Did you know that there are different contact lenses for different conditions? Each contact lens type addresses a specific condition. Some contact lenses, like scleral lenses, can serve more than one condition. Whatever your need is, there is a contact lens for you.

 

• Rigid Gas Permeable

Rigid gas permeable lenses are hard plastic, allowing oxygen to pass through them. They are also known as RGP lenses, GP lenses, gas permeable lenses, and oxygen permeable lenses. RGP lenses are hard, but they should not be confused with regular hard lenses.

GP lenses are silicone in nature, making them more flexible than hard contact lenses. Silicone is what allows oxygen to permeate through the lenses. Oxygen is essential to keep the cornea healthy.

 

• Scleral

Scleral lenses are gas permeable lenses with a huge diameter. They usually arch over the cornea and rest on your eye’s sclera. The sclera is the white part of your eye. Eye doctors prescribe these lenses to patients with irregular corneas. They also recommend them for people who suffer from dry eye syndrome. They usually prescribe them to people who cannot wear other contact lenses.

 

• Hard

Eye doctors used to prescribe hard lenses, but they have since become scarce in the eye doctor’s office. They were built from polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA. These lenses did not allow oxygen to pass through them to the cornea.

The only time oxygen would pass through was when you blinked, and tears washed behind them. They were relatively small because they did not allow oxygen to pass through. They also tended to be very uncomfortable to wear.

 

• Soft

Most soft lenses comprise materials called hydrogels that contain a percentage of water. They are very slim, and they adjust according to the shape of the eye. They were introduced in the 1970s, right after their hard counterparts. They immediately rose to popularity because they were very comfortable compared to hard lenses. 

Another type of soft contact lens is the silicone hydrogel lens. These lenses are very porous compared to other soft lenses. They allow a lot more oxygen to permeate through them to the eye.

 

• Multifocal

Eye doctors exceedingly prescribe multifocal lenses to people who have both myopia and presbyopia. They allow patients to focus on near objects and far objects. They eliminate the need to wear glasses over your contact lenses.

Multifocal lenses have two distinct powers, like a bifocal design. One is for near vision and the other is for distance vision. Some resemble the lenses of progressive glasses with a gradual change in lens power. This gradual change of powers allows a smooth transition from near focus to distance focus.

 

• Limbal Fit

The diameter of these lenses is large and stable compared to others since they fit over the limbus of the eye. Their design makes the wearer feel comfortable by combining the positive characteristics of RGPs and scleral lenses.

 

• Hybrid

Hybrid contact lenses are a merger of two lens types, rigid gas permeable lenses, and soft lenses. They comprise an outer ring of a soft lens and a center made of a rigid gas permeable lens. They offer the comfort of soft lenses and the sharp vision of RGP lenses. They are the best of both worlds. 

Eye doctors prescribe hybrid lenses for people with corneal astigmatism or presbyopia with astigmatism. They are also an excellent choice if soft lenses fail to give you optimum vision. These lenses have several advantages over other types of lenses.

For more on specialty contact lenses, visit Bright Eyes Vision at our office in Plymouth, Indiana. You can also call (574) 936-2272 to book an appointment today.