Gas Permeable Contact Lenses Guide

Gas permeable contact lenses, also referred to as Rigid Gas Permeable, or Oxygen Permeable lenses are the best hard contact lenses available today. The use of silicone in their structure allows gases, especially health-giving oxygen, to pass through the lenses and into the eye, almost as if no contact lenses were being worn at all.  RGP contact lenses were developed in the 1980s, quickly becoming the best alternative to previous rigid lenses. RGP lenses actually allow more oxygen flow than soft contact lenses. RGP lenses are also more durable, and a good set of RGP contact lenses could conceivably last for years.

Soft Vs. Gas Permeable Lenses

RGP contact lenses are stiffer than soft contact lenses, meaning they retain their shape better than soft contact lenses when you blink your eyes, thus providing crisp vision for the wearer more consistently.  Vision correction is especially superior for those with astigmatism. This particular vision problem is not easily corrected with soft lenses.  They also are stronger than soft contact lenses, so you will not inadvertently tear them, which is a frequent complaint of soft contact lens users. Because they are not made with materials that contain water, RGP lenses do not absorb proteins and lipids from your tears; these proteins and lipids are what frequently degrade soft contact lenses.

The main reason people often choose soft contact lenses over the RGPs is that they do take some time getting used to them, whereas soft lenses are usually comfortable right away. This may be because soft lenses are ultra thin and made of anywhere from 25% to 79% water. Soft lenses can also be made to protect the eyes from UV light and the glare that some people experience with hard lenses.

RGP works better for some eye conditions

Although many people use soft contact lenses, there are certain vision conditions that RGP contact lenses are perfect for correcting. RGP lenses are used to create scleral contact lenses, most commonly used for treating keratoconus or corneal injuries. RGPS are also ideally suited for correcting astigmatism (as toric contact lenses) and for treating children who suffer from nearsightedness.

The one disadvantage of RGP contact lenses is that they require much more of an adjustment period than soft contact lenses. They are not instantly comfortable, and wearers may have to re-adjust time once in awhile if they do not use their RGP lenses for long amounts of time. RGP contact lenses also require frequent cleaning, although extended wear RGP lenses are now being produced by some manufacturers.

Bifocal prescriptions for those diagnosed with presbyopia, can also come in gas permeable lenses. The lenses allow for one area of vision to be corrected for distance vision and another for looking at things close up.

Caring for Rigid Gas Permeable Contacts

Caring for gas permeable lenses is the same as for older types of hard contact lenses.  hey should also be stored in a saline solution at night to keep them free from deposits and ready to replace each morning. Consumers need to weigh the costs of cleaning and storage solutions over the cost of replacing disposable lenses each month. They often add up to about the same amount, but with clearer vision and better eye health in general possible with gas permeable lenses, the choice is clear for many people. So with the only real draw back of gas permeable lenses being a short adjustment period, they are a popular choice among those of any age needing vision correction.