From participating in sports and other outdoor activities without running the risk of having your glasses get in the way or even worse falling off and breaking to enjoying a carefree day at the beach and avoiding that nasty glare when driving at night, more and more individuals are opting to ditch their glasses and wear lenses instead.

Longing to free yourself from your spectacles? Visit your nearest supplier listed on Yellow that offers a vast variety of lenses with or without prescription. Furthermore, here you may also find contact lens solutions and cases including multipurpose, saline and hydrogen peroxide-based solutions, as well as daily cleaners.

What are the different types of contact lenses available? 

Classified depending on their primary function, material, the amount of time a lens can be worn and its longevity before it needs to be discarded, below we outline the most common types of contact lenses based on their primary material. This should help you determine which lens is ideal for your needs.

Soft lenses - perhaps one of the most popular options widely selected by numerous individuals, these are made from soft, flexible and water-containing plastics called hydrogels which allow oxygen to pass through the eyes. Very thin and pliable, the good thing about these lenses is that they conform to the front surface of the eye making them highly comfortable. What's more, these come in daily replaceable or extended-wear versions, so you may select the one that best suit your needs.

Silicone hydrogel lenses - more porous than your typical hydrogel lenses, this advanced variety allows even further oxygen to pass through the eye, reducing problems such as red eyes, blurred vision and swelling of the cornea. At the same time, they help prevent any lens-related eye infections.

Hard lenses - also known as rigid gas permeable (RPG), these are made from a hard and durable type of plastic which also results in an efficient transfer of oxygen to the eye, however, they may be appropriate for a wider variety of vision problems. Due to their rigidness, they may take a little longer to get used to, yet, they are more comfortable than their predecessor - PMMA - which were made from a transparent rigid plastic material known as polymethyl methacrylate.

Coloured contact lenses - these are available with or without prescription and they are mainly selected by those who would like to enhance your natural eye colour. The range of colours is truly vast, however, some of the most popular ones include blue, green, sapphire blue, hazel, violet and grey. Similarly, special effect lenses take it a step further by overexaggerating the colouration to make you look like a vampire, cat or any other alter-ego you prefer.

What is the average wear schedule of contact lenses?

Just as lenses vary when it comes to the material they are made out of, their longevity is another element that differentiates them. Whereas up to a few years ago, lenses had to be removed and cleaned on a daily basis, advancements in technology and the emergence of novel types of contacts like the daily and extended wear ones offer greater flexibility to wearers. What will determine how often you need to take care of them is the type you have selected. As expected, the disposable variety needs the least maintenance and care since you only need to wear them once and then you may go ahead and dispose of them.

Daily disposable lenses - these type must be discarded after a single day of wear

Disposable lenses - discard every one or two weeks

Frequent replacement lenses - these must be changed every month or quarterly at most

Traditional (reusable) lenses - these type must be discarded every six months or slightly longer

Different prescriptions

Just as spectacles can correct your nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, contact lenses can also help you achieve this while providing a full field of unobstructed vision which is ideal for certain activities such as sports. Below are two of the most popular options:

Single vision lenses

These consist of one prescription across the entire lens and they are commonly used to correct distance vision problems. On occasions, each lens may have a different prescription whereby one will be for distance vision and the other for near vision.

Bifocal contacts for astigmatism

An advanced form of soft contacts, these can correct both presbyopia and astigmatism and is ideal for those aged 40+.

Some quick tips to follow:

• Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses and avoid touching any perfumes, lotions and body oils as these may get to your lenses, eventually irritating your eyes.
• If you're planning to put on make-up, you must first insert your lenses and then apply your make-up. On the other hand, if you'd like to use hair care products like hair spray, you must use it before you put your contacts in.
• Never put your contacts in your mouth to wet them. Remember that saliva is not sterile as is the solution that comes with your lenses. At the same time, never place your contacts directly under running tap water because bacteria found in the water may irritate, cause infection and may even hurt your vision.
• Avoid sleeping with your contacts. Since your eyes are closed, there is little to no oxygen transfer and this can lead to a series of conditions such as hypoxia.
• Also, refrain from wearing your contacts when swimming or when you're about to embark on an activity whereby you might get water into your eyes like showering.
• Should your eyes turn red, itchy, watery, painful or sensitive to light, get in touch with your doctor since these could be symptoms of serious eye problems.

When you should avoid wearing lenses

Despite being favoured by millions, truth be told, lenses are not for everyone and there are a number of reasons why you may be unable to use them. For instance, if you tend to suffer from allergies and dry eyes or you often get eye infections, lenses may not be right for you. The same applies if you are unable to dedicate sufficient time for their proper care or if you're at greater risk of being exposed to substances such as dust. Ideally, you should consult your ophthalmologist before taking the decision to swap your spectacles for contact lenses.

Are you worried about whether you need spectacles or contact lenses? Here are sure signs you may need to correct your vision.