Ever since the contact lens was first introduced about four decades ago, the manufacturers have been releasing newer formats time and again. Soft contacts were initially designed so that they could be used for a 1 to 1.5 year period with the wearer removing them every night. These are now better known as soft conventional contact lenses and are normally recommended as a special lens and usually used when throwaway ones are unavailable. The main disadvantage of these contacts is that you need to be very meticulous in caring for them and cleaning them.

Contact lenses of the disposable type were initially introduced about three decades ago. The Acuvue contact lens from J&J is an example of those that can be disposed of after two weeks. It is a hydrogel lens which is soft and basically meant to be worn regularly for two weeks and then replaced.

The soft and disposable silicon hydrogel contact lenses initially came into the market in the 1990s. Ciba Focus Night & Day and Bausch & Lomb PureVision were the very early silicon hydrogel lenses that came onto the market. Each of these lenses could be worn for a month of extended wear. The silicon hydrogel contact lens is advantageous because it has higher oxygen permeability compared to the previous hydrogel contact lens. Nearly 98 patients out of 100 wear this kind of lens. However, it is said that the probability of developing corneal ulcer or microbial keratitis is higher with this kind of lens. Some research says the risk could be as low as one in 500 per year.

As the following stage of soft and disposable silicon hydrogel contact lenses, the Acuvue Oasys from Johnson & Johnson and the Ciba Optix O2 were introduced. You will find that this type of lens has an enhanced surface treatment leading to better hydration and greater comfort.

In recent times the soft hydrogel type daily disposable contact lens has become extremely popular. This type of contact lens like the CibaVision Focus Dailies and the 1-Day Acuvue Moist from J&J has the benefit of having even greater hydrophilic qualities and of being able to preserve moisture while in use.

Focus Dailies type of contact lenses have AquaRelease to provide better hydration. They are changed everyday, thereby providing improved comfort as the lens is much cleaner. Daily replacement lenses are preferable because of the low rate of infections and complications that could develop as a result of surface deposits. Clearly a contact lens case which is noted to be an ideal place for harboring microbes which lead to eye infections is not required for this kind of lens wear.

You can now buy your contact lenses online, making it a quicker, less expensive and easier option because you can buy them from the comfort of your home. However, the wearer of the contact lens must be responsible and have a regular checkup for his/her eyes by the eye doctor. They should also make it a point to test out their own eyes and follow the rule, ‘Look alright - See alright - Feel alright’. After putting in the lens each day, make sure each eye looks white, next check that the vision is okay in both eyes and then open and close the eye a couple of times or so just to make sure that you feel comfortable. If you find anything amiss, take out the lenses and visit the eye doctor.

The majority of Acuvue contact lenses are manufactured with a tint in the lens. This tint will not change the color of your eyes; however, it will be easier for you to see the contact lens when you handle it or if you drop it. As most of the lenses are difficult to see, the tint will let you look for it if it falls on the floor or on other surfaces.

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