There are two major categories of contact lenses: Soft Contact Lenses and Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses. Regardless of the type of contacts that you are interested in, you require a thorough examination and fitting-and a valid prescription. Within these two major categories are a number of types of lenses for solving different vision problems including; Soft Daily Wear Contact Lenses, Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses, Contact Lenses for Astigmatism, Extended Wear Contact Lenses, Disposable or Planned Replacement Contact Lenses, Multifocal (Presbyopic) Contact Lenses, Ortho-K Lenses.

At Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, the vast majority of contact lenses prescribed fall into the categories as listed above. We do prescribe contact lenses for some special purposes for those patients requesting these types of fittings and contact lenses: 

Decorative Non Prescription Contact Lenses

A type of specialty lens contact lens that has become popular among people who don’t even have a need for vision correction are contacts that have the sole purpose of changing the appearance of your eyes. These are sometimes called “Plano”, “Zero-Powered” or “Non-Corrective” lenses. Wearers of these contact lenses can temporarily change brown eyes to blue and can even create different themes such as Halloween or Dracula by modifying the eye’s appearance.

EVEN THOUGH THESE DECORATIVE LENSES DO NOT CORRECT VISION, THEY ARE A MEDICAL DEVICE FDA STRICTLY REGULATES THEM. This is because, even with correction, they pose the identical risks to patients that “regular’ contact lenses pose.

These include:

• Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye
• Corneal Abrasions
• Corneal Ulcers
• Vision Impairment

Many patients are simply unaware of the need for proper fitting and prescription of these lenses and have purchased decorative contact lenses from beauty salons, record stores, video stores, flea markets, convenience stores, beach shops and the Internet. Buying contact lenses without a prescription is dangerous!