There are many different contact lens modalities available; each of which may be better suited for a particular person’s lifestyle.  Contact lenses are available in daily, fortnightly and monthly wearing schedules, each of them have their pros and cons.

Daily disposable contact lenses are one of the most popular lenses worn today and some of the popular brands include, Acuvue Moist, Acuvue TruEye, Focus Dailies and Proclear 1 day.  Daily disposable contact lenses are convenient because no cleaning solutions are required.  You wear the contact lens once, then throw it away once you’ve finished using it.  It is also the most hygienic method of wearing contact lenses because a fresh new contact lens is used every time you use it.  If you suffer from allergies or itchy eyes, have heavy deposits or just don’t want to have the hassle of using cleaning solutions, daily disposable contact lenses are an excellent choice.  If you only wear your contact lenses occasionally then using daily disposable contact lenses can also save you money.  However wearing them everyday may have a higher cost than using fortnightly or monthly disposable contact lenses.

Fortnightly contact lenses can be worn 14 times within a month of opening.  Acuvue Oasys is the most worn and prescribed contact lens in Australia.  Fortnightly contact lenses are excellent for those wear there lenses more regularly and are available in excellent materials.  Many of the newer generation of fortnightly disposable contact lenses contain wetting agents which help keep the contact lenses moist during wear.  This is excellent for users who work in air conditioned environments.  Unfortunately fortnightly contact lenses are harder for keeping track of how many times you’ve worn them.  If you work in an air conditioned environment like an office, you may want to consider using fortnightly disposable contact lenses.

Monthly disposable contact lenses can be worn up to 30 days.  They are great for people who wear their contact lenses regularly and wearing time is easy to keep track of.  Some monthly disposable contact lenses are available as extended wear or continuous wear contact lenses.  This means they can be worn continuously for up to 30 days and offers convenience because less cleaning solutions are required.  However continuous wear contact lenses have the highest incidence of infections.  Monthly contact lenses are also available in excellent materials which contain wetting agents to help keep the lenses feeling smooth and moist.  Popular monthly disposable contact lens brands include Proclear, Purevision, Focus Night and Day, Air Optix and Biofinity.

When considering which contact lens you should wear, you should think about:

How often will you be wearing contact lenses?

What environment will I be wearing in the most?

What is my budget?

During a contact lens fitting your optometrist will determine what type of contact lens best suits your lifestyle and prescription and remember. Wearing contact lenses should always enhance your lifestyle and confidence in wearing them.

Once you become experienced at wearing contact lenses it’s often easy to forget the proper maintenance and ‘rules’ for using contact lenses properly.  Too often is contact lens wear abused and wearers risk damaging their eyes and in some rare cases, permanent blindness.  Hygiene is the one of the most important things to remember when you are wearing contact lenses.  ALWAYS wash your hands before handling lenses, this includes before removing or inserting the contact lenses.  Another important thing to remember is making sure you do not overwear your contact lenses.  Contact lenses come in daily, fortnightly and monthly disposable wearing modalities and are never designed to be worn more than what they are made for.  If you are wearing fortnightly or monthly contact lenses you should mark it off on the calendar so you know when to change them.  Overwearing contact lenses increases risks of developing infections and allergies due to protein build up on the contact lens surface.  Some lenses are designed for overnight wear (extended wear contact lenses).  These should be worn overnight only by strict guidance from your optometrist.  It is still recommended that you remove your lenses regularly and clean them with contact lens solution making sure you rub the lens.  Even if the solution says ‘no rub’ you should still rub the contact lens, this helps remove more debris from the contact lens surface.  If you are wearing fortnightly or monthly contact lenses on the days you are not wearing the contact lenses you should leave the contact lens case in the fridge, this helps inhibit bacterial growth.   Make sure you always discard the contact lens solution inside the container each time you use them.  Never keep the same old solution for long periods because it can start to culture bacteria.  You should always store your contact lenses in proper contact lens solution.  DO NOT use tap water because it is not sterile.  Harmful organisms live in our water system which can cause damage to your eyes.

Wearing contact lenses is safe and easy with good wearing habits.  Following simple hygiene precautions is important for maintaining healthy eye and successful contact lens wear.

We are often asked whether contact lenses purchased from Contact Lenses Online will be eligible for health fund claims.  The answer is Yes.  This is because Contact Lenses Online is run and owned by Australian optometrists and we also are recognised providers for contact lenses.  All of the major health funds plus many more like MBF, NIB, HCF, Medibank Private, CBHS and NRMA accept our itemised receipts.  One of the major benefits of purchasing contact lenses from Contact Lenses Online is that we format the receipt to maximise your benefit back from your health fund.  This is achieved by splitting the item numbers into groups so your claim can be maximised.  For E.g. if you purchase 6 months supply of Acuvue Oasys we will print out the invoice as 2 lots of item numbers (852) because you’re effectively purchasing 2 x 3 months supply.  For funds like Medibank private you will receive a higher benefit when processing the claim.  After you’re claim is processed your out-of-pocket expenses will be minimised.  We also have a profiles page we’re you can view your past receipts and re-print them when necessary.

