While soft contact lenses are most common, a second, less familiar kind of contact lenses exists: rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, also known as oxygen permeable lenses.
In reality, hard lenses involve newer technology than soft contacts, and they are longer-lasting, can be more successful in improving eyesight, and provide enhanced deposit resistance. Further RGP lenses can also be cheaper in the long term than soft lenses. Certainly, you need to first discuss with an eye doctor to decide if GPs fit your lifestyle. Our optometry staff can help you figure out if hard lenses are suitable for you.
Because an RGP is made of inflexible material, it maintains its form well when you blink, which can provide crisper vision than the average soft lens. Furthermore RGPs are particularly long-lasting. Although they will break if stepped on, they don’t easily rip like soft lenses. Further, since they consist of substances that don't contain water, proteins or lipids from your tears won't stick to GPs as readily as they will to soft lenses. People that are extra particular about quality of vision will probably opt for GPs.
RGPs are also an often preferred option for contact wearers that have certain conditions such as astigmatism, presbyopia or keratoconus, where soft lenses may not produce the desired visual acuity. RGPs are also a better choice for those who need contact lenses after refractive surgery.
If you're considering RGP lenses, be sure to first speak to your eye doctor to verify if you truly are a suitable candidate. You never know…hard lenses might be the right match for you!