When talking with an interlocutor, we first of all pay attention to his eyes. How do you feel about people who wear glasses? Yes, a well-chosen frame transforms the appearance of a person and makes the image more interesting. But many people still prefer to do without glasses. And in some cases, due to the peculiarities of the profession, for example, wearing them is simply unacceptable. It is also known that with astigmatism, cylindrical glasses do not always correct the problem.
Comfortable and modern
Many issues related to vision problems are solved by contact lenses. Modern manufacturing techniques have made these optical devices not only effective in correcting focus, but also very comfortable to wear.
These qualities were especially appreciated by people whose profession requires good vision, but wearing glasses is very difficult. These are, for example, athletes, stuntmen, theater and ballet actors, circus artists, as well as motorcyclists and people working with steam.
The offer of contact optical devices on the modern market is more than large. The main problem now is the difficulty of choice. Many of us wonder: "What lenses are good?" In order to answer it, you need to figure out who is shown wearing this optics, as well as consider the classification of these devices.
Who needs to wear lenses?
Ophthalmologists are increasingly recommending contact lenses for patients with the following problems:
- Having a high degree of farsightedness or nearsightedness. In these cases, these optical devices can give a person a much better quality of vision and excellent clarity.
- The patient cannot tolerate spectacle correction or is not satisfied with its results.
- The presence of the effect of anisometropia, when the difference in diopters between the eyes is more than 2.5.
- The patient has astigmatism. If its indicator does not exceed 0.75 diopters, then ordinary contact lenses of a spherical profile will help to cope. In the case of a greater degree of astigmatism, the use of toric optics or hard workmanship is recommended.
If a doctor has recommended a patient to wear contact products for vision correction, the first question that arises for the latter is: “What lenses are good?” Experts say that there is no universal and ideal solution that could help every patient.
Based onindividual characteristics of each person and the presence of a certain problem, the doctor selects an acceptable type of lenses.
What criteria must they meet?
For those who are interested in the question: "What lenses are good?", Experts recommend paying attention to the following criteria when choosing these optical devices:
- Wear resistance and ability to resist mechanical damage. Lenses that break at the slightest touch can damage the cornea, leading to serious problems.
- The indicator of the frequency of changing lenses. There is a simple and consistent rule here: the more often, the better. Short life fixtures are considered to be safer - in this sense, planned replacement products are the best.
- Price of annual lens wear. As experienced users of these optical elements of vision correction note, the more expensive they are, the better their performance is. But it is worth remembering that some varieties can be very expensive just because of the brand. There is always room for reasonable value for money.
- Gas permeability. This is a very important indicator, the observance of which will help to avoid many problems and make wearing lenses comfortable. The higher the gas permeability of the device, the better. Therefore, in the question of which lenses are best for the eyes, it is especially important to take into account this criterion and prefer those products that allow the cornea to breathe.
- Easy operation. It is logical that this criterion servesdecisive for many people in choosing the right lenses. But here, too, one must trust reason, and not momentary impulses. When choosing ultra-thin lenses that are sure to be comfortable to wear, consider whether you can fit them into place with ease.
Of course, it is quite difficult for a novice user of these optical elements to decide on their own which lenses are good. In this regard, you should completely trust a specialist.
What types of lenses are there?
Different approaches can be used to classify contact lenses. Depending on the criterion being evaluated, optical devices are divided into different types.
Rigidity
According to this characteristic, the lenses can be hard and soft. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a closer look at both types of contact products for vision correction.
Hard lenses
Hard contact correctors are pioneers in their field. Previously, they were made of glass or polymethyl methacrylate, did not let air through, needed boiling and special care products. But, fortunately, modern rigid lenses based on silicone are gas permeable and have a lot of advantages:
- They are dense, keep their shape well, do not deform when blinking and give a stable image clarity.
- More comfortable to handle for the elderly.
- High strength and wear resistance.
- Resistant to protein deposits from the lacrimal environment, which prolongs their comfortable and safeoperation.
- Their diameter is smaller than that of soft lenses and the cornea. This gives free access to oxygen and does not interfere with normal tear exchange.
- Does not contain water, does not dry out in the heat and wind, does not need to be moistened with special drops.
- Have a long service life, which is cost-effective. The need to replace hard lenses only arises when the quality of the user's vision changes.
What makes them unique?
In certain situations, only optical devices of this type are able to correct vision. With severe astigmatism, keratoconus, presbyopia, and for orthokeratological correction, hard contact lenses will be optimal. Which is better to choose? An ophthalmologist can give an unambiguous answer to this question, based on the individual needs of the patient.
Hard lenses have some drawbacks:
- Need an adjustment period. It takes up to a week to get used to them.
- When they are used, the shape of the cornea changes, and spectacle correction ceases to work.
- Finding a rigid silicone-based lens that fits perfectly in size is a laborious and costly process.
