Multiple Types of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses rest on the surface of your eyes. Some of them you put on during the day and take off before bed. Some you can reuse after cleaning overnight. Each type has a set wear period (the amount of time you can wear the lenses) and a replacement period (the time between replacements). To avoid difficulties, adhere to your provider's instructions.

What exactly are contact lenses?

Contact lenses—small, rounded lenses that lay on the surface of your eyes—can improve your vision. Contact lenses can fix refractive errors like glasses can. These modifications to your eye's shape hinder light from properly hitting your retina. Your eyesight becomes hazy due to refractive problems.

Contact lens varieties

Contact lenses come in a variety of varieties. You can choose the ideal type for you with the assistance of an eye care professional. You should think about the following four important factors:

Lens substance.
Put on a schedule.
Replacement schedule.
Distinct qualities.

Time spent wearing contacts

Based on the suggested wearing period, contact lenses fall into two categories:
Contact lenses for daily wear must be taken out every night before bed.
Extended-wear contact lenses can be used briefly, including at night.

Extended-wear lenses worn 24 hours a day for up to 30 straight days are frequently called "continuous-wear" lenses.

When to change your contacts

Even with adequate maintenance, contact lenses—especially soft lenses—should be changed frequently to avoid contamination and lens deposits that raise the risk of eye infections.

Based on how often they should be discarded, soft lenses can be divided into the following broad categories:

Discard daily disposable lenses after only one day of use.
Discard disposable lenses every two weeks or as soon as possible.
Replace lenses frequently; discard them on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Discard conventional (reusable) lenses after six months or more.
Gas-permeable contact lenses don't need to be thrown away as frequently as soft lenses since they are more resistant to lens deposits. GP lenses often last a year or more before needing to be replaced.

Contact lens components

When considering contact lenses, the first decision is which lens material will best meet your requirements. Based on the kind of lens material they are constructed of, there are five different varieties of contact lenses:

Hydrogels are polymers that resemble gel, contain water, and are used to make soft lenses. These thin, flexible lenses fit snugly over the surface of the eye.

Modern soft contact lens materials like silicone hydrogel permit more oxygen to pass through the lens and reach the eye's front surface. Silicone hydrogel lenses are constructed of this substance. The most commonly used type of contact lens today are silicone hydrogel ones.

Lenses that let gas through. These rigid contact lenses, or GP or RGP lenses, keep their shape on the eye and can correct astigmatism and other refractive defects. Highly oxygen-permeable materials are used to create gas-permeable contact lenses, which typically have smaller diameters than soft lenses. When you start wearing GP lenses, it normally takes time for your eyes to become used to them. However, following this first adjustment period, most individuals find GP lenses as comfortable as soft lenses.

A hydrogel or silicone "skirt" encircles hybrid contact lenses' central stiff, gas-permeable central zone. With the clear optics of GP lenses, they offer wearing comfort comparable to soft or silicone hydrogel lenses.

PMMA lenses are hard contact lenses that resemble GP lenses but are constructed of an oxygen-impermeable plastic. PMMA lenses were frequently prescribed years ago, but gas-permeable lenses have effectively taken their place.

Other contact lens designs

There are numerous types of contact lenses, each created to meet certain requirements and preferences for vision. Here are some common types of contact lenses:

Soft Contact Lenses:

Daily Disposable: These lenses are meant to be worn for a single day and then discarded. They require no cleaning or maintenance.
Bi-weekly or monthly: These lenses can be worn for up to two weeks or a month before being replaced. They require regular cleaning and storage.

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses:

Compared to soft lenses, these are more resilient and let more oxygen enter the cornea. Although they offer clear vision, they may take some getting used to.

Toric Contact Lenses:

Astigmatism is a frequent disorder where the cornea is more shaped like a football than a basketball. These lenses are made to address astigmatism. They have different powers in different lens meridians to correct the cornea's uneven curvature.

Multifocal/Bifocal Contact Lenses:

These lenses are for individuals with presbyopia, which affects near vision as people age. They have multiple prescription zones for both distant and close-up images.

Colored Contact Lenses:

These lenses are used to change or enhance the natural color of the eyes. They are available in prescription and non-prescription forms.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Lenses:

These are special lenses worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea, allowing for clear vision during the day without needing glasses or contacts.

