lens hygiene is the set of cleaning, handling, and storage practices used to keep contact lenses and their cases as free of harmful contamination as possible. It is most commonly discussed for soft contact lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, and specialty lenses such as scleral lenses. In clinics, it is part of contact lens fitting, follow-up care, and infection prevention education. For patients, it is the day-to-day routine that helps lenses remain comfortable and intended for safe wear.

A monthly disposable is a soft contact lens designed to be worn repeatedly and replaced on a monthly schedule. It is commonly used to correct vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Between wears, the lens is typically cleaned, disinfected, and stored using a compatible contact lens solution. It is widely prescribed in optometry and ophthalmology for routine vision correction and selected therapeutic needs.

daily disposable most commonly refers to a soft contact lens designed to be worn once and discarded after a single day. It is used for vision correction by placing a thin, clear lens on the surface of the eye. It is commonly prescribed in optometry and ophthalmology clinics as an alternative to glasses and reusable contact lenses. It is also discussed in contact lens education because it simplifies lens care and replacement schedules.

extended wear most commonly refers to contact lenses designed and prescribed to be worn overnight. It is used for vision correction when a person wants fewer insert/remove cycles and fewer daytime handling events. In clinical settings, it can also describe therapeutic “bandage” contact lens wear that continues day and night. The exact rules for how long a lens may be worn continuously depend on the lens material, manufacturer labeling, and clinician judgment.

A multifocal contact lens is a contact lens designed to help the eye focus at more than one distance. It is most commonly used for presbyopia, the age-related loss of near focusing ability. It may also correct distance prescription (nearsightedness or farsightedness) at the same time.

A toric contact lens is a contact lens designed to correct astigmatism. It has different optical power in different directions to address uneven focusing in the eye. It is commonly prescribed by optometrists and ophthalmologists for people who need both contact lens wear and astigmatism correction. Toric designs are available in multiple materials and replacement schedules, depending on the manufacturer and clinical need.

A hybrid lens is a contact lens that combines a rigid center with a soft outer skirt. It is designed to provide sharp vision like a rigid lens while feeling more like a soft lens. It is commonly used when standard soft contact lenses do not correct vision well enough. It is also used in eye conditions where the cornea is irregular in shape.

A scleral lens is a large, rigid contact lens that rests on the white part of the eye (the sclera). It vaults over the clear front window of the eye (the cornea) without touching it. A fluid reservoir is typically held between the lens and the cornea to support the ocular surface. It is commonly used in specialty contact lens clinics for complex vision and eye surface needs.

A rigid gas permeable (RGP) lens is a hard contact lens made from oxygen-permeable plastic. It rests on the front surface of the eye and moves slightly with each blink. It is commonly used to correct vision when glasses or soft contact lenses are not providing clear or stable vision. In clinical practice, it is also used to manage certain corneal shape problems and complex prescriptions.

A soft contact lens is a thin, flexible medical device worn on the front surface of the eye to help focus light for clearer vision. It is made from soft, water-containing plastics that drape over the cornea (the clear “window” at the front of the eye). It is commonly used for everyday vision correction in myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. In some situations, it is also used as a therapeutic “bandage” to support healing and comfort.

A contact lens is a thin, curved optical device worn directly on the eye’s surface. It sits on the tear film over the cornea and moves slightly with each blink. It is commonly used to correct vision and, in some cases, to protect or support the ocular surface. It is fitted and prescribed by eye care professionals based on the eye’s shape, health, and visual needs.

laser therapy (tumor) uses focused light energy to treat certain eye tumors or tumor-like growths. It is most often performed by ophthalmologists in clinic or outpatient surgical settings. The goal is usually to control tumor activity, reduce leakage or bleeding, or preserve vision when possible. It may be used alone or combined with other tumor treatments.

cryotherapy (tumor) is a treatment that uses controlled freezing to destroy tumor cells. In eye care, it is used by ophthalmologists to treat certain ocular and periocular (around-the-eye) tumors. It can be used as a primary treatment for selected small lesions or as an add-on after surgical removal. The goal is local tumor control while preserving as much normal eye tissue and vision as possible.

enucleation (oncology) is a surgery that removes the entire eyeball (globe) while preserving the surrounding eyelids and most orbital tissues. It is most commonly used in eye cancer care when the eye cannot be safely preserved or when it is unlikely to retain useful vision. The goal is to control or remove a tumor and support long-term health, comfort, and appearance with an orbital implant and ocular prosthesis. It may also be used when a painful, blind eye is present alongside a suspected or confirmed intraocular tumor.

plaque brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation treatment used to treat certain eye tumors. A small “plaque” containing a radiation source is temporarily placed on the outside of the eye near the tumor. It is most commonly used in ocular oncology, especially for tumors arising inside the eye.

A biopsy is a medical test where a small sample of tissue or cells is removed for laboratory analysis. It is used to help identify the cause of a lesion, inflammation, infection, or unusual growth. In eye care, biopsy is commonly used for eyelid, conjunctival (surface of the eye), corneal, orbital, and intraocular conditions. The goal is usually diagnosis, not treatment, although some biopsies also remove the entire abnormal area.

squamous cell carcinoma (lid) is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that arises from squamous cells in the eyelid skin and nearby surface tissues. It commonly appears on sun-exposed eyelid areas and can resemble benign (non-cancerous) lid lesions. In eye care, the term is used to describe a specific diagnosis that requires careful evaluation and treatment planning. It is most often managed by ophthalmologists, oculoplastic surgeons, dermatologic surgeons, and oncology teams depending on the case.

basal cell carcinoma (lid) is a skin cancer that starts from basal cells in the eyelid skin. It usually grows slowly and tends to invade nearby tissue rather than spread far away. It is commonly discussed in eye clinics because eyelids protect the eye and affect vision and comfort. The term is used in ophthalmology, optometry, and dermatology when evaluating eyelid lumps, sores, or non-healing lesions.

sebaceous carcinoma (lid) is a rare malignant (cancerous) tumor that starts from oil-producing (sebaceous) glands in the eyelid. It often develops from meibomian glands inside the lid, or from smaller sebaceous glands near eyelashes. It can look like common, non-cancerous eyelid problems, so it may be mistaken for other conditions at first. The term is used in eye care and pathology to describe a specific eyelid cancer diagnosis.

choroidal osteoma is a rare, benign (non-cancerous) tumor made of bone-like tissue inside the eye. It forms in the choroid, the vascular layer beneath the retina that helps nourish retinal tissue. It is most often discussed in retinal clinics because it can affect central vision if it involves the macula. In practice, the term is commonly used as a diagnosis identified through an eye exam and retinal imaging.