Contacts Overview

Home » Home Health » Contacts » Contacts Overview

Contact lenses are an alternative to glasses and other vision alternatives. Invented more than 100 years ago, they were first made from glass and later hard plastic. Today, contact lenses are made from soft plastic. They are small, thin discs designed so that you can place them directly on the surface (cornea) of the eye. Most often, eye doctors, or other licensed eye care professionals, prescribe contact lenses for vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and uneven focus (astigmatism). Eye doctors may also prescribe them to treat certain eye conditions and diseases. For example, people who have had cataract surgery, and who did not receive lens implants, may use special contact lenses.

Next Page: Why do people wear contacts?

Related Contacts Articles

---

• Contacts Overview
• Why do people wear contacts?
• What kinds of contacts are available?
• Can anyone where contact lenses?
• How do I obtain contacts?
• How long will it take to get used to contacts?
• How do I take care of contacts?
• Are there any dangers to wearing contacts?