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CONTACT
LENSES
Approximately 36
million Americans wear contact lenses, about 13% of the overall
population. The vast majority wear a soft, disposable contact
lens. The first contact lens was introduced in 1971. Contact
lenses are very thin, button-sized optical discs which are
carefully crafted to provide corrective vision to patients that
suffer from myopia (shortsightedness), hyperopia (longsightedness),
astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea), and presbyopia (lost
ability to focus). Today, contact lens technology has rapidly
improved, and there are a wide variety of lens types available,
even including cosmetic, colored contacts. The most common types
are soft disposable contacts, which come in monthly, weekly and
even daily varieties, and gas permeable (GP) contacts. Most
contact lenses require minimal maintenance, and simple soaking
in a multipurpose solution to clean them nightly. Other
varieties of contacts allow them to remain in place for an
extended period, even while you sleep, up to several days.
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Health
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