Today's contact lenses are used to correct specific vision problems or to change eye color. With all of the advances in technology, more people than ever before are able to wear contacts. There are a variety of lenses available including disposable, extended wear, flexible war, and gas permeable and even contacts for special needs.

You can change or enhance your natural eye color, even if you don't require vision correction. With color altering lenses, you can achieve just the right look for a costume or simply a magical pair of green eyes that will look spectacular with a new dress. It gives a whole new meaning to the lyric 'don't it make my brown eyes, blue.'

Disposable lenses are perfect for the person who doesn't have time to do daily care and cleaning of their contacts. Depending on the brand your optometrist recommends, you can choose either a daily disposable or one that will last one week or two weeks.

Disposables are exactly what their name implies; you take them out and throw them away each day. Conveniently, disposables are available for different eye types now including those with astigmatism and if you were looking to try out colored contacts for a while, disposable lenses come in varying shades as well.

Gas permeable contacts are designed for people who require a very specialized prescription. In some cases, astigmatisms on the eye make it very hard to fit the candidate with the right level of correction. A person whose vision is 20/180 may not correct to 20/20 with other types of lenses. Gas permeable is more expensive, but the ultimate decision lies between the optometrist and the patient.

Flexible wear and extended wear lenses are designed for those who like to be able to sleep in their contacts rather than deal with putting them in and taking them out several times a day. These are especially useful for those who travel a great deal or are frequently away from home. No worries about having to carry your lens cleaning kit with you everywhere you go.

More than 30 million people wear contact lenses and it requires a visit to your eye care professional that can then determine if you're a candidate for contacts. With so much variety and so many advances, the chances are good that your local optometrist has the right contact lens for you.