Vision Victory on the Hockey Stage

Oh, let me share a tale about my daughter, the dynamo of the field hockey pitch! She's a real force to be reckoned with out there. So, picture this: she's all kitted up in her field hockey gear, donning that fierce-looking face mask for protection, and then she drops this gem of a request on me. She says, "Hey, Mom, I need contact lenses!" And I was like, "Contact lenses for a budding field hockey star?" But she's got her reasons, and they're pretty clever. She goes, "Wearing glasses during field hockey is like a comedy show in itself. They fog up, slide down my nose, and make me look like a goalie playing dress-up!" I can't help but crack up at her witty remarks. But you know what? She's got a point! The idea of her sprinting across the field with crystal-clear vision and no more glasses hassles is downright hilarious. So, we're all in, cheering her on as she takes her field hockey game to a whole new level with those nifty contact lenses! Get ready, world, for the unstoppable field hockey whirlwind! 

I took my daughter to the optical shop for her regular eye checkup. Once the optometrist confirmed that her short-sightedness was stable, they presented us with an overwhelming array of contact lenses to choose from. There were so many options that it felt a bit daunting. How on earth were we supposed to pick the right one? It seemed like a never-ending maze of choices, each promising to be the best fit for her vision needs. We took our time to carefully consider each type, but it was still a challenging decision. Finding the perfect contact lenses turned out to be quite the task, but we were determined to make the right choice for our daughter's comfort and clear sight.

6 Factors to Consider When Choosing Contact Lenses 

1. Lens Material

Lens material can make a big difference in vision, comfort, and eye health, so it’s essential to know the advantages and disadvantages of different lens materials.

Hydrogel – Hydrogels are flexible, gel-like polymers that easily adhere to the surface of the eye. Hydrogels allow optimal levels of oxygen to reach the eye, and they can hold a large percentage of water.

Silicone hydrogel – Silicone hydrogel is a hybrid material composed of silicone and hydrogel. Contacts made of silicone hydrogel offer high oxygen permeability, making them suitable for overnight or extended wear.

Rigid gas-permeable – Modern rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses are made of firm, durable plastics that transmit oxygen. Unlike hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses, RGP lenses don’t contain water, so they’re less likely to collect deposits and harbor bacteria.

2. Wearing Schedule

Daily-wear contacts are intended for use during the day only. They should be removed, cleaned, and stored properly before. They are discarded at the end of the day (daily disposables).Some of the most popular brands of daily-wear contact lenses on the market include 1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST, Biotrue ONEday, and AIR OPTIX AQUA.

Extended wear contacts are FDA-approved for overnight wear ranging from one to six nights or up to 30 days. Popular brands of extended-wear contacts include ACUVUE 2, AIR OPTIX NIGHT & DAY AQUA, and PureVision.

3. Vision

Contacts correct vision problems caused by refractive errors, including:

nearsightedness (blurry distance vision), 

farsightedness (blurry near vision), 

astigmatism (blurry vision at all distances), and

presbyopia (blurry near vision in aging adults)

Contacts come in many different lens designs to correct refractive errors, such as:

Spherical – Standard spherical lenses correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. Both refractive errors can occur alongside astigmatism and presbyopia.

Toric – Toric lenses correct astigmatism. These lenses are usually thicker at the top than  the bottom, so they don’t move in the eye.

Multifocal – Multifocal lenses correct presbyopia. These lenses have multiple prescriptions, so the wearer can see clearly at any distance.

Most toric and multifocal contacts are made of soft lens materials. But RGP lenses can be made to correct astigmatism and presbyopia as well. RGP toric and multifocal lenses may be better for people with high prescriptions or whose soft toric or multifocal lenses don’t produce the desired visual acuity.

4. Replacement Schedule

Contact lenses may be replaced daily, monthly, or bi-weekly. In the case of RGP lenses, contacts may be replaced yearly with proper handling.

When you go in for a contact lens fitting, your optician will ask you about your lifestyle, so they can figure out which replacement schedule works best for you. Daily disposable contacts require minimal cleaning, making them the ideal choice for frequent travelers and lens wearers with busy schedules or active lifestyles. Monthly lenses need daily cleaning, so they’re more suitable for people who can commit to a lens care routine. Annually disposable contacts are worn daily for at least a year and then thrown away. These contacts are usually RGP lenses, which are more durable than soft lenses. Annually disposable contacts typically need to be removed and cleaned nightly.

5. Brand

You also can consider specific brand based on several factors, including:

Diameter – This is the distance across the lens’s surface. It determines how the lens sits on the eye. If a contact lens doesn’t have the right diameter for your eye, it will feel uncomfortable. 

Base Curve – This is the depth of the contact lens’s curve. If a contact lens doesn’t have the right base curve for your eye, it may not adhere correctly to your eye, causing blurry vision and/or discomfort.

Lens Material – Contact lens brands differ in terms of the materials they use. For example, contacts in the ACUVUE OASYS product family are made of silicone hydrogel, while contacts in the Biotrue ONEday family are made of hydrogel. 

6. Cost

When browsing for contact lenses online, you may notice that their prices vary.

That’s because many different factors affect the cost of contact lenses, including lens type, brand, and replacement schedule. 

Check out the picture below for general contact lens prices.

Picture above taken Jul 2023. 

After taking in all the factors, we decided on daily silicon hydrogel type as she only wears on the training day but once she put on, we will wear more than 8 hours.

P/S: For first timer, some optical shop have a package (consultation on how to apply, maintain and remove the contact lenses + 2 boxes contact lenses; consultation fees around $80-$100). If you want to save the money, which we did, I personally teach her myself. There is also some good resources online as below:

Contact Lenses for Beginners | How to Put in Contacts

Contact Lenses for Beginners | How to take out Contacts easily

updated 2 Aug 2023: Recently went over to Johor City, Malaysia, I found out the prices of contact lenses is 45% cheaper than Singapore. That is a huge difference. It will be an option for us in future to get our supplies.