Eyewear

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children

Summary

Eyewear 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.

Start Here

• Contact Lenses for Vision Correction (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• Eyeglasses: How to Choose Glasses for Vision Correction (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• Safety Glasses: How to Prevent Blinding Eye Injuries (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Colored and Decorative Contact Lenses: A Prescription Is a Must (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
• Contact Lens Care (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
• Contact Lens Risks (Food and Drug Administration)
• Using a Home Vision Test to Order Glasses Online (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• Your Eyewear Prescription Rights (Federal Trade Commission)

Specifics

• Are Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Worth It? (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• Eye Infections from Contact Lenses (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• Eye Protection for Infection Control (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
• Pros and Cons of Progressive Lenses (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• Recommended Types of Sunglasses (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
• Sun, UV Light, and Your Eyes (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• Tips to Stay Safe in the Sun: From Sunscreen to Sunglasses (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
• Types of Contact Lenses (Food and Drug Administration)

Clinical Trials

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

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Reduced myopia progression with low-dose atropine in DIMS non-responders and evidence...
• Article: A qualitative analysis of Chinese novice general dentists' perspectives on using...
• Article: Temporal trends in refractive error among children and adolescents in Germany...
• Eyewear -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• How the Eyes Work (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• Find a Doctor of Optometry (American Optometric Association)
• Find an Ophthalmologist (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• National Eye Institute

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) Also in Spanish