Contact lenses

Soft contact lenses

Soft contact lenses are the most commonly prescribed contact lenses. They can be used to correct various vision problems, including:

  • Nearsightedness (myopia)
  • Farsightedness (hyperopia)
  • Blurred vision (astigmatism)
  • Age-related loss of close-up vision (presbyopia)

Soft contact lenses are comfortable and easier to adapt to than rigid gas permeable lenses. Soft contact lenses come in various types, such as:

  • Daily wear lenses. One-day lenses are made for one-day wear. You remove and dispose of them at night. Other options include two-week disposable lenses, monthly disposable lenses and, for some prescriptions, quarterly disposable lenses. Typically, you remove these lenses each night for cleaning and disinfecting.
  • Toric contacts. These can correct vision for people with astigmatism, though not as well as hard contact lenses. Toric lenses can be for daily or extended wear. But they often cost more than other types of soft contact lenses.

Specialized contact lenses

Depending on your vision needs, you might consider specialized contact lenses, such as:

  • Hybrid contact lenses. Hybrid contact lenses have a rigid gas permeable center surrounded by a soft outer ring. They can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and age-related loss of close-up vision, as well as an irregular corneal curvature (keratoconus). They also might be more comfortable to wear than traditional gas permeable lenses.
  • Multifocal contact lenses. These lenses are available in various materials and can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia at the same time.
  • Tinted contact lenses. Contact lenses can be tinted for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes. Tinting can enhance color perception and compensate for colorblindness, for example.
  • Scleral contact lenses. These rigid gas-permeable lenses are larger than most, extending to the white outer layer of the eyeball (sclera). They can help correct vision if you have an irregular or distorted cornea.
  • Orthokeratology. These special rigid gas-permeable lenses are worn while you sleep to temporarily change the curve of your cornea. This creates clear vision while you’re awake.
  • Contact lens coatings. This treatment makes the surface of the lens slippery and more resistant to bacteria sticking to it. The coating can be applied to soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses.

Contact lens materials

The first choice when considering contact lenses is which lens material will best satisfy your needs. There are five types of contact lenses, based on type of lens material they are made of:

  • Soft lenses are made from gel-like, water-containing plastics called hydrogels. These lenses are very thin and pliable and conform to the front surface of the eye.
  • Silicone hydrogel lenses are made of an advanced type of soft contact lens material that allows more oxygen to pass through the lens and reach the front surface of the eye. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are now the most popular type of contact lenses.
  • Gas permeable lenses. Also called GP or RGP lenses, these are rigid contact lenses that maintain their shape on the eye, enabling them to correct astigmatism and other refractive errors. Gas permeable contact lenses typically are smaller in diameter than soft lenses and are made of highly oxygen-permeable materials. It usually takes some time for your eyes to adjust to GP lenses when you first start wearing them; but after this initial adaptation period, most people find GP lenses are as comfortable as soft lenses.
  • Hybrid contact lenses have a rigid gas permeable central zone, surrounded by a “skirt” of hydrogel or silicone hydrogel material. They are designed to provide wearing comfort that rivals soft or silicone hydrogel lenses, combined with the crystal-clear optics of GP lenses.
  • PMMA lenses are rigid contact lenses that look like GP lenses but are made of a plastic material that is not oxygen permeable. PMMA lenses were commonly prescribed years ago, but essentially have been replaced by gas permeable lenses.

The DO’s

  • DO wash your hands well with soap and water before touching your eyes or contact lenses.
  • DO relax while inserting your contact lenses.
  • DO clean and disinfect your lenses daily.
  • DO dispose of daily disposable lenses after each individual use.
  • DO store lenses in their storage case each night.
  • DO clean your lens storage case daily with fresh contact lens solution and let air dry.
  • DO replace your lens storage case every three months.
  • DO close contact lens solution bottles to prevent dirt and contamination.
  • DO discard any expired contact lens solution bottles.
  • DO insert the same lens first each morning to avoid confusion.
  • DO avoid eye contact with aerosol products, makeup, and soap.
  • DO carry an extra pair of contact lenses and glasses with you at all times.
  • DO hydrate and use rewetting drops as needed to avoid dry eyes.
  • DO schedule regular eye examinations.
  • DO contact your optometrist immediately if you experience any emergency related to your contact lenses
  • DO remove the lenses if you are experiencing any discomfort.

