There are numerous different types of contacts available today. With so many possibilities, choosing the right contacts and giving up your glasses may seem rather difficult. It gets straightforward once you've categorized the possibilities. Knowing the various materials, prescriptions, and wear times can help you make a good choice.
1. Materials for Soft Contact Lenses
The material should be taken into account before thinking about different types of contact lenses. Currently, one of two materials is used to make soft contact lenses.
The term "soft lenses" refers to a type of material called hydrogel that is based on water. These contact lenses are extremely thin and adapt to the surface of the eye due to the substance. Because they are comfy, soft lenses are very well-liked by consumers. Additionally, they require minimum adjustment time.
These more recent lenses resemble the first-generation hydrogels. They are better for the eye, though. This is due to the fact that during use, the cornea can receive more oxygen. In the United States, this kind of soft lens is currently the most common.
2. Materials for Hard Contact Lenses
There are contacts that are frequently referred to as hard contact lenses in addition to soft contacts.
Gas permeable lenses, often known as GP or RGP, maintain their shape. GP lenses do not fold or bend like soft contacts do, but they do let gases like oxygen pass through for optimal eye health. These lenses, especially for astigmatic people, allow for improved focus because they maintain their shape. The stiffness of GP lenses makes them difficult to adapt to quickly. Nevertheless, after a brief period of adjustment, the majority of wearers find them to be fairly comfortable.
The first contact lenses were made of PMMA, or polymethyl methacrylate, a strong plastic that is also used to make Plexiglas and other products. The cornea can be harmed by them since no oxygen passes through the lens, despite the fact that they allow wearers to see exceptionally clearly. In addition, a lot of people have a hard time getting acclimated to wearing them. PMMA lenses are still hardly ever worn by anyone. People who want the PMMA lens' clarity are probably going to choose the GP lens.
Types of prescriptions for contact lenses
You should be aware of the components of your vision that the contact lenses are addressing in addition to the materials utilized to make them. The three primary categories of lenses are listed below along with the vision problems they treat.
Spherical lenses are used by those who are nearsighted and farsighted. The most popular type of contact lens is this one.
If you have astigmatism, you can use a toric lens. If you have astigmatism, your cornea is shaped differently. The tissue in front of your eye is shaped like a football, not round like a ball.
An effective treatment for presbyopia is a multifocal lens. The contact used with multifocal lenses has various different prescription strengths. The user can see both up close and far away thanks to this.
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Time Spent Wearing Contact Lenses
Think about these two things when it comes to time:
How long you'll use the same lenses before changing them, such as for hours, days, or weeks while wearing your lenses
Lenses made of RGP and PMMA are not replaceable. Instead, they are worn by the user for a number of hours each day then cleaned and sanitized at night. These lenses have a lengthy lifespan (up to a year or more) and offer superior vision correction for a variety of eye conditions. However, because they persist so long, they may affect the health of the eyes. Due to the lenses' high level of durability, it is simpler to develop poor cleaning, disinfecting, and general contact lens hygiene practices.
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Disposable daily-wear lenses
Users wear these contact lenses for a number of hours each day and clean them at night, just like with non-disposable lenses. However, after a predetermined amount of time, the lenses are discarded, and a new set is obtained by the wearer.This usually occurs one, two, or four weeks later. The majority of visual issues can be solved with daily-use disposable contacts. They are healthy for the eyes and simple to clean. However, some users find daily-wear disposables uncomfortable because they do not provide as clear of a vision as other contact lens options.
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Disposable lenses for extended wear
Disposable lenses for extended wear are comparable to those for everyday use. Instead of donning the contacts for a few hours at a time, the user wears them continuously throughout the day and night for a predetermined amount of time. Some disposables for extended wear have 30-day shelf lives. The fact that extended-wear disposables don't need to be cleaned is their main advantage. The vision of some users, as with other disposable contact lenses, hasn't always been as clear as they had hoped. Furthermore, persons with more complicated prescriptions might not be able to use these lenses.
After using daily disposable lenses for a few hours each day, wearers discard them.Eye infections are unlikely because there is no cleaning or storing involved. Vision correction may not be as precise with disposable contacts as it is with non-disposable lenses.