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selecting contacts
Get freedom and convenience from glasses with quality contact lenses prescription. Imagine seeing clearly for bicycling, skiing, snowboarding, dancing or even driving without the hassle of eyeglasses. That’s the freedom of contact lenses prescription. With continual technology advances in design, materials, and care systems, contact lenses enable clear vision and a level of comfort and convenience that allows you to enjoy vision that approaches naturally perfect sight. It’s important to know that contact lenses are medical devices regulated by the Food & Drug Administration. To obtain contact lenses, you must be examined by an eye care professional, like your local North Carolina Doctors Vision Center optometrist. Below is a guide to help you understand the types of contacts available today.
Soft Contact Lenses
Soft contact lenses are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. A soft contact lenses prescription may be easier to adjust to and are more comfortable than oxygen permeable lenses. They can be daily disposable, planned replacement (once a month or twice a month) or extended wear that can be slept in for as long as 30 days. All of these lenses can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Most are available in multifocal format for those over 40 who are having trouble with their near vision. Want to change your eye color? Not a problem with soft lenses prescription which are available in a wide variety of colors.
Oxygen Permeable Contact Lenses
Rigid, oxygen permeable contact lenses (RGPs) are more durable and resistant to deposit buildup, and generally provide clearer, crisper vision. They tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft contact lenses. They are easier to handle and don’t tear. They may take a few weeks to get used to, compared to the immediate comfort of soft contacts. As with soft contacts, RGP lenses can correct for all vision conditions.
Lens Comparison Chart
See the lens comparison chart from The American Optometric Association.
| Lens Types | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses prescription | This contact lenses prescription is made of slightly flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the eyes. 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 contact lenses prescription | This contact lenses prescription is made of soft, flexible plastic that allows oxygen to pass through to the eyes. Very short adaptation period… more comfortable and more difficult to dislodge than RGP contact lenses prescription… 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 contact lenses prescription | Available for overnight wear in soft or RGP contact lenses prescription. Can usually be worn up to seven days without removal. | Do not correct all vision problems… require regular office visits for follow-up care… increases risk of complication… requires regular monitoring and professional care. |
| Extended-wear contact lenses | The majority of soft contact lens wearers are prescribed some type of frequent replacement schedule. “Disposable,” as defined by the FDA, means used once and discarded. Extended wear lenses may be worn continuously for the prescribed wearing period (for example, 7 days to 30 days) and then thrown away. | Vision may not be as sharp as RGP lenses… do not correct all vision problems… handling may be more difficult. |
| Planned replacement | Soft daily wear lenses that are replaced on a planned schedule, most often either every two weeks, monthly or quarterly. | Require simplified cleaning and disinfection… good for eye health… available in most contact lenses prescriptions. Vision may not be as sharp as RGP lenses… do not correct all vision problems… handling may be more difficult. |