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| Soft
and RGP Lenses Compared |
Below is a brief comparison of Soft and Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) contact lenses.
A thorough eye examination and a better understanding of your specific vision
requirements will help determine the best options for you.
Soft Contact Lenses
Advantages
- Greater initial comfort
than hard or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. Shorter
adaptation period for new wearers. Ideal
for intermittent wear. Less
susceptible to the intrusion of foreign objects under the
lens, such as dust. Less
sensitivity to light than with hard or RGP lenses. Rarely
fall out of the eye, making them ideal for sports, particularly
contact sports such as football or basketball.
- Available in tinted
versions.
Disadvantages
- Less durable than
hard or RGP lenses. May
dry out, causing discomfort for some, especially under
a hair dryer, in hot rooms, or in windy, dry weather. More
involved lens care, especially for conventional soft lenses. Susceptible
to more protein or lipid deposits, that reduce lens performance
in the long term.
- May absorb chemicals
from the environment, which can cause irritation.
Rigid Gas Permeable
(RGP) Lenses
RGP lenses are, as the name implies, rigid, but the plastics
of which they are made are somewhat more flexible than hard
lenses. Newer RGP lenses offer the advantage of allowing
more oxygen to pass through to the eye. Sometimes they are
referred to as "Oxygen Permeable Lenses". They
are available in daily wear and extended wear options. RGP
lenses have the following advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages
- Good vision. Correct
most corneal astigmatism. Good
durability. Good
handling characteristics.
- Easier care.
Disadvantages
- Less initial comfort
than soft lenses. Longer
adaptation period required than soft lenses. More
easily dislodged. Can
scratch and break.
- Intermittent wear
less feasible
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