Types of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are constantly improving, as developments in materials and design come about with advances in technology. Amongst more recent developments are toric lenses (for correcting astigmatism), daily disposable lenses and also lenses which can be worn safely during the night whilst sleeping.

Disposable contact lenses

Disposable contact lenses are designed to be replaced on a regular basis, usually either daily, forghtnightly or monthly. The more frequently a lens is replaced, the less protein and oil will build up to damage the lenses. Many of the problems that contact lens wearers experienced when contact lenses were typically replaced on an annual or two-yearly basis are rarely seen today. Disposable contact lenses are therefore a much healthier option.

Daily disposable contact lenses are ideal for people who only want to wear their contact lenses a few times per week, for example, for sport. Daily lenses also do away with the need for cleaning, being inserted in the morning (or before playing sport) and then thrown away afterwards. This offers exceptional convenience and also good value for money.

Contact lenses which are replaced two-weekly or monthly represent great value for daily lens wearing. These lenses work out to be cheaper than daily disposable lenses, although they should be cleaned each night.

Extended wear contact lenses

Extended wear (or "leave-in") contact lenses are designed to be worn continuously for a whole month and then replaced with new contact lenses. They offer the maximum of convenience, since they usually don't need removing or even cleaning. Some of the advantagess of extended wear lenses include being able to see without struggling if you get up during the night, and not having to worry about removing lenses with dirty hands if it is inconvenient to wash. In addition, extended wear lenses mean that you don’t need to purchase cleaning solutions and then remember to take them with you whereever you go.

Gas permeable contact lenses

Gas permeable contact lenses are usually used for correcting moderate levels of astigmatism. Gas permeable lenses excellent visual clarity, especially when the astigmatism is irregular (such as with keratoconus). Gas permeable lenses require a longer period of adaptation to wearing them than do soft lenses. However they provide excellent long-term corneal health.

Gas permeable lenses permit almost as much oxygen to pass through to the cornea as without wearing a lens at all. Thus many of the problems associated with the reduced oxygen flow through the old-style hard contact lenses are rarely encountered today, thanks to developments in modern gas permeable materials.