{"id":7867,"date":"2020-09-14T10:28:55","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T10:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=7867"},"modified":"2021-12-20T11:50:54","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T11:50:54","slug":"guide-to-hard-contact-lenses","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/optical\/guide-to-contact-lenses\/guide-to-hard-contact-lenses\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Hard Contact Lenses"},"content":{"rendered":"

While soft contact lenses<\/a> have become quite popular in recent years, hard contact lenses are actually preferred by many people with specific vision conditions.<\/h2>\n

What are hard contact lenses?<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you hear your optometrist using the terms \u2018gas permeable lenses\u2019, \u2018GP lenses\u2019, \u2018rigid gas permeable lenses\u2019, \u2018RGP lenses\u2019, or \u2018oxygen permeable lenses\u2019, you can be certain they are referring to hard contact lenses.<\/p>\n

Gas permeable lenses are more rigid than soft lenses and are known for their increased oxygen permeability. Although they are rigid, they should not be confused with their predecessors, the old fashioned hard contact lenses which are no longer prescribed.<\/p>\n

Therefore, for the purpose of this article, we will refer to hard lenses as gas permeable (GP) lenses.<\/p>\n

Contact an eye doctor<\/strong><\/a> near you to find out if GP lenses are a good fit for you.<\/p>\n

Soft lenses versus GP lenses<\/b><\/h2>\n

Gas permeable lenses were created in the late 1970s and are actually more technologically advanced than soft contact lenses.<\/p>\n

Unlike soft lenses which are made of silicone hydrogel and are both thin and flexible and large enough to cover the entire corneal surface, GP lenses are more rigid, and only cover around 75 percent of the corneal surface.<\/p>\n

Although GP lenses are more rigid than soft lenses, many GP lenses contain silicone, making them more flexible than the hard lenses of previous years.<\/p>\n

Silicone also allows oxygen to permeate through the lens to reach the cornea\u2014 a process that is absolutely necessary when wearing contact lenses to maintain corneal health.<\/p>\n

Some recent GP lens designs have an even higher oxygen permeability than many soft contact lenses, and are similar to soft lenses designed with silicone hydrogel when it comes to oxygen transmission.<\/p>\n

Gas permeability lenses are also designed to move more on the corneal surface, which allows tears to flow under the lens and deliver oxygen to the cornea.<\/p>\n

What are the benefits of GP lenses?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Gas permeable lenses offer many benefits to contact lens wearers:<\/p>\n

Clearer vision: <\/b>GP lenses are designed from rigid plastic, so they maintain their shape throughout the day\u2014 even when you blink, enabling clearer, sharper vision.<\/p>\n

Durability: <\/b>GP lenses are not easily torn or chipped and therefore last much longer than soft lenses.<\/p>\n

Resistance to protein and lipid deposits: <\/b>GP lenses are not designed with materials composed of water, so protein and fatty deposits from your tears will not stick to the lenses.<\/p>\n

Affordability: <\/b>GP lenses last for up to a year or more and therefore don\u2019t need to be replaced as often\u2014 making them less expensive than soft lenses.<\/p>\n

Schedule an appointment<\/strong><\/a> with an eye doctor near you to see if GP lenses are the best fit for you.<\/p>\n

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

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