Many people have been wearing eyeglasses for years, but may feel it is time to make the transition. What a joy to remove the glassed from the face for the very last time, never having to worry about where to keep them ever again. The same clear quality that was revealed by glasses can be seen through the eyes with contact lenses.

1. The Purpose of Wearing Contact
Lenses
Switchover from Glasses to Contact Lenses

2. Table of Contents
Contact Lenses Can Bring Focus to Life...…………………………….1
Switchover from Glasses to Contact Lenses……………………....3
The Purpose of Wearing Contact Lenses.…………………………...5
Reasons to Wear Contact Lenses……….………………………………..6
Toric Contact Lenses - A Tool for Clear Vision ...……………......12
Astigmatism ……………………….……………………………………………..14
Myopia……………………………………………………………………………….15
Hyperopia ……….……………………………………………………………….. 16
Find an eye care professional near you who offers prescrip-
tion contact lenses.…………………………………………………...……….18

3. Contact Lenses Can Bring Focus to Life
Glasses can be cumbersome and uncomfortable, which is why
contact lenses are a perfect solution to traditional eyewear.
Eyeglasses can create discomfort in the lobes of the ears, as well
as on the bridge of the nose. Contact lenses are a means to
eliminate these problems permanently. In terms of current
history, the major breakthrough with contact lenses dates back to
1959, when the first “soft lens” was introduced. It was used in
many countries through the 1960’s, but didn’t reach the states
until later. In 1971, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
approved the material known as “soflens.” In 1999, silicone was
introduced as a material for the uses of daily contact lenses. This
was an important breakthrough because silicone has a high level
of oxygen permeability, creating the same comfort that was found
in the previous contacts used since 1971. The benefit of oxygen
permeability equates to longer comfort. Daily contact lenses were
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4. Contact Lenses Can Bring Focus to Life
extended to stay in overnight, meaning less maintenance.
CooperVision has taken the silicone lens a step further with a
polymer lens. Polymer is defined as, “A long or larger molecule
consisting of a chain or network of many repeating units, formed
by chemically bonding together many identical or similar small
molecules called monomer.” This translates as to having a high
oxygen permeability rate, allowing greater comfort with wearing
daily contact lenses.
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5. Switchover from Glasses to Contact Lenses
Many people have been wearing eyeglasses for years, but may feel
it is time to make the transition. What a joy to remove the glassed
from the face for the very last time, never having to worry about
where to keep them ever again. The same clear quality that was
revealed by glasses can be seen through the eyes with contact
lenses. Better yet, daily contact lenses provide a wider field of
clear vision, covering the peripheral areas as well. The transition
does not happen immediately, as it may take about a week for
eyes to fully adapt to wearing contact lenses. As little as six hours
of wear may be recommended by an individual’s optometrist with
a progression of two hours per day for as long as six days. After
the sixth day, the daily contact lenses can be worn without
concern for the entire duration of waking hours. Again, it is
important to follow the guidelines of an optometrist for proper
care and adaptation.
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6. Switchover from Glasses to Contact Lenses
Daily contact lenses have made some major breakthroughs in the
past 50 years, innovations that have lessened the discomfort of
wearing glasses. Contact lenses can also instill self-confidence
that cannot be gained by wearing glasses. The transformation of
the market from hydrogel lenses to silicone lenses has offered
even greater comfort to one of the most important senses of the
body. Vision is a gift that those who wear daily contact lenses do
not take lightly. Just because an individual has a vision problem
doesn’t meant there has to be discomfort or high maintenance
involved. The best solution to date is with polymer lenses.
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7. The Purpose of Wearing Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are an ideal alternative to wearing conventional
eyeglasses for many reasons. Comparatively speaking, they can
both provide the same function for their fundamental purpose.
Daily contact lenses go a step further than simply providing the
wearer with better vision. The comfort in wearing daily contact
lenses provide relief in knowing that clear vision is not dependent
on locating a pair of glasses. Even more recently (within the past
30 years), the maintenance of daily contact lenses has been
reduced dramatically. No longer is it necessary to provide an
external source of hydration due to dryness of the contact lenses.
The recent innovation of silicone contact lenses offers less
maintenance with a higher level of oxygen permeability. One of
the more recent styles is made of 48% water!
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8. Reasons to Wear Contact Lenses
1
The fundamental reason to wear daily contact lenses if
for proper vision for those who are impaired or
have less than perfect vision. Clear, focused vision
can completely change an individual’s perspective
on life. No longer will he or she squint to read road
signs, or more importantly, the newspaper or a
book. Contact lenses offer a wider field of vision,
reducing peripheral uses created from eyeglasses.
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9. Reasons to Wear Contact Lenses
2
Self-confidence is another reason many individuals
