• Contact lenses have been around for more than 100 years.contact lens image by vladislav susoy from Fotolia.com
  
  The three most common visual problems are nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Multiple options are available to correct these problems, including contact lenses, glasses and corrective eye surgery. The best option depends on the anatomy, coexisting conditions and individual preferences of each patient. Many people use a combination of options.
  
  

Glasses

• Eyeglasses originated in the 12th or 13th century. Despite the development of contact lenses and corrective surgery, however, they are still a popular method of vision correction because of the variety of frames and lenses. Glasses correct visual problems using two lenses that redirect light to the correct part of the retina. The curve of the lens determines how the light is focused; an eye exam determines the curve needed for an individual patient.
  
  

Contact Lenses

• Around since the late 1800s, contact lenses work the same way as eyeglasses, except the wearer places them directly on the cornea. This allows the lenses to be thinner, more malleable and provide a much larger field of corrected vision. Soft contacts, rigid gas-permeable contacts or hybrid lenses are all available. All three are made with plastic polymers, but while soft contacts are made with materials that absorb water without losing their corrective qualities, gas-permeable lenses, also known as hard contacts, absorb very little water. They must be customized more for the individual eye, resulting in a higher cost. Soft lenses are less expensive and often disposable. Hybrid lenses have soft contact material on the outside with gas-permeable material in the center.
  
  

Laser Corrective Surgery

• Laser eye surgery is becoming a more popular method for vision correction because of its many benefits and low risks. While many procedures are available, by far the most popular option is laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK. In this procedure, the surgeon accesses the cornea by creating a small flap on its outer surface. The surgeon then uses a laser to reshape the cornea so it focuses light on the correct part of the retina. Advances in LASIK technology make it possible to create the flap using a laser and program the corrective laser to each patient's correction requirements. The risk of damage or infection is low, and most people experience 20/40 vision or better after the procedure. In some patients, initially clear vision may worsen and require further surgery. This may also happen with normal aging.