The Four Main Types Of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a great alternative to traditional eyeglasses that provide you with corrected vision without having to worry about wearing anything on your face. There are four main types of contact lenses available, all of which offer different features over each other.

If you are thinking of getting contact lenses, understanding the differences between the types of contact lenses allows you to pick the type that best fits your lifestyle:

Disposable Contact Lenses

Probably the most common types of contact lenses available, disposable contact lenses are worn for a short period of time and then thrown away. Some contact lenses are only worn for a day, while others can be worn again for a week or even up to a month. They are left to soak in a disinfectant solution overnight.

These types of contact lenses are made out of plastic and are comfortable to wear. The cost of disposable contact lenses increases over time as new ones are purchased, but tend to be cheaper upfront than permanent contact lenses.

Soft Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses are fairly common, and are made up of flexible plastic. This allows oxygen to pass through the lens and reach your eye, preventing discomfort and dryness. Soft contact lenses tend to be the most comfortable type of contact lenses available, and also tend to be the most common type of permanent contact lenses available.

Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses

RCP contact lenses are made out of hard plastic, and are much more durable than other types of contact lenses. They provide the clearest, crispest vision possible while still allowing some oxygen to pass through to your eye. They cost more initially than any other type of contact lens, but will have to be replaced less often, lowering the cost in the long run. RCP lenses are also very uncomfortable to wear initially, and can take several weeks to break in before you stop noticing that they are in.

Extended Wear Contact Lenses

More of a subset of contact lenses, extended wear contacts can be either soft or RCP lenses. The main feature of extended wear contact lenses is that you can sleep with them in, for periods up to a month. The amount of time that you should wear extended wear contact lenses for depends on your ocular health, so check with your eye doctor before purchasing this type of contact lenses. Extended wear contact lenses tend to cost more than their normal wear counterparts.

To learn more, contact a company like Glacier Eye Clinic with any questions you have.