What Are The Different Types of Contact Lenses?
Millions of people today wear contact lenses to help them see clearly. If you need prescription lenses, you could be one of them. With all the lens choices available now, most people can find contacts that give them sharp, comfortable vision without compromising eye health.
The Vision Specialist Contact Lens Service is dedicated to providing the highest quality contact lens care. We offer a complete range of lenses, from the simplest cosmetic contacts to the most sophisticated bifocal lenses.
As the area innovator and utilizer of corneal topography, allows us to measure and describe the specific contours and numerical curvature of the cornea. In addition, a computerized autorefractor and keratometer, as well as the skills of Sam Johnson (an Advanced Certified Contact Lens Fitter), allow us to obtain a level of accuracy previously unattainable in determining the specifics of your cornea.
Our expertise enables us to fit patients who are new to wearing contact lenses, as well as those who have previously failed with contact lenses. Contact lenses can be divided into several classifications:
- By material characteristics: soft (cellophane-like) or rigid (formed flexible plastic).
- By wear schedule: Daily Wear or Overnight Wear (also called "Extended Wear," a
modality which has fallen into disfavor because of the high incidence of
complications).
- By life-span of the lens: Disposable (1 day or 2 week), Planned Replacement (1
month, 3 month or 6 month), or Conventional year or 2 year).
- By correction modality: Spherical, Toric or Astigmatic, or Bifocal
|
Lens Type |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
Rigid gas-permeable (RGP)
hard lenses are made of slightly
flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the eyes. |
They provide excellent vision, a short adaptation period, they are comfortable to wear,
correct most vision problems,are easy to put on and to care for, are durable with a relatively long life ... available in tints (for handling purposes) and bifocals. |
Require consistent wear to maintain adaptation ... can slip off center of eye more easily than other types. |
|
Daily-wear soft lenses
Made of soft, flexible
plastics that allow oxygen to
pass through to the eyes. |
Very short adaptation
period ... more comfortable and more difficult to dislodge than RGP lenses...Available in tints and bifocals... great for active lifestyles. |
Do not correct all vision
problems... vision may not be as sharp as with RGP lenses ... require careful cleaning and care ... need replacement
at least annually. |
|
Extended-wear
Available for overnight wear
in soft or RGP lenses. |
Can usually be worn up
to seven days without
removal. |
Do not correct all vision
problems ... require regular office visits for follow-up care ... must be replaced at least annually. |
|
Extended-wear disposable
Soft lenses worn for an
extended period of time, from
one to six nights, and then
discarded. |
Require little or no
cleaning... minimal risk
of eye infection if wearing
instructions are followed ...available in tints and
bifocals ... spare lenses
available. |
Vision may not be as sharp as
RGP lenses...do not correct all
vision problems... handling
may be more difficult. |
|
Planned replacement
Soft daily wear lenses that
are replaced on a planned
schedule, most often either
every two weeks, monthly or
quarterly. |
Require simplified
cleaning and disinfection...
good for eye health...
available in most
prescriptions. |
Vision may not be as sharp as RGP lenses ... do not correct all vision problems ... handling
may be more difficult. |
Contact lenses can be used in almost any optical correction. This includes patients who are nearsighted (myopic), farsighted (hyperopic), astigmatic and those who require bifocals (presbyopic). They can be colored to either enhance or highlight the natural eye color or radically change the eye color, say from dark brown to light blue or grey or to mask cornea or iris malformations.
We offer the following cosmetic contact lenses:
- Soft daily wear lenses
- Disposable lenses
- Planned replacement lenses
- Colored lenses
- Enhancement tinted lenses
- Astigmatic lenses (toric)
- Bifocal lenses
- Extended wear lenses
A comprehensive eye exam is required within one year prior to contact lens evaluation. At your contact lens evaluation you will be examined to see if you are a candidate for contact lens wear. This will include the measurement of the corneal curvature , a modified health assessment of the eye, and an in-office trial with diagnostic lenses.
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