Most health funds also do not roll-over your benefits each year so its best to always use them up before the year ends.  Some health funds like CBHS do not work on a calendar year and you receive benefits 1 year from the day you use them.  AHM works on a financial year basis while Medibank private, HCF, NIB, MBF and a majority of other funds all work on a calendar year.

All the major health funds also have online facilities which allow you to claim your contact lens benefits via their websites.  The process is very simple, you only need to enter the provider number which is shown your receipt along with the item numbers and cost.  They will either direct deposit the funds into your account or send you a cheque.

Savings can be significant when you purchase contact lenses online and claim them through your health fund. Many purchases will receive a full reimbursement from health funds.  Make sure you use your health fund benefits for your contact lenses annually before they run out.

Acuvue contact lenses by Johnson & Johnson still the number one selling contact lens world-wide today.  Acuvue was then first brand to create the first daily disposable contact lens and since then have continued to innovate and create a family of contact lens suited for most refractive errors.  Acuvue 1 Day Moist is Johnson & Johnson’s leading daily disposable contact lens and uses Lacreon, a special agent used to create a smooth cushion around the lens providing a frictionless surface giving the wearer additional comfort.  Acuvue 1 Day Moist contact lenses are available in 2 base curves 8.5 and 9.0 and Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism is currently available overseas.  The release date for Australia is not yet known.

Acuvue TruEye is Johnson and Johnson’s newest member to the family and is made using Silicone Hydrogel.  A material which allows a larger flow of oxygen through the lens than conventional hydrogel materials.  This means having healthier and whiter eyes with the convenience of using a daily contact  lens.

Acuvue Oasys is the leading fortnightly disposable contact lens and is one of Johnson & Johnson’s flagship contact lenses.  Acuvue Oasys uses Hydraclear Plus technology which is a special wetting agent that helps bind water molecules deep inside the lens matrix creating a moisture rich contact lens.  Acuvue Oasys is also available as a toric contact lens for people who require a correction for astigmatism.  Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia is currently available overseas but not yet in Australia and is a multifocal contact lens designed for people who require a multifocal prescription or need to wear glasses for reading.  Combining all the features of a normal Acuvue Oasys Contact Lens, Acuvue for presbyopia has a unique design which help people clearly at near.

Acuvue still remains the most prescribed contact lens by optometrists today and one of the key reasons for this is its excellent success rate with fitting.  Also with their astigmatism range, Acuvue uses an advanced stabilisation design which is held in place with each blink.  This is different to the conventional prism ballast design which is affected by gravity meaning your head must always be in its upright position to achieve optimum vision.  Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism eliminates this issue.  Johnson & Johnson still continue to innovate their family of contact lenses and continue to create world class eyecare solutions and still remain the market leaders in contact lenses.  Chances are that if you’re wearing contact lenses you’re wearing an Acuvue brand contact lens.

People often are confused about which coloured contact lens to choose when buying coloured contact lenses.  When choosing a coloured contact lens you should always think about what look you are after:  A natural colour change, a dramatic vibrant look or maybe just a colour enhancement on your own eye colour.   Freshlook coloured contact lenses are the most popular coloured contact lens available on the market today and come in a variety of designs suited for different eye colours.

If you have dark coloured eyes and want a natural colour change, Freshlook Colorblends use a special 3-in-1 tint to blend into your natural eye colour.  They are available in a number of colours including; grey, sterling gray, green, gemstone green, blue, sapphire blue, honey, pure hazel, brown, and brilliant blue.  Freshlook Colorblends is the most popular coloured contact lens of the Freshlook contact lens range although it is not suited for people with light coloured eyes.

If you have light coloured eyes you should use either, Freshlook Colors or Freshlook Dimensions.  Freshlook Colors uses an opaque tint which gives you a dramatic change in eye colour and is available in blue, green and violet.  Freshlook Dimensions is a colour enhancer and gives people who have light coloured eyes a bright, pearlescent change in eye colour.

Freshlook coloured contact lenses are still today’s number one coloured contact lens and are designed to be worn on a fortnightly schedule.  Wearers should always remember that proper cleaning solutions should be used when cleaning and storing the lenses away.  Using tap water to clean and store contact lenses should always be avoided as the chance of infection is high.  Contact Connection recommends that contact lens wearers always have their eyes properly examined by an optometrist on an annual basis.  This ensures your contact lenses are always fitting properly and important for maintaining healthy eyes.

Coloured Contact Lenses still remain a popular accessory for changing people’s cosmetic appearance but wearers should remember that coloured contact lenses are still a medical device and should be worn responsibly.  Coloured contact lenses have been known to cause blindness via infection due to unhygienic use and lack of care or knowledge.  If you’re unsure of how to properly insert, remove and care for your lenses please see your optometrist as they will teach you how to care for your lenses to minimise risk of infection.