The Different Kinds of Contact Lenses and What To Expect

There are several different types of plastic used to make contact lenses, and the most common types of lenses are hard and soft.

HARD CONTACTS. Also called a rigid, gas-permeable lens, these are usually made from plastic along with other materials. They will hold their shape while letting oxygen flow through the lens to your eye. They are helpful for people with astigmatism, or when they have a condition known as keratoconus (when the cornea becomes misshapen). Hard contacts will provide sharper vision when the cornea is curved.

SOFT CONTACTS. Most people choose soft contact lenses, as they tend to be more comfortable as well as being available in more options. Some of these options include:

• Daily wear. These are the lenses that you wear while you are awake, removing them when you go to sleep. They are often disposable, so the wearer can use one pair a day, or choose another type that allows the wearer to replace them once a week or even at longer intervals.  
• Extended wear. Some of these can be worn while you sleep, but they need to be removed for cleaning at least once a week. Eye doctors recommend these contacts less because they can increase the chances of the wearer getting a serious eye infection.
• Toric. This type of contact lens can correct the vision of those people with astigmatism, although hard contacts are still better. Toric lenses can be for either daily or extended wear, and they are more costly.
• Tinted. Contact lenses that correct your eyesight can also be tinted to change the color of your eye, and they can be obtained as daily or extended wear, or as toric lenses.
• Decorative. These lenses will change the look of your eye but do nothing to correct your vision. They can be extremely fanciful. You will need a prescription to get these, and they must be treated just as you would any other prescription contact lenses. Keep in mind that contact lenses really are not intended as fashion accessories, but as medical devices, and they can cause severe problems, such as cuts, open sores, and potential blindness if they are not prescribed by a licensed eye doctor, or cared for properly.  
• Bifocal or multifocal. These are specialized lenses that help people who are experiencing difficulty with either long or short-range vision.

When you need to wear prescription glasses but find them to be an inconvenience, contact lenses can be a great alternative. At Classic Vision Care here in Kennesaw, Marietta, and Atlanta, we offer contact lens prescriptions and fittings to enhance your visual acuity. Call us today!