switch from eyeglasses to daily contact lenses.
Wearing eyeglasses have been reported to create a
complex in relation to self-image that can be
eliminated by wearing daily contact lenses.
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10. Reasons to Wear Contact Lenses
3
Contact lenses can correct the problem of astigmatism.
Astigmatism can accompany near or farsightedness,
occurring from an abnormally shaped cornea.
Specifically, toric contact lenses can actually correct
the problem of astigmatism in many cases.
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11. Reasons to Wear Contact Lenses
4
In the past, contact lenses were expensive, but the price
of them has become competitive and affordable.
With the possibility of glasses breaking or being
lost, daily contact lenses can cost less than
eyeglasses.
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12. Reasons to Wear Contact Lenses
5
Comfort is a popular reason many individuals choose
contact lenses over eyeglasses. Problems with
discomfort can occur in regions of the nose where
the bridge is used to support the glasses. Also, pull
from the arms on the lobes can also cause irritation
and minor pain. Today, contact lenses can be
inserted once, and then forgotten without even
feeling them in the eyes.
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13. Reasons to Wear Contact Lenses
Contact lenses serve many functions for many individuals. It has
been estimated that over 125 million individuals across the globe
prefer to wear contact lenses over eyeglasses. At the rate of
innovation, that number may grow. The importance of clear vision
cannot be underestimated especially if it involves personal safety,
as well as the safety of others. Consider the example of driving,
when focus and clear vision is most important. Contact lenses can
prevent an accident or better inform the driver with the ability to
read the road signs. When it comes to proper vision, there is no
replacement for the security and confidence of knowing that it
will not be compromised. There are many reasons to wear contact
lenses, as they are a tool that will aid in all facets of life.
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14. Toric Contact Lenses
A Tool for Clear Vision
There are many types of contact lenses available for the purpose
of corrective vision; ones that can be ideal for treating many
conditions are known as toric contact lenses. Toric contact lenses
are contact lenses that are specifically made with two curvatures
that can be used to treat astigmatism, as well as myopia or
hyperopia.
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15. Toric Contact Lenses
A Tool for Clear Vision
Toric contact lenses are
categorized in a group that is
sometimes referred to as
multifocal lenses. Over the
past decade, many adaptations
have been designed to allow a
patient to pick and choose
from a wide variety of “extras”
that offer comfort, style and
less maintenance than in
previous years. Some of the
modern amenities include soft
contact lenses, disposable
contact lenses and fashionable
colors.
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16. Toric Contact Lenses
A Tool for Clear Vision
Astigmatism
Is a condition where the cornea may not be completely
round, causing problems with vision. In some cases, the
condition may only occur in a single eye. In this case, the
optometrist or eye care practitioner may prescribe a
toric contact lens for one eye and a corrective
prescription for the other. Astigmatism normally affects
those who are middle aged, and it is a condition that can
become worse with time. It can ultimately lead to
blindness, if not addressed. With the average age of
Americans on the rise, this will be a growing problem
that will need to be addressed with more frequency.
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17. Toric Contact Lenses
A Tool for Clear Vision
Myopia
Is also known as near-sightedness, can be a condition
that occurs as a result of astigmatism. It can affect one or
both eyes. In this case, toric contact lenses can be
prescribed to correct the vision problem. Specially
designed to remain stable on the eye, toric contact lenses
provide an ideal solution to the condition of myopia.
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18. Toric Contact Lenses
A Tool for Clear Vision
Hyperopia
Is also known as far-sightedness, is another condition
that occurs due to astigmatism. Toric contact lenses
replace the function of the natural lens, compensating in
areas where there are issues with blurriness because of
the abnormal bend of the natural lens. With conditions
of myopia or hyperopia, the lens is curved specifically to
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19. Toric Contact Lenses
A Tool for Clear Vision
Toric contact lenses are offered in the form of soft and rigid gas
permeable, just as regular contact lenses. One of the main
differences between normal contact lenses and toric contact
lenses is that toric contact lenses cannot move all around. They
have a distinct upward and downward movement, but must
remain stable due to the orientation of the vision problem
corrected. One of the newer innovations is a long-lasting design of
toric lenses that allows the wearer to insert the contact lenses for
a period of 30 days. These contacts lenses are made of silicone
and contain the ability to hydrate the lens. Hands-free and worry-
free options give the wearer complete confidence in making a
transition from traditional eyeglasses to toric contact lenses. A
revolution in eyewear, new toric lenses are a tool that provides
clear vision without any problems with hydrating. A few extra
hours in the optometrist’s chair is definitely an investment that is
worth it. 17

20. Find an eye care professional
near you who offers
prescription contact lenses.