on the types of lenses available to you if you want contacts and need bifocals. By offering a free trial wear period of up to a week, some companies allow you to try their lenses and see if you like them.
Check out discount contact lens stores online and some manufacturers will give you a coupon to put toward the purchase of their lens if you try them. Your decision about bifocal lenses will without a doubt be affected by your budget.
Ask about the experience friends or family have had with contact lenses. You and your doctor can, with this information make a decision but not everyone has the same experience. The option of bifocal contact lenses is now available for people with astigmatism.
Toric contact lenses come in both color and disposable lenses. Some professionals do not like fitting Toric lenses so it is best to check with your eye care professional.
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Bifocal Contact Lenses and Contact Lenses and more.http://www.2020-contact-lenses.com
Article courtesy of For Your Eyes Only and Lasik Eye Surgery
Comments Off
May 29th, 2006
Considerations To Make When Purchasing Contact Lenses Online
While such purchases are often a convenient and economical way to get lenses, Internet, phone, or mail orders require consumers to exercise some caution. The following questions and answers should help you take simple precautions to make your Internet, phone or mail purchase safe and effective for you.
What do I need to consider when buying contact lenses on the Internet, by phone or by mail?
- Is my contact lens prescription current? You should always have a current, correct prescription when you order contact lenses.
- If you have not had a check-up in the last one to two years, you may have problems with your eyes that you are not aware of, or your contact lenses may not correct your vision well.
- The expiration date for your prescription is currently set by your state. Some require a one-year renewal, some a two-year renewal, while other states leave it to your doctor to decide.
- Never order lenses with a prescription that has expired.
What does a valid contact lens prescription include?
- This depends on the state where your doctor practices. State laws often define a prescription’s requirements. In states without a legal definition, the prescribing doctor includes some minimum elements.
- The minimum elements usually include your name and the doctor’s name along with the contact lens brand name and material. Also, lens measurements such as power, diameter and base curve are included.
- More detailed prescriptions will include directions for safe use such as wearing schedule, whether lenses are for daily or extended wear, the number of refills, whether lens material substitutions are allowed and an expiration date.
- Some Internet sites ask for information about your doctor so that they may check the prescription with your doctor. State laws vary greatly concerning the kind of verification that is required. Internet sites should comply with applicable State requirements concerning verification of prescriptions for contact lenses.
Will I get in legal trouble if I buy my contact lenses on the Internet, by phone or by mail if I don’t have a copy of my prescription?
- You won’t break any laws, but the company is selling you a prescription device as if it were an over-the-counter device. In legal terms, this misbrands the device. Often, the company will say that they will check back with your doctor to confirm the prescription and expiration date; however, that may not always happen.
- Some Internet sites will allow you to fill out a chart with the ordering information about your contact lenses and ask you to fill in your doctor’s name and phone number. The site may or may not ask for an actual copy of your prescription, but they should comply with applicable State law concerning contact lens prescription verification.
- Since individual states have different licensing requirements for optical dispensers, enforcement of prescription device sales has usually been left to State authorities.
What harm can be done if I don’t have regular check-ups with my doctor or I order lenses without a valid prescription?
- At your check-up, your eye doctor will re-evaluate the fit of your contact lenses and observe any changes in your cornea caused by your lenses. You will benefit by having a correct, current prescription and you may avoid serious problems, especially if you wear your lenses on an extended or overnight schedule.
- Though infections of the cornea are rare, severe cases can cause loss of vision and even blindness. During regularly scheduled visits, your eye doctor looks for irregularities that, if left untreated, may lead to severe problems. These irregularities often have no symptoms and you may be totally unaware of them.
- Contact lens wear causes many changes to cells and tissues of the eye, and sometimes wearing contact lenses can damage the cornea (the clear window of the eye). Even if you are currently experiencing no problems, the lenses may be causing damage to your eyes. Regular check-ups will reduce the likelihood of damage going undetected.
- Contact lenses that are not properly fitted by an eye doctor might not work well, or even worse, may harm your eyes.
•Ask your eye doctor how often to have a check-up.
Will regular check-ups help prevent me from having problems with my contact lenses?
- Anyone wearing contact lenses runs an increased risk of corneal infection. Regular check-ups will help reduce your chances of having a problem. At your check-up, your doctor may find something that requires refitting with a new lens or requires modifying your wearing schedule.
What can I do to avoid serious problems with my contact lenses?
- Ask your eye doctor how often you should have a check-up and see the doctor according to the recommended schedule.
- You run a greater risk of developing serious eye problems such as infection if you wear lenses overnight.
- Order your contact lenses from a supplier you are familiar with and know is reliable. Contact lenses are often more complex than they appear.
- Request the manufacturer’s written patient information for your contact lenses. It will give you important risk/benefit information, as well as instructions for use.
- Beware of attempts to substitute a different brand than you presently have. While this may be acceptable in some situations, there are differences in the water content and shape between different brands. The correct choice of which lens is right for you should only be made based on examination by your doctor, not over the phone.
