Alternative to glasses

Today it is surprising that there are still many people in the world who suffer from myopia or astigmatism, regularly wear glasses and consider lenses to be an unsafe newfangled idea. But to support such an opinion means to follow prejudices and deprive yourself of the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of civilization.

A safe alternative to glasses: a little history

Soft contact lenses were created by the Czech Otto Wichterle in the middle of the 20th century, becoming the harbingers of a revolution in the world of ophthalmology. According to Wichterle, the hydrogel substance from which the lenses were created should be in close contact with the eyeball, correcting the imperfections of the retina. This was the case, but the poor choice of material for the lenses provoked oxygen starvation of the cornea, causing redness and irritation. Hydrogel material has not been used in the manufacture of corrective accessories for over a decade, but the memory of the negative qualities of the first lenses in history is firmly entrenched in the minds of ordinary people.

In the real world, the situation with lenses changed radically in 1999, when the world's first silicone hydrogel lenses were presented. They provide full access of air to the mucous membrane and do not dry the surface of the eye, guaranteeing maximum comfort throughout the day.

Advantages of wearing lenses

The advantages of giving up glasses can be seen, it would seem, with the naked and even myopic eye. In fact, a transparent weightless alternative to glasses gives much more:

• A wealth of not only colors, but also shades. The lenses make your vision sharper, and this is not an advertising message, but the conclusions of official studies.
• The ability to change the direction of your gaze without turning your head. You no longer have to bend over, holding your glasses - you can just lower your eyes.
• A reason to forget about condensation when temperatures change. The lenses do not fog up, and that's great!
• Thanks to the lenses, you can wear sunglasses of any shape and not feel like a four-eyed freak while watching 3-D movies.
• The ability to engage in any kind of sports and active recreation, without having to tie your glasses to an elastic band.

In general, the list of advantages is endless. You yourself will be able to expand it when you get used to the lenses and will be surprised to realize how many life inconveniences have become a thing of the past.

I want to wear lenses!

An alternative to glasses has been found: you have decided to say goodbye to the hated product on the temple and are in a hurry to go to the pharmacy for lenses. At this stage, you need to radically change your route and go to an appointment with an ophthalmologist so as not to subject your already weakened retina to unsuccessful experiments. It would not be superfluous to learn general information about the classification of lenses, which you will find confirmed by any specialized specialist.

Lenses are usually divided:

• By rigidity. Soft lenses are prescribed for myopathy and a certain degree of astigmatism. Hard lenses help correct the irregular shape of the cornea. But there are dozens of exceptions to this simple principle that only an ophthalmologist knows about. For example, in case of keratoconus (a disease characterized by progressive changes in the cornea), soft lenses are strictly contraindicated.
• By material. The most popular are silicone hydrolyzed lenses, or so-called "breathing lenses." They do not cause discomfort throughout the day and provide air flow to the retina even at night (if necessary, accessories can be left on overnight).
• By wearing mode: daily, biweekly, monthly, six-monthly. Daily lenses are a disposable solution that allows you to avoid using solutions and storage containers. But the cost of such comfort is quite high, so other types of accessories are most often used.

Diagnostic options

In the case of choosing contact lenses, we can say that diagnostics are omnipotent. After conducting a series of tests, including illuminating the eyes with a special slit lamp, the ophthalmologist will be able to offer the best alternative to glasses. In this process, the fit of the lenses plays an important role, because it determines the patient's comfort.

It is completely normal if the first visit to the ophthalmologist is followed by another: the selection of lenses does not tolerate haste. But after a little effort, you can put your glasses in a distant drawer and look at the world with new eyes!