Scleral Contact Lenses:

These large-diameter lenses cover the cornea and the surrounding sclera (white part of the eye). They are often used for severe corneal irregularities or certain eye conditions.

Hybrid contact lenses:

These lenses combine a rigid gas-permeable center with a soft lens periphery. They provide the visual clarity of RGP lenses and soft lens comfort.

Extended Wear contact lenses:

These lenses can be worn continuously for several days, including overnight, before needing to be removed for cleaning or replacement. Consultation with an eye care professional is crucial due to the increased risk of complications.

It's important to note that your eye care professional should determine the type of contact lens you choose based on your eye health, vision requirements, and lifestyle. Regular eye exams and proper care are essential to ensuring the health of your eyes when wearing contact lenses.

Modified contact lens attributes

Contacts with bifocals for astigmatism. You may avoid wearing glasses after age 40, even if you have astigmatism, thanks to these sop-indicated soft contacts that correct both presbyopia and astigmatism.

Dry eye contact lenses. Are your contacts too dry to wear? Some soft contact lenses are created specifically to lessen the possibility of contact lens-related dry eye symptoms.
Lenses with color. Many of the lenses mentioned above also come in hues that can bring out the best features of your eyes, such as making green eyes even greener. Our eyes' natural shade, from brown to blue, can be completely altered by wearing different colored lenses.
Lenses with special effects. Special-effect contacts, often known as theatrical, novelty, or costume lenses, take coloring a step further by transforming your appearance to resemble a cat, a vampire, or another alter-ego of your choosing.
Lenses for prostheses. Additionally, colored contact lenses can be employed for more medically relevant uses. It is possible to create prosthetic contacts that specifically cover a deformity and resemble the appearance of the other unaffected eye for an eye that has undergone injury or illness.
Specific lenses. If conventional lenses don't work for you, you might be a candidate for bespoke contacts. Your eye shape and visual needs were considered when making these lenses.
UV-blocking glasses. Some soft contact lenses shield your eyes from the sun's V rays, which can result in cataracts and other eye issues. However, you should wear UV-blocking sunglasses outside for maximum sun protection, as contact doesn't completely shield your eyes.
Lense scale al. Scleral contacts, a type of large-diameter gas permeable lens, are specially made to cure presbyopia, keratoconus, and other corneal abnormalities. Contacts that control myopia. The evolution of childhood nearsightedness is being slowed or stopped through the development of special contact lenses.

Are contacts preferable to glasses?

Compared to spectacles, contact lenses have several benefits. A contract may:

To adjust your eyesight naturally, move with your eye.
Modify how you see yourself.
When moving around, provide superb peripheral (side) vision. People who enjoy sports or have physically demanding jobs may benefit from this.
Assist you in avoiding the issue of hazy glasses.

If you are concerned about these benefits, contacts may be better than glasses. It's essential to talk to a specialist in eye care. Your provider can help you choose the best solution based on your preferences, eye health, and lifestyle.

Who is supposed to avoid wearing contacts?

Although wearing contacts has many advantages, you might not be a good candidate if you:

I suffer from dry eyes. Take care of persistent eye infections.
Possess extreme allergies.
Spend a lot of time in dusty or fume-filled locations.
You may need to be more capable of maintaining and cleaning your contacts.
If you should not use contacts for any reason, ask your provider.

What are the drawbacks of using contacts?

Many people benefit from contacts but demand special consideration and care. If you wear glasses, all you need to do is put them on and carry on with your day. But if you use contacts, you must:

Clean your contacts and case carefully by your provider's instructions.

Follow up with your physician more often.
Find out how to put in and take out your contacts.
Watch for indications of problems.

Conclusion

Clear eyesight without the look of glasses and the ability to participate in various activities are two benefits of using contact lenses. However, potential downsides like the possibility of infections, pain, and upkeep needs must also be taken into account. For a great contact lens experience, careful cleaning, regular checkups, and adhering to the recommended usage guidelines are crucial.

Casey Optical Too, LLC takes pride in our longstanding commitment to providing top-quality vision care services to the Albuquerque community. Don't hesitate to schedule an appointment and experience the best optometric care in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Your vision is our priority.

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