If you prefer not to wear eyeglasses all the time, contact lenses may be an option to consider. There are different types of lenses, and they are made from many kinds of plastic. The most common types are hard lenses and soft lenses.
Hard Contacts Lenses
Most hard contacts are made with plastic that is combined with other materials. The most common type is a rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lens. Hard lenses maintain their shape but still allow oxygen to flow through to your eye.
RGP lenses are good for people with astigmatism or keratoconus because they provide sharper vision than soft lenses do. These lenses may also be preferred by people who suffer from allergies or often get protein deposits on their contacts.
Soft Contacts Lens
Soft contacts are usually the choice most patients choose. This is because they are more comfortable to wear and come in many options, including:
- Daily wear contacts are worn while you are awake and take them out when you go to bed. Many patients choose disposable contacts and wear a new pair every day instead of dealing with cleaning their lenses. This is the best option if you only occasionally wear contacts. Some types of daily wear contacts need to be replaced once a month, every two weeks, or once a week.
- Extended wear contacts can be worn while you sleep. However, you must remove them to clean them at least once a week. These contacts are not always recommended because there is an increased risk of eye infection for patients.
- Toric contacts are an option for patients with astigmatism that do not want to wear hard contacts. They can be either daily or extended wear and are usually more expensive than other soft lenses.
- Colored (tinted) contacts allow you to change the color or enhance the color of your eyes. They are available in both daily and extended wear and torics.
- Cosmetic or decorative contacts do not correct your vision. Instead, they are used for decorative reasons or to hide specific eye problems. You should never wear non-prescription costume contacts because they could cause severe injury or infection to your eyes that could cause blindness.
Presbyopia Contact Lenses
Presbyopia contacts are used to correct common vision problems that adults over the age of 40 experience. Options for these lenses include:
- Bifocal lenses
- Multifocal lenses
- Monovision correction where a near vision lens is used for one eye and a distance vision lens for the other eye
If you have ever considered wearing contact lenses, now is an excellent time to give them a try. Call (602) 955-2700 to schedule your eye exam with Valley Eyecare Center and see if they are an option for you.
