Contact lenses sit on the front of the eye and improve vision by redirecting light as it enters the eye. They also correct refractive error by changing the way light bends.

Lenses are categorized by their material, wear schedule and replacement method. Daily disposables are discarded after one use, while other lenses require cleaning and regular disinfection with hydrogen peroxide to prevent surface coating and infections.

Soft lenses

Soft contact lenses are available in a variety of fittings, powers and designs to correct almost all types of vision. They incorporate water, which must be replaced frequently to prevent the lens from drying out, and are held in place by a tear film on the surface of your eye.

These lenses can be worn on a daily, two-weekly or monthly basis and are usually discarded before going to sleep at night. There are also extended wear lenses that can be worn for up to 30 days.

Rigid gas permeable (RGP) or gas permeable silicone (GPS) lenses are more durable than soft contacts and allow oxygen to pass through the lens to your cornea. This can help improve your comfort and may lead to better visual acuity than soft lenses. GP lenses are available in a variety of bi-focal and multi-focal designs. The most common GP lens materials are silicone hydrogels, which have improved the hypoxia-related problems associated with older thick pHEMA polymers.

Rigid lenses

Although soft lenses are great, there is a more rigid alternative that provides unique benefits. These are called Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Rigid lens material may be firmer and take longer to adapt to than soft lenses, but once your eyes are accustomed you should find they provide excellent comfort and vision. Rigid lenses also are incredibly durable and hold their shape well so they don’t shift out of place as easily as soft contact lenses. They are also a good option for patients with astigmatism or mild keratoconus as they provide a more stable fit and allow more oxygen to the cornea.

Rigid GP contacts require regular polishing and daily at-home care to keep them clean and healthy, but they offer crisp vision for a wide range of prescriptions and can last for up to two years when properly maintained. Ask our eye professionals for more information about a rigid GP contact lens that is right for you.

Toric lenses

For people with astigmatism who want the freedom of contact lens wear, there are a number of options. Your eye care professional can help you select the type and material of toric lenses that will provide the best results for your vision.

Toric lenses have different prescription strengths in each meridian of the lens, which compensates for the varying degrees of astigmatism. They can also correct other refractive errors, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness.

As with all contact lenses, it is important to follow proper cleaning and handling guidelines for toric lenses to prevent complications such as infections (NCBI Bookshelf). Be sure to use only the multipurpose solution recommended by your eye care professional and never top off or reuse disinfecting solutions, as this can introduce harmful microorganisms into the lens case. Also, always rinse and dry the lens case before reusing it. This will help to prevent the build-up of deposits and odors. In addition, always remove your toric contact lenses before sleeping and showering (NCBI Bookshelf). This will help maintain the integrity of the lens and prevent irritation.

Multifocal lenses

Multifocal contact lenses are an excellent solution for anyone who is experiencing the frustrating and inevitable onset of presbyopia. This is where your eyes lose their ability to focus on close objects as you get older.

Like bifocal eyeglass lenses, multifocal contact lenses feature distinct viewing areas that allow you to see both near and far objects at the same time. Typically, the top of the lens is for distance vision while the bottom is for near vision.

There are also multifocal lenses with a blended design, which attempts to mimic a more natural vision experience by keeping both near and distance prescription powers close to your center visual area.

Ultimately, your eye doctor will help you determine which type of multifocal contact lenses are best for you. They will take into consideration the specifics of your vision problems as well as your lifestyle and budgetary concerns. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to adapt to your new multifocal contact lenses.