The DON’Ts

  • DON’T wear your lenses longer than their intended use.
  • DON’T order or wear any lenses that have not been prescribed for you.
  • DON’T sleep  in your contact lenses.
  • DON’T share lenses or cases with anyone.
  • DON’T wear contacts while swimming or in a sauna.
  • DON’T change any lens care products without first consulting with your eye doctor.
  • DON’T touch the top of the contact lens solution bottle to your lens, finger, or any other surface.
  • DON’T reuse contact lens solution from previous nights.
  • DON’T use tweezers to remove your lenses from their case, unless specifically directed to do so by your doctor.
  • DON’T use eye drops not compatible with contact lenses.
  • DON’T use tap water or put your contact lenses in your mouth to moisten.

 

Avoiding complications

Wearing contact lenses can cause problems ranging from discomfort to severe infections. To prevent problems:

  • Practice good hygiene. Before handling contacts, wash your hands with soap and water, rinse and dry them with a lint-free towel.
  • Minimize contact with water and saliva. Remove your contact lenses before you swim or use a hot tub. Don’t put your lenses in your mouth to wet them.
  • Take care with contact lens solutions. Use only commercially prepared, sterile products designed for the type of contact lenses you wear. Discard the solution in the contact lens case each time you disinfect and store your lenses. Gently rub and rinse your lenses as directed by your Optometrist. Don’t use contact solution that’s past the expiration date.
  • Replace contact lenses and cases as recommended. Follow manufacturer guidelines for replacing your contact lenses. Clean and rinse your case with sterile contact lens solution each time you finish using it. Don’t use tap water. Consider flipping over the case while it’s air-drying to drain any solution. Replace your case every three months.
  • Avoid over-the-counter contact lenses. These lenses can cause eye injuries and infections. If you’re interested in decorative contact lenses, talk to your eye doctor.

Even with proper use and care, dry eyes can be an issue for contact lens wearers. If your eyes are itchy or red, remove your contact lenses and use lubricating eyedrops.

More contact lens features

Bifocal contacts for astigmatism. These are advanced soft contacts that correct both presbyopia and astigmatism, so you can remain glasses-free after age 40 even if you have astigmatism.

Contacts for dry eyes. Are your contacts uncomfortably dry? Certain soft contact lenses are specially made to reduce the risk of contact lens-related dry eye symptoms.

Colored lenses. Many of the types of lenses described above also come in colors that can enhance the natural color of your eyes — that is, make your green eyes even greener, for example. Other colored lenses can totally change the color of your eyes, as in from brown to blue.

Special-effect lenses. Also called theatrical, novelty, or costume lenses, special-effect contacts take coloration one step further to make you look like a cat, a vampire, or another alter-ego of your choice.

Prosthetic lenses. Colored contact lenses also can be used for more medically oriented purposes. Opaque soft lenses called prosthetic contacts can be custom-designed for an eye that has been disfigured by injury or disease to mask the disfigurement and match the appearance of the other, unaffected eye.

Custom lenses. If conventional contact lenses don’t seem to work for you, you might be a candidate for custom contact lenses that are made-to-order for your individual eye shape and visual needs.

UV-inhibiting lenses. Some soft contact lenses help protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays that can cause cataracts and other eye problems. But because contacts don’t cover your entire eye, you still should wear UV-blocking sunglasses outdoors for the best protection from the sun.

Scleral lenses. Large-diameter gas permeable lenses called scleral contacts are specially designed to treat keratoconus and other corneal irregularities, as well as presbyopia. Myopia control contacts. Special contact lenses are being developed to slow or stop the progression of nearsightedness in children.