Did you know that contact lenses were first developed by Leonardo da Vinci? They weren’t the same as we know them today, but the idea of putting a corrective lense on the eye surface was first developed by Leonardo da Vinci. While prescription eyeglasses are an option to help you see better, glasses have lost popularity in recent years compared to their eyewear counterpart - - the contact lens, an eye care professional can help you decide which is best for you.

So before you head out to the optical shop on the corner, you should educate yourself on some of the eyewear options available in the contact lens family.

Daily Disposable:

As the name implies these are daily disposable lenses. You put these in your eyes when you start your day and throw them away before you to go to bed. Many people prefer this option because of its convenience, no cleaning solutions or worry of infections of the eye. After all, you start each day with a fresh and new pair.

Night&Day:

These are just the opposite of Dailywear. Instead of throwing them out before you go to sleep, you can actually sleep in them. As a matter of fact you can wear them 24/7 for up to 2 weeks. At the end of the 2 weeks, you throw them out and start with a new pair. Convenience is definitely a factor here, but concern of having problems with your eyes is also a concern.

Regular and Disposable Contact Lenses

Like the basic model of a car, this eyewear option has no bells and whistles. You wear them daily. You take them out before you go to bed. You clean them and soak them overnight and you start all over again the next day. While some people still use these for a year before getting a new pair, some opt to use the disposable ones. The disposable ones still have to be taken out and cleaned overnight, but you usually wear them for 4-6 weeks and then start with a new pair at that time. And the cycle continues.