Soft contact lenses - comparing them to hard

With so many different types of contact lens on the market the choice of whether to opt for hard or soft contact lenses adds to the difficult buying decisions.

The truth is that more often than not it's simply a matter of personal preference, with both hard and soft lenses each having advantages.

Recent years have seen great strides made in the technology behind hard lenses, and rigid gas permeable lenses (otherwise known as RGP or oxygen permeable lenses) are the latest addition to the marketplace. RGP lenses allow more oxygen into the eye than soft lenses, helping to keep the eye healthy and making the lens more comfortable than previous hard lenses.

By their nature hard lenses are also much more durable than soft lenses, which means that providing they are well looked after they can last for years. Another plus is that their rigidity also makes them easier to handle and care for. It's also worth remembering that while the initial financial outlay for RGP lenses may strike you as high, if you work out the overall cost spread over the expected lifetime of your lenses, it's typically less than for soft lenses.

On the down side RGP lenses can initially be a little uncomfortable, taking a week or two before you become accustomed to them. Specialists recommended that RGP lenses are worn every day, whereas soft lenses can be worn comfortably on an occasional basis.

Soft contact lenses are made from up to 80 per cent water, so it isn't surprising that they tend to be more comfortable at first. Perhaps the main deciding factor that pushes people towards soft lenses is the huge variety to choose from, which covers the spectrum from coloured lenses and daily disposable lenses (so there's no more cleaning) to extended wear lenses that can be worn for up to a week without removal.

However soft contact lenses aren't suitable for every visual problem and certain forms of astigmatism and presbyopia may be better treated with hard lenses.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Soft Contact Lenses

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