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.
If you wear contact lenses then there’s a good chance that you’ve heard of Acuvue brand contact lenses. Made by Johnson & Johnson, Acuvue contact lenses are the most widely used contact lenses around the world. Having the first daily disposable contact lens manufactured, Johnson & Johnson continue to release innovative contact lenses and now have a whole family which suit a majority of prescriptions.
Acuvue contact lenses in Australia are available in 2 types of daily disposable wearing schedules – Acuvue 1 Day Moist and Acuvue 1 Day TruEye. Acuvue moist is currently Australia’s number one daily disposable contact lens and uses Lacreon technology which creates a super smooth cushion around the lens to help maintain moisture and provide comfort. Acuvue 1 Day TruEye is one the newest contact lenses released by Johnson & Johnson and is the worlds first daily disposable contact lens made of silicone hydrogel. Acuvue 1 Day TruEye boasts excellent comfort and allows large amounts of oxygen to flow to the eye. It also uses Hydraclear which is a water loving agent that imbeds water molecules into the matrix of the lens to provide moisture and comfort throughout the day.
The most widely worn contact lens in Australia is Acuvue Oasys, a fortnightly disposable contact lens which uses Hydraclear Plus, a wetting agent which provides the lens which moisture rich environment. Acuvue Oasys is also available as a toric contact lens to correct astigmatism – Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism. Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism uses a unique design called Advanced Stabilization Design which uses the blink reflex to stabilise the contact lens. Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism also uses Hydraclear Plus technology and is available in a wide range of parameters.
Acuvue brand contact lenses have created a family of lenses which cater for today’s modern wearer. Using wetting agents like Hydraclear and Hydraclear Plus Acuvue Oasys contact lenses are great for dryer environments like air conditioned offices and buildings, they are also approved for up to 6 nights continuous wear. With such an excellent range of contact lenses Acuvue still remains one of the most highly prescribed contact lenses by optometrists in Australia.
We are often asked if buying contact lenses online are safe. The contact lenses you purchase online are usually exactly the same as those you purchase from your local optometrist. Ordering your contact lenses online saves you time and money however there are concerns that people have their eyes examined less regularly by their optometrist. It is important that if you do order your contact lenses online that you still have your eyes regularly examined. This is important to ensure you are always seeing clearly with your contact lenses and have healthy eyes. Most contact lens retailers online in Australia are replacement services for contact lenses only. So how often should you have your eyes examined? You should have your eyes tested annually or earlier if your optometrist advises you to. Contact lens wear can induce changes to your eyes and your optometrist can check your contact lenses are fitting correctly and you are wearing the best available materials. New contact lenses are always being manufactured and the technology incorporated into contact lens material is always improving.
With the online market for optical products growing and people now more conscious of their spending, the contact lens market online is growing. From a consumers perspective it makes sense to purchase your contact lenses online because it is convenient and savings are significant. However optometrists are feeling the ‘crunch’ as they are losing business to online sales. Unfortunately optometrists can not survive with just consultations. A majority of the income in an optometry practice comes from contact lens and spectacle sales and losing business to online retailers reduces revenue for a practice. While we may save money by purchasing contact lenses online we need to remember the efforts of the optometrist who fit us with contact lenses in the first place. Whilst there is no difference between the quality of contact lenses sold in your local optometrist and some online retailers, we still encourage consumers to support their local optometrists, besides if all the optometrists went out of business who would be left to test our eyes?
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.