However, manufacturers of this type of optical devices are constantly improving their quality and trying to make them as comfortable to wear as possible. If you are wondering which lenses are best for eyes with astigmatism, then we are definitely talking about hard ones.
Soft lenses
Featureof these vision correction devices is their special flexibility, which they owe to their high water content. Soft lenses are very comfortable to wear and allow oxygen to pass through. Basically, they are made from silicone hydrogel or hydrogel. The latter substance is able to dry out and deform. In combination with silicone, it contributes to the best transport of oxygen, and moisture does not evaporate so intensively. The combination of positive qualities of these corrective devices makes them popular, and many prefer soft contact lenses. Which is better to choose from a huge variety of profiled products presented, can only be advised by an experienced specialist after a series of studies of the patient's eyes.
Are soft lenses for everyone?
Ophthalmic consultation is important for several reasons. Firstly, only a specialist can determine the degree of curvature of the patient's cornea and give a recommendation on which soft lenses are best suited in a particular case. Secondly, there are a number of contraindications to the use of these devices: diabetes mellitus, sinusitis, tuberculosis. Also, soft lenses should not be used by those people who are constantly in contact with dust and chemicals, are allergic to silicone and hydrogel, often suffer from eye infections and are unable to fully care for corrective products.
The structure of soft lenses is such that they fit perfectly with their back surface to the surface of the cornea, and their front part has the shape of a cylinder, which produces a corrective effect. Therefore, whenpronounced astigmatism, this type of product cannot be used.
To the question: "What lenses are the best?" most users answer that they are soft. This is justified by their clear advantages:
- No adaptation needed, comfortable from day one.
- Acceptable for 24/7 use over a 30 day period.
- The patient can choose the frequency of lens replacement - daily, every two weeks, monthly, every six months or more.
But soft lenses are not without flaws:
- Great inconvenience for people with astigmatism (lens slip).
- Significant degree of adsorption of particles from the air and from the surface of the hands.
- May lose eye moisture in wind and heat, causing dry eye syndrome.
- They need constant moisture. As the lens dries, tiny cracks form on the surface and become unusable.
- Require careful care and cleaning from organic and inorganic deposits.
Obviously, each type of lens has its advantages and disadvantages. The question of which lenses to choose is strictly determined by medical indications.
Duration of continuous wear
According to this indicator, the lenses are divided into the following types:
- For daily use (up to 18 hours of continuous use).
- Variable use (1-2 days wear).
- Long-term use (fromweeks to months).
As for which lenses to choose, it is a matter of personal needs and patient comfort. There are special corrective products with a healing effect that are intended exclusively for night wear.
By replacement frequency of a pair of lenses
Based on this criterion, vision correction devices are divided into the following types:
- To wear the traditional style (for a period of 6-12 months).
- To use the planned type (for 1 day, for 2 weeks, for 1 and 3 months).
If you ask the opinions of users of various optical products for vision correction about which lenses are best, you can hear a wide variety of reviews.
Some people prefer traditional ones, others like one-day ones. Ideas about the best and most comfortable lenses are very individual, as well as the needs of each individual person.
Single Day
Beginner users of vision correction products should pay attention to one-day lenses. Which is better suited for a particular person, an experienced specialist can decide. The offer of these products today is quite large. Their peculiarity is that after one day of use they should be thrown away. This option is very convenient for those who spend a lot of time traveling and do not have the opportunity to take care of the lenses. In addition, they do not have time to accumulate a plaque of organic mineral origin, they do not formulcers on the cornea.
Since the cost of one-day lenses is quite high, it is beneficial to use them for those who wear lenses from time to time. For example, if you purchase items that are two weeks old, you will have to replace them no later than the planned date, even if they were worn only 1 time.
If you decide for yourself that you will use daily lenses, which ones are better to choose from the options offered in the store? They are listed below in ascending order of price per pack:
- Bausch & Lomb.
- Ciba Vision.
- Maxima.
- Johnson & Johnson.
- Cooper Vision.
- Sauflon.
Two weeks
This type of vision correction items is very popular among the population of our country. They are easy to use and do not require special enzymatic purification. For care, they just need to be disinfected in time and stored in a special solution. When thinking about which bi-weekly lenses are best, remember that wearing them involves an overnight break. If you use them around the clock, they must be replaced after 7 days.
Pure Vision 2 HD and ACUVUE Advance with Hydraclear lenses from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care deserve good customer reviews.
For a month
This type of vision correction product is worn for 30 calendar days with an overnight break, which is why they are called "monthly lenses". Which is better, the oculist can advise, but you should pay attention tocontact devices Maxima Si Hy Plus. They are made of silicone hydrogel, comfortable to wear, good biocompatibility, excellent oxygen permeability and do not accumulate deposits of various kinds.
It is worth emphasizing once again that the guarantee of successful wearing of contact lenses is their professional selection. Taking into account your individual characteristics and needs, the ophthalmologist will help you find exactly the option that will provide perfect vision and no discomfort when using these correction items.
