Quick Facts About Contact Lens
- Though there are many different types readily available these days, including the colored lenses, all contact lenses come under 3 main types:
- SOFT LENSES are soft and comfortable to wear. These lenses contain some amount of water and will cause deposits to accumulate.
(Deposits are foreign particles that adhere to the lens surface that can cause eye problems and eye irritations.)- DISPOSABLE LENSES are actually soft lenses that can be disposed either every day, after a week, 2 weeks or a month. The best thing about them is that they can be replaced with a fresh pair so less worries about deposits accumulating.
- SEMI-HARD LENSES are also called rigid gas permeable lenses. These lenses are firm and made of silicone with other compounds. They allow oxygen to pass through. They may be less comfortable to wear but they can better withstand deposits since they contain little water and will not dehydrate.
- Special contact lenses include:
- TORIC SOFT LENSES are a type of soft lens that corrects astigmatism.
- PLATEAU LENSES are for people who have undergone cornea transplants or surgery to correct short-sightedness (e.g. LASIK). They are rigid gas permeable lenses.
- CUSTOM DESIGN LENSES are specially made to fit the cornea exactly. They can either be soft or rigid.
- Traditional hard lenses are no longer prescribed.
- Contact lenses are very safe to use provided proper care is taken.
- Wearing them could be uncomfortable for first-time wearers. It will take about a week or more to get used to them. If it is painful, it could indicate an improper fit.
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