Contact Lenses: Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does it take to get used to new contact lenses if you have never worn them before?

Depending on your eye sensitivity and whether you have soft or rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, your eyes could adjust to wearing contact lenses from a day to two weeks. Some people find that their eyes never adjust, but that's quite rare.

2. Are contact lenses difficult to care for?

There are certain steps you need to take in order to ensure that your eyes stay healthy and your contacts last as long as possible. For the exact care of your contacts, please refer to the following articles:

• Soft Contact Lens Care
• Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lens Care

The exceptions are daily disposable contact lenses and some extended wear contacts that are discarded every time they're removed. With these, you throw them out when you're done wearing them, so there's no care regimen at all.

Inserting contact lenses is easy. See animation.

3. Can a contact get lost behind my eye?

No. At worst, you might have trouble finding it under the lid; if need be, you can have your eye doctor help you get it out.

4. Am I old enough to wear contact lenses?

That depends on how responsible you are; this decision is best made jointly between you, your parents and your eye doctor. Please see our Contact Lenses for Kids article for more information.

5. What kinds of contacts are available?

Contact lenses come in different material types, replacement schedules and wear schedules. Plus, many special kinds are available.

Contact lens section Where's the best place to buy contact lenses? What's new in contact lenses What to do about contact lens discomfort

Material Types: soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP).

Replacement Schedules:

• Conventional soft contacts last about a year; conventional RGPs last several years.
• Frequent or planned replacement contact lenses last one to several months.
• Disposable contacts last from one day to two weeks.

Wear Schedules: daily wear (the ones you take out at night) and extended wear (the ones you can sleep in).

Special Contact Lenses: bifocals, colored contacts, ortho-k contacts (correct your vision even when you're not wearing them), special-effect contact lenses, torics for astigmatism and UV-blocking contacts.

For more information, please visit the Contact Lens section.

6. Are disposable contact lenses worth the extra money?

Many doctors highly recommend both disposable and frequent replacement contact lenses: they are an excellent choice health-wise, because there is less opportunity for protein and bacteria to build up on them. Also, if you wear daily disposable contact lenses, which are discarded at the end of the day, you won't need to buy cleaning solutions for them. Learn more about disposable and frequent replacement contact lenses.

7. Is there really a big difference between daily and extended wear contact lenses?

Yes! Extended wear contacts are made of materials that allow more oxygen to reach your eye, which means it's safer to sleep in them than in daily wear contact lenses. You can wear extended wear lenses without removal for up to seven days, or 30 days in the case of two brands. Read more about extended wear contacts.

8. Where is the best place to buy contact lenses?

After being prescribed contact lenses by an eye doctor, you can order lenses from your doctor, at retail stores or from the Internet. The best place to buy them depends on availability, cost and more. Read an in-depth guide to buying contact lenses.

9. How can I save money?

Comparison shopping is the best way to save money. Read about how to comparison shop for contact lenses.
 

10. My doctor refused to give me my contact lens prescription. Is this legal?

Until February 2004, U.S. laws on this issue varied from state to state. Some eye doctors felt that if they gave out contact lens prescriptions, some of their patients would stop going in for regular eye exams. These check-ups are important, because they not only determine prescription changes, but they can also catch serious diseases in their early, more treatable states.

Now a federal law gives all U.S. consumers the right to a copy of their contact lens prescription. Find out more about this legislation and what it means to you.

11. I'm looking for a specific type of contact lens. Do you know where I can find it?

We get two different types of questions like this: some people describe the type of lens they're looking for and want to know if it exists; others know that the lens exists and want to know how to get it (usually, they are looking for special-effect contact lenses).

If you want to know whether a lens exists, try our Contact Lens section and our What's New pages.

If you know the lens exists, you must visit your eye doctor to get it, even if you don't need vision correction. Why? The FDA considers contacts to be medical devices because you put them in your eyes, and has put guidelines in effect for your safety. Plus, each contact lens and each person's eyes are a little different, so the doctor needs to perform a specialized fitting for you.

By the way, if you want to see the latest special-effect contacts, please read our Theatrical & Costume Contacts article.

12. Can I wear contacts if I have bifocal eyeglasses?

Yes. Read about bifocal contact lenses and monovision.

13. I want to buy contact lenses from you. How do I order?

Sorry, this is an informational website only. We don't sell any products.

14. Why did my doctor tell me to come back after he has already fitted me with my contacts?

If he asked you to come back about a week later, it's because he wants to be sure that you're not having any problems, such as an improper fit or too much bacteria building up on the lenses.

If it's about a year later, it's to check whether your prescription has changed and to check for any eye diseases, which are best treated in their early stages before any vision loss can occur.

Read more about follow-up visits.

15. How many people wear contact lenses in the United States?

About 38 million, as reported in a July 2006 press release from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. [Read more statistics on eyewear, eye care, and eye diseases.]