How do contact lenses work?
Contact lenses work by changing the direction of light as it enters the eyes. But why is light so important? Because your eyes depend on it to gather information about the objects around you. As light enters the eye, the cornea and lens — think of them as the dynamic duo of vision — work together to focus it onto the retina.
The retina has specialized cells designed to convert light into electrical signals. Once these signals reach the brain, they're transformed into images. The bottom line? Without light, you wouldn't be able to see a smiling baby, a colorful flower, or a dazzling rainbow.
Glasses work exactly the same way, but they're much larger than contacts, and you have to insert the lenses into frames so you can wear them. If the dad from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids used his energy-projecting machine on a pair of glasses, he might have ended up with a teeny, tiny pair of contacts.
Different lenses and different prescriptions work in slightly different ways, but they all have the same goal: to change the direction of light so that you can see clearly. Stick with us to learn more about how different prescriptions affect the way lenses work.
Learn how to order contact lenses online at 1-800 Contacts
What are contact lenses made of?
Contact lenses are made from a variety of materials designed to enhance comfort and durability. If you have soft contacts, they're probably made of hydrogels or silicone hydrogels. Hydrogels contain water, so they're flexible. They also make it easier for oxygen to reach your corneas.
Silicone hydrogels work the same way, but they're more advanced than standard hydrogels, so even more oxygen reaches your eyes. Why does this matter? Because your corneas need oxygen to stay healthy. Maximizing the amount of oxygen that reaches your eyes also makes contact lenses more comfortable, so it can help you avoid redness, irritation, and blurry vision.
Rigid gas-permeable lenses are usually made from fluorosilicone acrylate or silicone acrylate. As their name implies, RGP contacts are harder than soft contacts, so they're extremely durable. RGPs also resist damage better than their soft counterparts (kind of like Wolverine in a battle against the other mutants).
How do contact lens prescriptions work?
Contact lens prescriptions work by correcting refractive errors — the errors that occur when your eyes don't bend light (refract) properly. One of the most common causes of refractive errors is subtle changes in the shape of your eye.
If your eyes are too long or too short, they can't bend light properly. Misshapen corneas can also cause problems with refraction. Some refractive errors occur due to aging of the lens, causing presbyopia, a type of vision loss that makes it harder to focus on nearby objects.
Contacts address these errors by changing the way the light bends. Glasses also correct refractive errors, but an eyeglass prescription isn't exactly the same as a contact prescription. While glasses rest about half an inch away from your eyes, contacts sit directly on your corneas, so there's no need to worry about them fogging up or distorting any images.
How toric lenses work
Toric lenses work by combining two powers into a single contact. In contrast, other types of contacts have a single power in each lens. Toric lenses also have features designed to improve stabilization. For example, some toric lenses have extra weight at the bottom to help them stay in the correct position.
These features make toric lenses ideal for people with astigmatism, an eye condition that distorts your vision. If you have astigmatism, you have a lens or a cornea with an abnormal shape. Don't worry — we love you just the way you are!
Many people have astigmatism, so it's easy to find toric lenses. These are just a few of the options available at 1-800 Contacts:
How bifocal contacts work
Bifocal contacts work by combining multiple prescriptions into one lens. With multiple prescriptions, it's possible to improve both near and distance vision.
Multifocal contacts accomplish the same thing, but they have zones of power instead of separate segments for each type of vision. This creates a seamless transition when you switch from looking at nearby objects to looking at something far away (and vice versa).
1-800 Contacts carries a wide selection of multifocal lenses to help you see clearly:
How hybrid contact lenses work
Hybrid contact lenses work by combining the outer ring of a soft contact with the hard center of a rigid gas-permeable contact. If you use hybrid lenses, you get the comfort of a soft lens with the crisp vision of a rigid gas-permeable lens, giving you the best of both worlds. This type of lens is ideal if you have an unusually shaped cornea.
How scleral lenses work
Scleral contact lenses work by covering the entire surface of the cornea instead of only a portion of it. They're also designed to hold their shape better than other types of contacts.
