Contact Lenses: A Comprehensive Guide to Buying Them In South Africa
If you’re visually impaired or are simply not comfortable wearing glasses all the time, you may want to look into buying contact lenses instead. Contact lenses allow people to see clearly while also being able to ditch their glasses completely – perfect for those who struggle with confidence when it comes to their appearance or just don’t like wearing spectacles all the time for whatever reason. In South Africa, there are plenty of stores that sell contact lenses, including optometrists and pharmacies. In this blog post, we go through everything you need to know about buying contact lenses in South Africa and what you should be looking for before making a final decision on which ones to buy from a particular provider.
What to Look for When Buying Contact Lenses in South Africa
The first thing you should do when buying contact lenses in South Africa is determine the type of contact lenses you want to buy. This will depend on your particular needs, of course, but we’ve outlined some of the more common types here: – Hydrogel contact lenses – These are one of the most popular types of contact lenses on the market right now, and you can find them in a variety of different colours, including black and clear. – Because they’re made with a material that’s similar to the structure of human tissue, they’re very easy to apply and remove, while also being very comfortable to wear. They’re also very safe to use, since they don’t come into contact with your eyes at all. – Disposable contact lenses – These are disposable contact lenses that you should replace about once every two weeks. They’re typically very cheap to buy, which is what makes them so attractive. – Disposable contact lenses are great for people with very sensitive eyes and also for those who wear lots of make-up on a daily basis. If you don’t wear a lot of make-up or your eyes are pretty tough, however, you may want to consider a different type instead, since disposable lenses can be a bit more hassle to use and clean. – Reusable contact lenses – These are a great choice for people who have particularly sensitive eyes and safer than disposable lenses, since they’re not coming into contact with your eyes at all. – Reusable contact lenses are very expensive, however, and so they’re only really recommended for people who have very sensitive eyes, are prone to infections, or wear a lot of make-up on a daily basis.
What Are Your Options When Buying Contact Lenses?
As we’ve just outlined above, there are three types of contact lenses you can buy: hydrogel, disposable, and reusable. Once you’ve determined which type you want to buy, you’ll then need to decide on a specific brand. In this regard, there are two types of contact lens brands you can buy from, either prescription-based brands or non-prescription (also called OTC) brands. The difference between the two types is rather simple: prescription-based brands are prescribed by an optometrist after conducting a thorough eye examination, while non-prescription brands are simply sold over the counter without any sort of examination required.
Tip: Don’t Be Scared of Prescription-Based Brands
Most people are scared of purchasing prescription-based brands because they think they’re going to be expensive. The truth of the matter is that, if you purchase your contact lenses from a reputable provider, you don’t have to worry about them being excessively expensive. In fact, most providers that sell prescription-based brands will offer you a free eye exam before selling you their contact lenses, which means that even if you’ve never purchased contact lenses before, you can rest assured knowing that you’re paying a fair price. Even if you’ve bought contact lenses in the past and have a prescription, it’s still worth giving prescription-based brands a try, since you might be pleasantly surprised by the price.
Tip: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
If you’ve never purchased contact lenses before, you may not know what to look out for when buying them. In this case, it’s always a good idea to speak with an employee at the contact lens store you’re using to find out more about what you should be looking for. In particular, you should find out if the lenses you’re considering buying are safe to wear overnight. Although wearing contact lenses overnight isn’t technically banned, it is something that isn’t recommended by most optometrists since it can be very risky for your eyesight. If the store you’re buying from doesn’t advise against wearing your contact lenses overnight, you should be extra careful to keep your eyes well protected.
Tip: Don’t Buy From the First Provider You Talk To
You should never rush your decision when buying contact lenses. Instead, you should spend enough time going through various providers to find the right one for you. One of the best ways to do this is by reading online reviews of different contact lens stores. This will allow you to find out what other people’s experiences with various providers have been like, which will give you a better idea of which company you should go with. If you’re buying prescription-based brands, another thing you can do is find out what type of contact lenses you need. For example, if you need hydrogel contact lenses, you should only compare providers that sell hydrogel contact lenses.
Safeguards When Buying Contact Lenses
Before you buy contact lenses, make sure you’re buying them from a reputable contact lens store. Here are three things you should look out for when choosing a contact lens store: – Make sure the store is certified – You can check to see if a store is certified by the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists (CLAAO) by searching for their name online. Not only is certification a good sign that the store is reputable, it also means that the store is obligated to follow CLAAO’s contact lens safety standards. – Make sure the store is licensed – You can find out if a contact lens store is licensed by checking its website for a license number or by calling your local health department to find out if a store is licensed to sell contact lenses. – Make sure the store has a good online presence – You can learn a lot about a contact lens store just by looking at its website. Does the website look professional? Does it have a lot of information on it? Are the prices listed? These are all signs that the store is reputable.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to buy contact lenses in South Africa, you have plenty of options. The first step, however, is determining which type of contact lenses you want to buy. From there, you’ll need to decide whether you want to buy prescription-based brands or non-prescription (OTC) brands. Keep these things in mind when buying contact lenses and you shouldn’t run into any trouble. In fact, with a new pair of contact lenses in your life, you’ll be able to see better than ever before while also being able to ditch your glasses completely.
