The various types of contact lenses will be discussed at length in the other sections, but it is important to state that today contact lenses are far more advanced than they were some decades ago and more and more people are aware of the need for ultra-violet protection. The blocker is provided in clear form, so as not to disturb vision. Researchers have linked UV light to the formation of cataracts and over-exposure to excessive UV light also may result in a condition called photokeratitis.

Giving up eye glasses doesn't mean that you have to give up UV protection- there are now both soft and rigid lenses with ultra-violet light blocking, though it is important to understand that these contacts are not meant to replace sunglasses. A contact lens covers only your cornea, not your entire eye. A sunglass with UV protection can cover more of your eye and the parts of your face that surround the eye, depending on the size of the sunglass lens. That's why contacts with UV blockers are designed to complement sunglass use as an added protection.

Until 1999, the FDA did not recognize the benefit of UV blockers in contact lenses. That year, manufacturers produced enough studies to show the benefit. The contact lens packaging will specify if the product has a UV blocker, or you can ask your eye doctor.