{"id":19810,"date":"2021-10-27T11:40:54","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T11:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=19810"},"modified":"2021-10-27T11:40:54","modified_gmt":"2021-10-27T11:40:54","slug":"are-hard-contact-lenses-an-option-for-teens","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/optical\/guide-to-contact-lenses\/guide-to-hard-contact-lenses\/are-hard-contact-lenses-an-option-for-teens\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Hard Contact Lenses an Option for Teens?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rigid gas permeable lenses, known as \u2018hard\u2019 lenses, are worn by about 13% of contact lens wearers in the United States.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Gas permeable contact lenses<\/a> (also called GP or RGP contacts) are an alternative to soft lenses.<\/a> These lenses are made of a variety of rigid plastic materials that are oxygen permeable.<\/p>\n

RGP lenses provide a number of distinct advantages, especially for teenagers.<\/b><\/p>\n

Old-fashioned hard contact lenses, which did not allow enough oxygen to reach the eyes, have been replaced by modern RGP lenses.<\/p>\n

While some people are hesitant to try hard lenses because they may take longer to get used to, however, RGP lenses provide a number of distinct advantages, especially for teenagers:<\/p>\n

1. Contact lenses instill confidence<\/b><\/h2>\n

It’s not easy being a teenager. School, home life, relationships, and figuring out your position in the world can all make you want to run and hide.<\/p>\n

Contact lenses can make your teen feel more confident by giving them a more natural look\u2014and they can wear regular sunglasses.<\/b><\/p>\n

2. RGP lenses may provide better vision<\/b><\/h2>\n

RGP contact lenses maintain their shape when you blink and they do not dry out as quickly as soft lenses.<\/p>\n

For many reasons, RGP lenses may provide enhanced vision over soft lenses, as the vision remains sharper and clearer.<\/b><\/p>\n

When you blink, soft contacts may temporarily move, briefly distorting the vision, as they fall back into shape, the eyes must refocus, sometimes leading to eye strain and fatigue.<\/p>\n

Peripheral (side) vision is also improved with contact lenses compared to glasses, as they cover your whole field of vision, whereas glasses just cover the area directly in front of you.<\/p>\n

There is no irritating frame to hinder the view with RGP contacts.<\/p>\n

3. GP lenses are durable<\/b><\/h2>\n

Soft lenses are easy to tear, especially for first-time wearers who are still getting acclimated to them.<\/p>\n

RGP contacts, on the other hand, are composed of a stronger, more robust plastic that is difficult to damage.<\/p>\n

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you<\/a> to find out if hard lenses are a good fit for your teen.<\/b><\/p>\n

SEE RELATED:<\/strong> How to Insert and Remove Hard Contact Lenses<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t

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