| ACUVUE®
Presents: Contact Lenses 101
Whether you’re considering contact lenses for the first time,
or you’re a long-time wearer curious about contact lens options,
this section gives you the basics:
INTRODUCTION
Contact lenses are small, thin, optical lenses
worn directly on the eye to correct vision problems (like short-sightedness,
long-sightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia). Contact lenses can be
hard or soft, can replace glasses or bifocal glasses and can also
enhance or change the colour of your eyes.
Most contact lenses are soft, or “hydrophilic,”
meaning they are made of water. (This is how soft contact lenses
stay soft.) Soft contact lenses are extremely thin and are manufactured
from materials that allow oxygen to pass through them and reach
the eye surface.
Almost everyone can wear contact lenses – even
some babies are fitted with contact lenses when they have eye problems!
Most people start wearing contacts in their early teens, but even
children as young as 8 years old can learn to wear (and take care
of) contact lenses.
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TYPES OF CONTACT LENSES
Soft contact lenses come in four basic categories:
Spherical (Regular) Contact Lenses:
These lenses correct basic vision problems like short-sightedness
(myopia) and long-sightedness (hyperopia). Most people who wear soft
contact lenses wear spherical contact lenses. ACUVUE® makes
several types, including 1•DAY ACUVUE®, ACUVUE®
ADVANCE™ with HYDRACLEAR™, and ACUVUE® OASYS™ with HYDRACLEAR™ Plus.
Contact Lenses for Astigmatism: These
lenses correct astigmatism by compensating
for the irregular surface of the eye. Vision correction with toric
lenses can be as good as what you would get with glasses. ACUVUE® TORIC are unique toric lenses
that offer both excellent vision correction and comfort.
Contact Lenses for Presbyopia: Bifocal
contact lenses are used to correct presbyopia
(inability to focus sharply for near vision). ACUVUE® BIFOCAL are a comfortable, effective
alternative to wearing glasses (or regular contact lenses with special
glasses for reading).
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WEAR SCHEDULES
Soft contact lenses come in three basic wear schedules:
Daily Disposable: Wear them for one day and then throw them away. Daily disposable contact lenses made by ACUVUE® can be thrown out and replaced every day. 1•DAY ACUVUE® offer a healthy and convenient way to wear contact lenses. No solutions, no lens case, no maintenance!
Daily Wear: Wear them during the
day, take them out at night, clean and disinfect them, and put the
same lenses back in the next day. Daily wear lenses made by ACUVUE®
are worn for two weeks and then discarded and replaced with a new
pair.
Extended Wear: Wear them all day
and all night, even while sleeping. Extended wear lenses made
by ACUVUE® Brand are worn for 6 nights, 7 days and then discarded
and replaced with a new pair. ACUVUE® OASYS™ with HYDRACLEAR™ PLUS can be worn in this way. They are designed to help keep your eyes feeling moist and fresh even in challenging environments
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DEMYSTIFYING CONTACT LENS
MYTHS
MYTH: Contact lenses can
get lost behind your eye.
FACT: Absolutely not – it’s
physically impossible for a contact lens to get “behind”
your eye. A thin membrane covers your eye and connects to the inside
of your eyelids, so the lens can’t move off the front surface
of your eye.
MYTH: Contact lenses can
get fused to your eye.
FACT: There are lots of “urban
legends” about contact lenses getting stuck or fused to people’s
eyes. There is absolutely no truth to these made-up stories.
MYTH: Contact lenses are a pain to take care
of.
FACT: Contacts are simple and hassle-free.
For regular lenses, opt for an easy-care, one-step lens solution.
Or you can choose daily disposable lenses that you wear for a day
and toss away.
MYTH: Contact lenses hurt.
FACT: Soft contact lenses are very
comfortable and easy to wear. Most people “get used to”
their lenses in a couple of days, and afterwards say it feels like
wearing nothing at all in the eye.
MYTH: Contacts can pop out of your eye and
get lost.
FACT: Hard contact lenses used to
do this sometimes, many years ago. With modern soft contact lenses, “popping
out” just doesn’t happen.
and so they are great to use for sport and leisure activities
MYTH: Teenagers shouldn’t wear contact
lenses.
FACT:Lots of contact lens wearers are teens - even some children wear contact lenses. Wearing and caring for contact
lenses is very important, but it’s easy and an excellent alternative
to wearing glasses. If you’re responsible enough to take care
of your lenses, age doesn’t matter.
MYTH: People over 40 shouldn’t wear
contact lenses.
FACT: People of all ages wear contact
lenses successfully. And thanks to bifocal contact lenses, many
Baby Boomers are kissing the reading glasses goodbye, too.
MYTH: You can get “pink eye”
and other infections from contact lenses.
FACT: Some lens-related health problems
do occur, but these are almost always a result of poor cleaning
routines or other care-related issues. If you follow your Eye Care
Professional’s directions, your eyes are at little risk of
infection.
1•Day ACUVUEe® offer a healthy and convenient way to wear contact lenses. No solutions, no lens case, no maintenance. Just wear them once and throw them away.
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TRY CONTACT LENSES
FOR YOURSELF
Ready to try contact lenses for yourself? It couldn’t
be easier:
- Find an Eye Care Professional and schedule an eye examination and contact
lens fitting GO >>
- Print your certificate for a Free* Trial
Pair of ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses GO
>>
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*Professional eye examination and fitting fees not included.
Valid only while supplies last. |
CHOOSE A CONTACT LENS
