Eye Wear

Summary

Eye wear protects or corrects your vision. Examples are:

• Sunglasses
• Safety goggles
• Glasses (also called eyeglasses)
• Contact lenses

If you need corrective lenses, you may be able to choose between contacts or glasses. Either usually requires a prescription. Almost anyone can wear glasses. Contact lenses require more careful handling.

Many jobs and some sports carry a risk of eye injury. Thousands of children and adults get eye injuries every year. Most are preventable with proper eye protection. Everyone is at risk for eye damage from the sun year-round. It’s important to regularly use sunglasses that block out at least 99% of UV rays.

National Eye Institute

Older Adults

• Aging and Your Eyes National Institute on Aging

Find an Expert

• American Optometric Association American Optometric Association
• Find a Doctor of Optometry American Optometric Association
• Find an Ophthalmologist American Academy of Ophthalmology
• National Eye Institute National Eye Institute

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Contact Lenses National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Eyeglasses National Institutes of Health

Related Issues

• Colored and Decorative Contact Lenses: A Prescription Is a Must Food and Drug Administration
• Contact Lens Care Food and Drug Administration
• Contact Lens Risks Food and Drug Administration

Start Here

• Contact Lenses for Vision Correction American Academy of Ophthalmology
• How to Choose Eyeglasses for Vision Correction American Academy of Ophthalmology

Statistics and Research

• Contact Lenses Slow Children’s Nearsightedness National Institutes of Health

Specifics

• Eye Infections from Contact Lenses American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Focusing on Contact Lens Safety Food and Drug Administration
• Recommended Types of Sunglasses American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Safety Glasses and Protective Eyewear American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Sun, UV Light, and Your Eyes American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Tips to Stay Safe in the Sun: From Sunscreen to Sunglasses Food and Drug Administration
• Types of Contact Lenses Food and Drug Administration
• What’s Your Risk of Eye Damage from UV Light? American Academy of Ophthalmology

Children

• Glasses for Children American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Protective Eyewear National Eye Institute
• What To Know If Your Child Wants Contact Lenses Food and Drug Administration

Reference Desk

• How the Eyes Work National Eye Institute

Journal Articles

• Eye Wear