What Are the Various Types of Contact Lenses?

What are Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses are an excellent vision correction option for people of all ages. Millions of people are wearing contact lenses, and nearly 66 percent of contact lens wearers are women.

Technological advances in lens technology make contact lens usage more popular and comfortable. As a result, people who had problems with contact lenses earlier are often suitable candidates for contact lenses today.

If you are considering contact lenses, you will find this article created helpful. We provide some essential information about the three primary categories of contact lenses to ensure you can make an informed decision when you visit our optometrist in Calgary for vision correction. Please continue reading for a comprehensive contact lens evaluation to realize which lenses are best for your situation.

Different Types of Contact Lenses

There are three primary categories of contact lenses that you must have information about. They are soft contact lenses, digital gas permeable contact lenses, and hybrid contact lenses:

Soft Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses are, alternatively called hydrogel or silicone hydrogel lenses, are incredibly thin, moist, and created from water-absorbing materials to give them a gel-like feel. Approximately 50 percent of the soft lens weight is because of the water it contains, making them incredibly comfortable and easy for you to wear.

Soft contact lenses are the most popular variety, and approximately 90 percent of people use soft contact lenses. Most soft contact lenses are silicone hydrogel lenses transmitting more oxygen to the eye’s surface than traditional hydrogel lenses.

Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses

Rigid gas permeable lenses, alternatively called GP contact lenses, are created from rigid plastics and are helpful to provide sharper and more stable vision than soft contact lenses. GP lenses also provide more oxygen to the eyes surface than many soft contact lenses to reduce the risk of contact lens-related problems. In addition, GP lenses have a smaller diameter than soft lenses, making them fit closer to your eyes.

Unfortunately, the rigid nature and thicker profile require some time to get accustomed to them, making them challenging for some people to wear comfortably. As a result, less than 10 percent of people wearing contact lenses use rigid gas permeable lenses.

Hybrid Contact Lenses

Hybrid contact lenses combine the features of soft contact lenses and rigid gas permeable lenses, having a center of permeable plastic sundered by soft lens material. The design of hybrid contact lenses combines the sharper optics of GP lenses with the comfort of soft contact lenses.

Unfortunately, hybrid contact lenses are more expensive than GP or soft contact lenses and fitting them is challenging and time-consuming. Therefore you require help from experienced providers like our Mahogany eye clinic.

It is why less than five percent of contact lens wearers use hybrid lenses.

Things to Consider while Choosing Contact Lenses

• When selecting contact lenses for vision correction, you confront the challenging task of choosing the appropriate type of lenses for yourself. Besides the three primary varieties described in this article, you will notice many other options within these groups.

 

• While you might find it challenging to select the lenses you need, contact lenses are experienced providers who evaluate your eyes to provide you with contact lenses best suited for your situation. Therefore it helps if you visit this facility for your needs and ensure you receive excellent lenses to support your vision.

 

• In addition, when considering contact lenses, you must also realize the lenses can vary according to construction material, wear time, replacement schedule and design. Finally, contact lenses are considered medical devices and require a prescription from a qualified eyecare practitioner.

 

• Earlier disposable Disposal contact lenses were also on the market during the late 80s and early 90s. The disposable lenses were more affordable and convenient for people to wear. However, the lenses for worn for up to 2 weeks, a month, or a quarter depending on the type of lens design. You can also get daily disposable lenses you wear for a day and discard them.

 

• As a layperson, you will undoubtedly confront challenges selecting contact lenses for yourself unless you have help from a reliable and excellent provider like our Calgary optometrist. Therefore if you consider getting the weight of your nose by removing your eyeglasses and investing in contact lenses, our Calgary optometrist provides various choices to satisfy your needs.

Visit an Optometrist Near You

We at Premier Eye Care — Mahogany offer contact lenses in Calgary for vision correction and general wear. Kindly contact us if you consider contact lenses for yourself.