Eyewear

Eyewear includes glasses, contact lenses, and protective/sunglasses. Getting the right prescription and a proper fit matters — underused and badly fitted glasses are both common problems in India.

Glasses

• Buy after a refraction by a qualified optometrist or ophthalmologist — not from a roadside shop that just picks a lens until you can "read the chart".
• Children especially need cycloplegic refraction (with drops) for an accurate prescription.
• Lens options — standard plastic is fine for most; polycarbonate is tougher for children/sports; photochromic (darken in sun) and anti-glare coatings are useful in India's bright sun and screen work.
• Blue-light coatings: limited proven benefit; don't pay a premium for them.

Contact lenses

• Convenient but demand strict hygiene — wash hands, clean case daily, fresh solution each time, replace per schedule.
• Don't swim, shower, or sleep in lenses (unless "extended-wear" and advised by a doctor).
• Corneal infections from poor contact-lens care are a major cause of avoidable vision loss.
• Not suitable for active eye infection, severe dry eye, or some occupations.

Sunglasses

• Look for UV 400 / 100% UV protection — not just dark lenses.
• Important for outdoor workers, high-altitude travel, people after cataract surgery, people with macular degeneration, and children.
• Polarised lenses reduce glare from water and roads — helpful for driving.

Protective eyewear

• Safety glasses for woodwork, grinding, welding, farming, chemical handling.
• Cricket/squash/racquet sports — eye guards.
• Diwali crackers — children and adults handling crackers should wear goggles.