If you are considering getting contact lenses, or wondering if there are contact lenses available for your particular vision problem, you may be surprised to learn how many different types of contacts are on the market today.
Soft contact lenses are the most commonly found today, though hard contact lenses are available. The original type of hard contact lenses tend to be uncomfortable and don't allow oxygen to reach the eye, so they can't be worn for long periods of time. You will rarely if ever see these anymore. There are however hard lenses called rigid gas permeable, or RGP lenses. Unlike the old hard lenses, the RGP lenses are made of a silicone compound which, despite the rigid moniker, is more flexible than older hard lenses, making it more comfortable to wear. It will take a little while to get used to them though. The other advantage is that they allow a lot of oxygen to the eye, in fact, more oxygen gets to the eye than in most soft contact lenses.
There are also contact lenses for vision problems that formerly could not be corrected with contacts. Today contacts are available for astigmatism and bifocals. There are also contacts that can be used for a process called ortho-k. In this procedure, you actually wear the contact lenses only while you sleep, during which time they change the shape of your cornea and correct your vision without surgery. There are colored contacts, and special effects contact lenses that can cover your eyes with everything from spirals to flames to the logo of your favorite NFL team. While these lenses are available with no vision correction qualities, you still must get a prescription for them. Since they go directly on your eye, they are classified as a medical device and as such, require a prescription.
Finally, contact lens types vary in how long they are designed to be worn. Many RGP lenses will last many years if they are cared for properly. Soft contact lenses last about one year. There are also disposable lenses designed for wear anywhere from one day to two weeks. In between are frequent replacement lenses, which last one or a few months.
Your eye care professional will help you choose the type of contact lens that is best for you based on your type of vision problem, eye health, and lifestyle. |
