While you may be more accustomed to soft contact lenses, another less familiar kind of contact lenses exists: rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, sometimes known as oxygen permeable lenses.
In truth, hard lenses involve more modern technology than soft contacts, which are longer-lasting, allow greater vision quality, and offer better durability. Additionally RGP lenses can also be cheaper in the long term than soft lenses. Certainly, its best to first discuss with an eye care practitioner to determine whether GPs suit your lifestyle. Our optometry staff can help you figure out whether GP lenses are suitable for you.
Because a GP is composed of stiff material, it does a great job of retaining its shape when you blink, which tends to allow for clearer vision than the average soft lens. In addition RGPs are especially strong. Though they can break if stepped on, they don’t easily rip like soft lenses. Also, since they're made of materials that don't include water, proteins and lipids from your tears don’t stick to RGPs as readily as they do to soft lenses. People that are especially particular about quality of vision will probably choose RGPs.
GPs are also a good choice for contact wearers with special considerations such as astigmatism, presbyopia or keratoconus, where standard contacts may not fit properly or provide enough variety. RGPs are also a better choice for those who need contact lenses after refractive surgery.
When thinking about hard lenses, be sure to first ask your eye care practitioner to ascertain if you definitely are a candidate. You never know…hard lenses could be the perfect solution for you!