What makes scleral lenses unique is that they don't sit directly on the cornea. Instead, they have a center disk that extends away from the cornea, leaving a gap that can be filled with saline or another liquid.
In many cases, eye care professionals recommend scleral lenses to treat problems related to the surface of the eye. Here are just a few examples:
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Keratitis. Keratitis is just a fancy way of saying that the cornea is inflamed. If you're dealing with corneal inflammation, you don't want your lenses coming into contact (haha) with the irritated tissue. Because scleral lenses have a gap between the center disk and your eye, they're ideal for correcting your vision without aggravating your keratitis.
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Severe dry eye. Dry eye occurs for many reasons, such as eyelid problems and reduced tear production. Scleral lenses have a fluid reservoir in them, so they're ideal for treating dry eye. Adding fluid to the reservoir ensures you get moisture exactly where you need it most.
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Corneal damage. If you have scratches (abrasions) on one of your corneas, the last thing you need is something rubbing against your cornea day in and day out. Scleral lenses make it possible to avoid wearing eyeglasses without aggravating your corneal injury.
How ortho-k contacts work
Ortho-k contacts work by reshaping your cornea, correcting certain types of refractive errors. The main difference between ortho-k contacts and regular lenses is that you wear them overnight. As you sleep, the lenses flatten out your corneas, allowing you to see clearly when you're awake.
If you've ever seen Cinderella, you know that Cinderella's carriage turns back into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight. That's kind of what happens when you use ortho-k contacts. You can see clearly all day, but then you need to put in your contacts when you go to bed so that they can temporarily flatten your corneas overnight. If you stop wearing ortho-k contacts, your corneas return to their normal shape.
How color and cosmetic contacts work
Color and cosmetic contacts work just like other types of contact lenses, but they temporarily change the appearance of your eyes. If you get tinted contacts, the surface of each lens has a colored film over it. Pigmented lenses have color embedded in them rather than applied to the surface.
Both methods allow you to change your eye color whenever you feel like it. Headed to a St. Patty's Day party? Pop in a pair of green contacts to match your shamrock tee. Always wondered what it's like to have brown eyes instead of blue ones? Now, you can experiment without altering your eyes in any way.
Some cosmetic contacts enhance your natural eye color instead of changing the appearance of your eyes. These contacts highlight your natural beauty while improving your vision.
At 1-800 Contacts, we offer several types of color and cosmetic contacts:
Are contact lenses better than glasses?
If you're trying to choose between contact lenses and glasses, the right choice depends on your personal preferences and vision needs. One option may be better than the other if you need a specialized prescription or want to wear a particular style.
Some prescriptions also work better in glasses than they do in contacts. For example, if you have severe astigmatism, contacts may move around too much to correct your vision. The lenses in a pair of glasses don't rotate at all, so they may do a better job helping you see clearly.
You may also prefer glasses over contacts if you have a strong prescription, which often requires a thicker lens. Lens thickness can affect your comfort, especially if you plan to get extended-wear contacts.
Many people opt to alternate between glasses and contacts depending on what they're doing and how their eyes feel. For example, you may wear glasses when you're relaxing at home and contacts when you hang out with friends.
Before you invest in new lenses, try both glasses and contacts to determine which one you prefer. Then, get a prescription from a local eye care professional or an online vision exam. You can even try on glasses in a store or use a convenient digital sizing tool to find the right fit. When you're ready to order, visit 1-800 Contacts to find your preferred brand.
See how to get free shipping on affordable lenses, as well as the time it takes to get them and how to save time and money on the entire process. How much are contact lenses? Compare the prices of daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly contact lenses and find the best option for you. See where to order contacts online, according to price and shipping times. Compare top online retailers to find the best deal for you. Everything you need to know about contact lenses
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Where to order contacts online
Did you know you can order contacts online?
Say goodbye to trips to the eye doctor and hello to convenience! With 1-800 Contacts, you can easily order your contact lenses online and have them delivered straight to your door. Plus, our online vision exam makes it simple to get the prescription you need without leaving home. And the best part? You’ll save money on your first order with 1-800 Contacts. It’s never been easier to get your contacts!
Original publish date: 9/19/23
Updated date: 7/8/25