Different types of contact lenses

Many years ago, I was eagered to find out different types of contact lenses in order to make a decision on the type of contact lenses that will suit me. Of course, one still need to seek the professional advice from your doctor. I read the following from an article which I could not recall from where and hence unable to give credit to the writer.

Hard Lenses

This is the cheapest type of contact lenses. They last a long time (ten years) and scratches can be polished away. Being small, they are also the easiest to handle. Unfortunately, they don’t stay very well when you sneeze.

Soft Lenses

For those who find hard lenses are like pebbles in their eyes, they can opt for soft lenses which are a lot more comfortable. Because they cover a larger area of the eye, they stay in place better. There is also less chance of the inner surface of the eyelid catching the edge of the lens, causing discomfort and possibly pain. Much of the pain from contact lenses occurs because the cornea of the eye is unable to breathe. Soft lenses, containing up to 75% water, allow gases to pass readily. One drawback is that these lenses last at the most, two years. When dirt is stuck between the lens and the eye, they can be quite difficult to remove. Nevertheless, 80% of all contact lens wearers choose soft lenses.

Gas-permeable Lenses

These are lenses poised midway between hard and soft lenses. Like hard lenses, they have the advantages of being rigid and durable. Like soft lenses, they allow gases to pass through. Though they are not as comfortable as soft lenses, they are much easier to adapt to than hard lenses.

Extended-wear Lenses

The extended-wear lens is even softer than soft lens and is designed to allow wearer to use it for several days or even weeks without removal. This seems like a miracle for short-sighted teenagers, some of whom wear these lenses for months without removal. For those who use their lenses this way, extended wear will mean extended risk in developing corneal infections. Being a foreign body left in the eye for long periods, the lens can not only accumulate debris but also upset the balance of good and harmful bacteria in the eye.

Disposable Lenses

They can be extremely convenient and only slightly more expensive than regular extended wear lenses when the cost of maintenance for the latter is added in. Convenience is a big plus point. However, there are always people out there who would like to stretch the usage of their disposable lenses for obvious reasons. This invariably leads to even more costly problems later on.

Toric Lenses

Apart from short-sightedness, contact lenses can also treat astigmatism. These lenses are called toric lenses and like their myopic cousins, they come in hard, soft and gas permeable forms.