Most people who wear glasses can also wear contact lenses, as doctors often prescribe contacts once the patient reaches the age of 10 or 12. They correct a full range of vision problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Here’s a brief introduction to their basic types.

A Guide to Contact Lens Types

1. Hard 

Hard contact lenses, also known as rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses, hold their curved shape. Made of plastic blended with other compounds, they’re worn on the surface of the eye to correct imperfect vision. Because they allow oxygen to pass through to the surface of the eye, they can be worn comfortably from sunup to sundown, after the wearer adapts to them. Although most people take them out at night, some hard contacts can be continuously worn for 30 days.

A doctor of optometry will probably recommend hard contacts if you have astigmatism. They’re better than soft lenses at treating this condition.

2. Soft 

As the name suggests, soft contacts are pliable. Made of flexible plastics or silicone-hydrogels, they’re available in daily-use or extended-wear forms. One-day lenses are disposable. Wearers discard them at night after a single-use. Extended-wear soft contacts are also disposable, but they last longer, usually seven to 30 days. They are also designed to be worn overnight, but your doctor may advise against continuous wear if your tolerance is deemed insufficient.

3. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) 

Instead of being worn during the day, orthokeratology lenses—a custom-fitted specialty form of RGP lenses—are worn at night. While sleeping, they correct the curvature of the cornea. When the wearer wakes up and removes them, they can see objects at a distance. The effect is only temporary, however. Unless you keep wearing your ortho-k lenses at night as prescribed, your nearsightedness will return.

4. Decorative 

All contact lenses can be tinted for cosmetic purposes or to correct color-blindness. Decorative contacts, however, which are worn for theatrical purposes and by cosplay fanatics, let wearers achieve special effects. They don’t correct for vision defects. Instead, they alter appearances. If you want to wear lenses to give you the eyes of a cat or have yours look like rainbows, have them properly fitted by an optometrist to avoid infection and other more serious conditions.  

The eye care professionals at Dalton Optometry are committed to the health of clients throughout Whitfield County, GA, and the quality of their vision. They offer comprehensive eye exams and corrective eyewear and contact lenses to keep your eyesight sharp and focused regardless of age. Visit them online to learn more about how they can serve your family, or call (706) 278-6113 to schedule an appointment to see an optometrist.