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CONTACT LENS OVERVIEW

The first step to getting contact lenses is to consult your optometrist. This is necessary even in cases where a patient would like non-corrective lenses (i.e. to change eye color). Contact lenses can only be purchased legally with a valid written prescription by a specialist. Contact lenses are considered to be medical devices wich require proper fitting, which only a qualified eyecare practitioner can provide.

CHOOSING A TYPE OF LENS FOR YOU
There are two major types of contact lenses to choose from: Soft contacts or gas permeable (RGP or GP lenses). The cost associated with gas permeable lenses is initially higher but for some can offer more crisp vision and are resistant to deposit buildup. They take longer to adapt to, however last longer than soft lenses. Soft contact lenses contain water (ranging from 25% to 79%) and can be adapted to quickly. To learn more about types of contact lenses, click here.

CONTACT LENSES: A BREIF HISTORY
  • 1508 Leonardo da Vinci introduces the concept of contact lenses
  • 1823 Sir John Herschel, a British astronomer, devises first lens design concept
  • 1887 First contact lens is manufactured from glass, made to cover entire eye
  • 1939 First plastic contact lenses are made
  • 1948 Plastic contact lenses are design to cover only the eye's cornea
  • 1971 Soft contact lenses are introduced
  • 1978 GP contact lenses are introduced
  • 1981 FDA approves soft contact lenses for extened/overnight wear
  • 1986 Overnight wear GP contact lenses available to public
  • 1987 Disposable soft contact lenses are introduced
  • 1987 GP contacts made of flourosilicone acrylate materials are made available
  • 1991 Daily and two week wear lenses available
  • 1991 Planned replacement contact lenses introduced to market
  • 1992 Tinted disposable contact lenses available
  • 1995 Daily disposable contact lenses hit market
  • 1996 First disposable contact lenses using UV absorbers released in US
  • 1998 Multifocal disposable contact lenses available
  • 1999 New generation extended wear soft contact lenses introduced
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Dr. Soma Bose specializes in Contact lenses, disposable contact lenses, colored contact lenses, toric contact lenses for astigmatism, extended wear contact lenses, night and day contact lenses, products and news pertaining to contact leses and contact lens wearers, silicone hydrogel contact lenses, gas permiable or gp contact lenses, special effect contact lenses, bifocal contact lenses, reshaping the eye with contact lenses, contact lenses for patients who qualify as being hard to fit, teaching patients how to care for soft contact lenses, teaching patients how to care for RGP contact lenses, advising what to do if your contact lenses are uncomfortable, where to buy contact lenses, and advising whether wearing contacts instead of getting surgery is suggested.