- Carefully check to make sure the company gives you
- the exact brand,
- lens name,
- power,
- sphere,
- cylinder, if any,
- axis, if any,
- diameter,
- base curve, and
- peripheral curves, if any.
- If you think you have gotten an incorrect lens, check with your eye doctor. Don’t accept a substitution unless your doctor approves it.
Where can I report problems that I have with my contact lenses?
- You can report a serious eye problem associated with your contact lenses with FDA’s MedWatch reporting form at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. Also, contact your health professional for medical advice.
- You can report problems involving contact lens sales by Web sites by sending e-mail to webcomplaints@ora.fda.gov.
- If you do not get the exact lenses that you ordered, you should report the problem directly to the company that supplied them.
Wesley Atkins is the owner of Contact Lenses Advisor a website dedicated to advising consumers about buying contact lenses safely online.. You can visit his website at — http://www.contact-lenses-advisor.com
Article courtesy of For Your Eyes Only and Lasik Eye Surgery
Comments Off
May 28th, 2006
Valuable Tips To Finding Cheap Contacts Online
When searching the Internet for cheap contacts, you may feel like you’re trekking through a jungle of contact lens suppliers, and as you stumble on their contact site, they all claim to be offering cheap contact lenses for the lowest prices, or so it would seem!
Some may even provide incentives such as free solutions, contact lens cases, and even free shipping to get your business. So how do you decide on the best company to deal with, and how do you actually know you’re getting the best lenses online for the cheapest price?
The only way you can find out if your getting the best deals is to search each individual lens business online, and do some comparison-shopping. We will provide you 3 tips that may help you find the best bargains on contacts, and help you maximize your savings.
When searching for contacts online buy only from reputable suppliers
Tip #1: Even though the site you land on may claim they have cheap lenses, make
sure they’re a reputable and well known company! You want to buy only from trustworthy online suppliers that offer name brands like Acuvue, Bausch & Lomb, Freshlook, CooperVision, or Biomedics. They will offer you fantastic discounts on top brand lenses, due to their significant volume of lenses they sell over the Internet.
Tip #2: Other contact lens companies that discount will say that when you purchase their cheap eyewear, that their savings will generally be up to 80% off retail. However, do they offer free shipping, or do they have price guarantees if you happen to find your contacts at a lower discount price somewhere else. Also make sure they have a policy in writing for returns, and detailed instructions for replacements. If they don’t honor returns, then you will be stuck with a product you don’t need, and what kind of savings is that!
Tip #3: Many so-called suppliers will offer you a really attractive contacts discount on your first order, but if you’re planning on purchasing a disposable lens, you want to make sure the next time you place a re-order, that you’re going to receive the same prescription price you paid the first time. Find this out before placing your order, and get it in writing that the cost will stay the same.
About the author: William is the owner and the author of "Order Contacts Online 1st" available athttp://www.order-contacts-online-1st.com/index.htm
Article courtesy of Your Contact Lens Resource Center
Comments Off
May 27th, 2006
Tips For Buying Contact Lens Online
If you wear glasses and are wanting to try contact lenses, you probably have lots of questions, including where to buy contact lenses, how to get the best price and if buying online or buying a private label lens is a good idea. Maybe you should just stick with you local eye doctor for your lenses?
1- Did you know that you have the right to have your contact (and glasses) prescription copied so that you can shop around for eyewear? The legislation, in Feb. 2004 gave that right to consumers in all 50 states. This means that you do not have to buy contact lenses only from your eye care practitioner. You can shop around anywhere that contacts are sold. Doing this gives you a better selection at a better price.
2- You may be starting your search for contacts with preconceived notions as to which are the best source to buy contact lenses, throw those out! Do not discount any place that sells contacts, look into what they have to offer and what their prices are; you might be surprised at where you will find the best quality and price.
3- When you buy contact lenses, you need to focus on value and not on price alone. The overall value includes the availability of the contacts that you use, if they accept your insurance (and if you need to do paperwork or if they do it for you), ease of getting the contacts (do they deliver), their customer service department and price. Taking all of these points into consideration will help you to find the absolute best value for you.
4- You may be tempted to buy another brand of contact lens to save money. If you are thinking of doing this, you must be aware that by law, retailers must sell the exact same lens as prescribed. However, there is a loophole to the law that could allow you to buy contact lenses that are the same quality, but at a much better price. The loophole is that some manufacturers sell one type of contact lens under more than one brand name. For example, the same contact lens sold under a brand name and under a private label.
5- The best places to start your search are, of course, your eye doctor, the internet and wholesale retailers as well as mail order houses. Be sure that you know exactly what type of contact lens you need to purchase before you agree to anything. Ask about their return policy if you receive a contact lens other than what you ordered.
John Mancini has been writing about Contact Lenses online and offline for a long time. Visit http://contact-lenses-web.com or http://contact-lenses-now.net to read more about matters like bifocal contact lenses and color contact lenses.