Vision correction has taken a new shape with contact lenses. Unlike eyeglasses, contacts provide unmatched convenience and comfort. Advancing technology now offers a variety of contact lenses that are customized to suit your specific requirements and desires.
Remember you need expert advice as we learn more about contact lenses. Scheduling regular visits to your eye doctor Katy, TX does not just help you get the right contacts, but also your overall vision health.
The following is a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about contact lenses. The information you need on types, materials, benefits and everything else about contact lenses is what we are about to give you.
From daily disposables to rigid gas permeable lenses, from advanced features to colored contacts, we will walk you through it all.
If you’re in Katy, TX and looking for expert advice on contact lenses, our guide is here to help. We’ve broken down everything you need to know.
Different Types of Contact Lenses: A Comprehensive Overview
Soft Contact Lenses
The most popular and widely-used kind of contact lenses are soft contact lenses. They are made out of a flexible plastic that adapts to the shape of the eye, thus making it convenient for use. There is a huge collection of these lenses having different shapes to treat short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism. They also come in different replacement schedules:
- Daily Disposable Lenses: These are designed for a single use, thus eliminating the need for cleaning or storage. They are ideal for the people that lead busy lifestyles and/or those allergic to it.
- Bi-weekly/Monthly Lenses: The lenses must be replaced every two weeks or month and therefore have to be cleaned and stored properly. In terms of affordability, they are good for long term use.
Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses
The RGP lenses are manufactured using a hard and oxygen- permeable material. Although they might take some getting used to, RGP lenses provide sharper vision and are less prone to accruing deposits. They provide great solutions to people with astigmatism and specific irregularities in their corneas. Unlike soft lenses which must be replaced regularly to adapt to changing eye shapes, RGP lenses have longer life spans before they need to be adjusted.
Toric Contact Lenses
The use of toric lenses is specific to astigmatism which involves irregularities in shape of either the cornea or lens. Different powers are present in these lenses at different meridians, which correct astigmatic vision. Soft and RGP toric lenses provide customers with choice.
Multifocal/Bifocal Contact Lenses
Multifocal or bifocal lenses are required for people with presbyopia, which is common among elderly individuals experiencing problems viewing close objects. These lenses combine multiple prescriptions enabling users to see clearly at different distances. There exist soft and RGP multifocal lenses that allow smooth interchange among short, medium, and long range vision.
Colored Contact Lenses
Colored lenses not only correct vision, but they can also make the eyes more beautiful by altering their natural color. These lenses come in both prescription and non-prescription versions and are a great way to play around with self image. There is an increase in the demand for color contacts whether for everyday wear or special events where one wants to demonstrate their style or spice up their look.
Extended Wear Contact Lenses
These are lenses that are made for extended wear and can be worn throughout the day or even overnight. Such lenses have been made from both SOFT and RIGID gas permeable material. However, one should observe the prescribed wearing schedule and care routine to mitigate the chances of eye infections.
Scleral Contact Lenses
Sclera lenses cover more area of an eye which rests on the sclera rather than the cornea. Such lenses are commonly prescribed for people with odd-shaped corneas like those people suffering from keratoconus and so on. Scleral lenses offer greater comfort and better vision for smoothing rough irregularities on the cornea.
Conclusion
A person must consider several things including prescription, lifestyle, and personal preference when picking contact lenses. Many different contact lenses are available in today’s society and there is a certain choice for everyone. Proper fitting of eyeglasses requires regular eye examinations and consultation with eye care specialists. The world of contact lenses is so varied that there is something for everybody who seeks the convenience of daily disposables, the durability of RGPs, or the aesthetic appeal of colored lenses.
