| What are the different types of Contact Lenses? |
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Soft Contact Lenses Soft contact lenses are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow
oxygen to pass through to the cornea. Soft contact lenses may be
easier to adjust to and are more comfortable than rigid gas
permeable lenses. Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels
to provide more oxygen to your eye while you wear your lenses. |
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Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGPs) are more durable and
resistant to deposit buildup. 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 less likely to tear. However,
they are not as comfortable initially as soft contacts and it may
take a few weeks to get used to wearing RGPs, compared to several
days for soft contacts. |
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Extended Wear Contact Lenses
Extended wear contact lenses are available for overnight or
continuous wear ranging from one to six nights or up to 30 days.
Extended wear contact lenses are usually soft contact lenses. They
are made of flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to
the cornea. There are also a very few rigid gas permeable lenses
that are designed and approved for overnight wear. Length of
continuous wear depends on lens type and your eye care
professional’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. It’s
important for the eyes to have a rest without lenses for at least
one night following each scheduled removal. |
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Disposable (Replacement Schedule) 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. With a true daily wear
disposable schedule, a brand new pair of lenses is used each day.
Some soft contact lenses are referred to as “disposable” by contact
lens sellers, but actually, they are for frequent/planned
replacement. With extended wear lenses, the lenses may be worn
continuously for the prescribed wearing period (for example, 7 days
to 30 days) and then thrown away. When you remove your lenses, make
sure to clean and disinfect them properly before reinserting. |
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Decorative (Plano) Contact Lenses
Some contact lenses do not correct vision and are intended
solely to change the appearance of the eye. These are sometimes
called plano, zero-powered or non-corrective lenses. For example,
they can temporarily change a brown-eyed person’s eye color to blue,
or make a person’s eyes look “weird” by portraying Halloween themes.
Even though these decorative lenses don’t correct vision, they’re
regulated by the FDA, just like corrective contact lenses. |
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