4 Types Of Contacts & What Makes Them Unique

Common types of contact lenses available today include:

• Soft Contact Lenses
• Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses
• Disposable/ Frequent Replacement Contact Lenses
• Toric Contact Lenses

Let us take each type of contact lenses one by one to help you know how they are different and what is their suitability.

Soft Lenses

Soft contact lenses are made with soft and flexible plastics such as hydrogel that allow more passage of oxygen through to the cornea. They are made through the latest optical technology procedures. As a result, the soft lens is more breathable, which is what makes them more popular.

Benefits:

• Soft contact lenses are simple to wear because of their flexible plastic material
• They are more comfortable than rigid gas permeable lenses
• They are compatible with almost anyone who wants to wear contact lenses because of their adaptable design and material

Soft lenses are the most suitable option for long-wearing hours. They are also the right type of contact lenses when you are not bound by any strict wearing patterns and wish to wear them occasionally. Soft contact lenses are also available to correct eye conditions such as Myopia, Hyperopia, Astigmatism, and Presbyopia.

Rigid gas permeable lenses

Rigid gas permeable lenses (RGPs) are made of durable plastics that make them a little rigid as compared to soft lenses. It makes them resistant to any kind of deposit build-up, thereby giving a sharper vision to the wearer. If you choose these types of contact lenses, it may take you a few weeks to get used to wearing them as they are not as comfortable as soft lenses. Not very common among Contact lens wearers due to a steeper adaptation curve in terms of comfort.

Benefits:

• Such type of contact lenses lasts longer as they are less likely to tear because of their durable material
• They are also cost-effective because of their long life

Eye care professionals may recommend RGP contact lenses for individuals with irregular astigmatism as these contact lenses provide a rigid fit. They are also a better option for patients who have eye conditions such as Keratoconus (also called the conical cornea), wherein the cornea of the eye bulges outward into a cone shape.

Disposable/Frequently Replacement Contact Lenses

Disposable contact lenses refer to those lenses which can be frequently replaced after usage. Disposable contact lenses are available as daily disposable, monthly disposable, quarterly disposable, and yearly disposable. If they are daily disposable contact lenses, then you can wear them for a day and then use a fresh pair the next day.

On the other hand, monthly disposable contact lenses can be replaced after using them for up to 29 days. It would help if you usedsoft contact lens care solutions for cleaning, disinfection, and storing the reusable disposable contact lenses such as quarterly, monthly, or yearly disposable.

Benefits:

• Daily Disposable lenses are easy to manage without any hassle of cleaning or disinfecting them
• Daily Disposables are also beneficial for traveling purposes when you can easily stock up contact lenses to last the trip
• Monthly disposable, quarterly, and yearly disposable contact lenses are easily reusable after cleaning them with a soft contact lens care solution

Toric contact lenses

Toric lenses are prescribed for patients who require cylindrical correction. In other words, toric lenses are used to treat eye issues such as near-sightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These lenses have different powers in different meridians of the contact lens. Thus, toric lenses have mechanisms for stabilizing the lens (such as prism ballast)and avoid any axial rotation. These types of contact lenses are exceptionally breathable and, therefore, safe for extended usage.

Benefits:

• Toric lenses have different focusing or refractive powers on the vertical and horizontal orientations
• These contact lenses can be worn for extended periods at a stretch as they have high breathability
• They are also available as daily disposable contact lenses

Now that you some different types of contact lenses that exist, find out which one aligns best with your needs and lifestyle. The range of lenses available with Bausch + Lomb covers all these kinds, including different types of colored lenses as well. Explore our diverse range and buy the one that is most befitting for your eyes.

Source:
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/contact-lenses/types-contact-lenses