Types of contact lenses – how do they differ?

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While running with glasses should not be a problem, practicing martial arts or even playing volleyball is quite a problem. Not to mention the summer sunbathing or swimming in the pool. That is why many people choose to replace glasses with contact lenses. There are so many types of contact lenses that it can make you dizzy.

So what to choose: daily or monthly contact lenses? Soft, hard or orthokeratological? Which lenses are the best? It all depends on what ophthalmological ailments you are struggling with and what lifestyle you lead. Remember, however, that the final selection of lenses is always made by an ophthalmologist.

Check how much you will spend on contact lenses

Contact lenses – hard or soft?

Generally speaking, contact lenses can be divided into hard and soft. Both types share a similar method of care. In most cases, you have to take them off overnight, rinse them and put them in a special liquid. Contrary to appearances, it is a simple activity, easy to learn, even for children. What is the difference between hard and soft lenses?

Hard lenses are used for certain conditions, such as keratoconus or large and complex vision defects. They are also recommended for people with dry eye syndrome who should not wear soft lenses. Hard lenses are characterized by high oxygen permeability. They are very durable, some types can be worn for up to 2 years. Such lenses are adjusted individually to best correct the patient’s vision defects. Hence their relatively high price.

Soft lenses are currently the most popular contact lenses. You can easily buy them in stores or online. They are mass-produced and therefore much cheaper. As they have a flexible structure, there is no need to adjust them individually to the eye. However, they are much less durable than hard lenses. Usually, we can wear them up to a month, although there are also three-month lenses.

Monthly or daily contact lenses?

The most popular types of soft lenses are monthly, biweekly and daily contact lenses. Which choose? If you’re on a relatively small budget, ask your ophthalmologist if you can wear longer-term lenses – they’re cheaper. However, be sure not to make decisions about changing the type of lenses without consulting your doctor.

If you wear glasses interchangeably with glasses, daily contact lenses, which you put on in the morning and simply throw out in the evening, may be a good choice. Then you do not have to worry about their storage or how long they stayed in the container and whether their shelf life has expired. You will also save on liquid for their storage.

Other types of soft lenses

If you value comfort or plan to go somewhere where you will have limited access to the bathroom, such as a campsite, ask your doctor if you can wear day and night lenses. You don’t have to remove these contact lenses when you go to sleep. They let a very large amount of oxygen pass through and do not cause any discomfort during sleep. After the time provided by the manufacturer, you just throw them away and put on new ones.

Color contact lenses

Color contact lenses are another interesting solution. They allow you to emphasize or completely change the color of the eyes. There are versions both with a natural color and with very intense colors or patterns. Such lenses used to be available mainly as so-called clear lenses. Currently, you can also buy them with powers, i.e. in a version intended for people with visual impairments. However, there are some limitations here. People with major defects may have a hard time finding more eccentric color lenses.

Orthokeratological lenses, or ortho-lenses

If you do not want to wear contact lenses during the day, ask your doctor about the possibility of ortho-correction. It is a non-surgical treatment for visual impairment.

Ortho-glass lenses used in such therapy differ from ordinary lenses mainly in that we do not put them on during the day, but at night. While you sleep, orthokeratology lenses shape your cornea to ensure proper vision throughout the day. At the beginning, ortho-contact lenses should be worn every night, then gradually less and less, and finally it is enough to wear them twice a week. However, you cannot stop wearing lenses completely, because then the cornea will return to its original shape, which means that the defect will recover.

Orthokeratology lenses can correct myopia and mild farsightedness or mild astigmatism.

Such contact lenses are quite expensive because they must be made to order. Their parameters must be precisely matched to your eye. The lenses, however, last up to two years.

Lenses or laser vision correction

If you do not want to wear glasses or lenses and are not convinced by ortho-correction, consider whether it is worth considering laser vision correction. However, you have to be prepared for the fact that such a procedure is very expensive.

Compare the cost of laser vision surgery with the cost of soft and ortho-corrective lenses

The operation itself takes a very short time, usually several dozen seconds. It is completely painless. During the procedure, you need to look directly at the point of light. Importantly, you don’t have to worry about blinking. The eyelids are blocked in a very gentle way that does not cause you any pain or discomfort.

You can go home immediately after the surgery. You will immediately experience an improvement in the quality of your vision, but your eyesight will stabilize for several weeks to several months. During the first recovery period, you must strictly follow your doctor’s medication and lifestyle recommendations. You can function normally, but you should avoid strenuous efforts and places where the eye can easily be infected, such as swimming pools and saunas.

The sponsored article was written in cooperation with vivus.pl – a website offering online loans.