Lens Types | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) | Excellent vision
Short adaptation period
Comfortable to wear
Correct most vision problems
Easy to put on and to care for
Durable with a relatively long life
Available in tints (for handling purposes) and bifocals | Require consistent wear to maintain adaptation
Can slip off center of eye more easily than other types
Debris can easily get under the lenses
Requires office visits for follow-up care |
Daily-wear soft lenses | Very short adaptation period
More comfortable and more difficult to dislodge than RGP lenses
Available in tints and bifocals
Great for active lifestyles | Do not correct all vision problems
Vision may not be as sharp as with RGP lenses
Require regular office visits for follow-up care
Lenses soil easily and must be replaced |
Extended-wear | Can usually be worn up to seven days without removal | Does not correct all vision problems
Requires regular office visits for follow-up care
Increases risk of complication
Requires regular monitoring and professional care |
Extended-wear disposable | Soft lenses worn for an extended period of time (one to six days) and then discarded | Requires little or no cleaning
Minimal risk of eye infection if instructions are followed
Available in tints and bifocals
Spare lenses available
Vision may not be as sharp as RGP lenses
Does not correct all vision problems
Handling may be more difficult |
Planned replacement | Requires simplified cleaning and disinfection
Good for eye health
Available in most prescriptions | Vision may not be as sharp as RGP lenses
Does not correct all vision problems
Handling may be more difficult |
Reasons to Consider Contact Lenses
Contact lenses move with your eye, allow a natural field of view, have no frames to obstruct your vision and greatly reduce distortions.
They do not fog up, like glasses, nor do they get splattered by mud or rain.
Contact lenses do not get in the way of your activities.
Many people feel they look better and feel more confident in contact lenses.
Contact lenses, compared to eyeglasses, generally offer better sight.
Some Things to Remember About Contact Lenses:
Contact lenses, when compared with glasses, require a longer initial examination and more follow-up visits to maintain eye health; and more time for lens care.
If you are going to wear your lenses successfully, you will have to clean and store them properly; adhere to lens wearing schedules; and make appointments for follow-up care.
If you are wearing disposable or planned replacement lenses, you will have to carefully follow the schedule for throwing away used lenses.