They say that your eyes are the windows to your soul; they are the first thing people notice when they look at you. Therefore don’t you think they should reflect your personality accurately? As well as captivating your onlooker. Coloured contact lenses offer the choice, the opportunity to change or enhance your eye colour to better resonate your inner self. There are a variety of coloured contact lenses which we provide at contact lenses online all of which have passed Australian coloured contact lens standards and are FDA (Foods and Drugs Association) approved. Our most popular coloured contact lens is the Freshlook Colourblends range. Freshlook is a product of the Ciba Vision company one of the world’s largest contact lens manufacturers. The Colourblends coloured contact lens range incorporates a 3 in 1 print, which blends with your natural eye colour, subtly transforming your iris into an opaque tint of your choice. There are 9 coloured contact lenses in this range, your choice of: Blue, Pure Hazel, Grey, Green, True Sapphire, Brown, Turquoise, Honey and Amethyst. These opaque coloured contact lenses are perfect for darker coloured eyes as they offer a natural looking colour change. The Colourblends range are also available in a daily disposable coloured contact lens, which can be more convenient as they do not require any lens cases or cleaning solutions. Therefore those interested in wearing coloured contact lenses for one off occasions may find the daily lenses a better option as they are more convenient and feel fresh every wear. Freshlook Colours are another type of Ciba coloured contact lens, suitable for both light and darker eyes. However this coloured contact lens range completely changes your eye colour. These are ideal for those looking to drastically change their eye colour; to make an impact. Freshlook Dimensions are designed to enhance your natural eye colour; they create a pearlescent look to the eye. Dimensions are a translucent coloured contact lens and thus are more suited to those with lighter coloured eyes. They come in 3 tints: Caribbean Aqua, Pacific Blue and Sea Green. For those who wish to augment their natural eye colour and enchant their peers. If you have dark eyes which you wish to enhance, Acuvue 1 Day Define are the coloured contact lenses for you. Acuvue is a product of Johnson & Johnson the largest manufacturer of contact lenses in the world. There are two types of 1 Day Define coloured contact lenses; Accent which incorporates an opaque tint with a dark outer ring which leaves the iris looking darker and larger. Enhancing the colour, defining the iris and creating an all round bolder look, perfect for those who want to make an impression. And Vivid style which is a coloured contact lens with a brown spoke pattern making the natural pattern of your iris more visible thus creating a more lively look. Lastly there are Ningaloo coloured contact lenses manufactured by Australian company Gelflex. Named after Ningaloo reef off the coast of Western Australia. This range of coloured contact lenses has an opaque tint making them suitable for light or dark eye colours. Coloured contact lenses open up a whole new world of opportunities to astound your onlookers and to reveal your true personality. If eyes are the windows to the soul would you not want them to accurately portray that soul?
Do you need to order contact lenses for a few members of the family and want to claim benefits for each person individually with your health fund? With most other online contact lens retailers you only receive a receipt under one person’s name which means you can’t maximise your benefit with your health fund. A common request we get from customers, is to have separate receipts for each person when they are combining contact lens orders to save on shipping costs. The key reason for separating receipts is to maximise health fund benefits. At Contact Lenses Online we make it easy for you to do this. When you order contact lenses, you can enter in a patients name for each contact lens you order. When you receive your receipt, it will have the patients name printed next to the contact lens they ordered. This makes claiming with your health fund simpler and you save on delivery costs. Contact Lenses Online are recognised providers with all major health funds and your order will always include an itemised receipt with a provider number. To save costs on shipping you should always check to see if any friends or family need contact lenses and combine them all into the one order.
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.
Buying cheap contact lenses online may help the wallet but are you hurting your eyes?
The contact lenses you buy online in Australia are exactly the same as the contact lenses purchased from an optometrist. In fact, a good number of online contact lens stores are owned and operated by optometrists.
This means that you are just as safe wearing contact lenses purchased online as wearing contact lenses purchased from your optometrist.
However, contact lenses are a prescribed product and you must have the guidance of an eye care professional to wear contact lenses successfully. Note that most contact lens prescriptions expire in a year and regualar eye health checks are needed to safely wear contact lenses in the long term.
The reason for this is the eye can change naturally resulting in not only the power or prescription changes but also in other ways which may affect contact lens performance. An example of this is a decrease in tear volume with age. The insufficient tears results in dehydration of a contact lens, changing its shape, power and fitting properties.
Changes to your lifestyle and environment will also affect your contact lenses and subsequently your eye health. Your contact lenses may be less comfortable than previously with heavy air conditioning, smoking or dusty locations. These changes need to be addressed and your eye care practitioner will be able to advise you on the best contact lenses to use in your specific situation.
Your optometrist would also be the best person to see when it comes to up to date contact lens technology. The contact lens you’ve been wearing for the past year may be superceded by a superior product. This is addressed in your annual (or more frequent) eye review with your optometrist.
So, when was the last time you had your eyes checked?