All You Need to Know About Hard Contact Lenses
It’s no secret that contact lenses are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of people in the United States who wear contacts has increased from 24.4 million in 2010 to 41.2 million in 2019. And with so many different types of lenses on the market, it can be tough to know which ones are right for you. In this blog post, we’ll be taking a closer look at hard contact lenses—what they are, how they work, and who they’re best suited for. So, if you’re thinking about making the switch to hard lenses, read on!
What Are Hard Contact Lenses?
Hard contact lenses, also known as rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses, are made from firm, durable materials that allow oxygen to pass through to the eye. Unlike soft lenses, which are made from flexible plastics that conform to the eye’s shape, hard lenses retain their shape and must be fitted specifically for each individual wearer.
How Do Hard Contact Lenses Work?
Hard contact lenses work by bending and focusing light onto the retina—the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye—in much the same way that eyeglasses do. But because they sit directly on the eye, hard lenses provide clearer vision than glasses and don’t obstruct your peripheral vision. Additionally, hard lenses require less frequent cleaning and maintenance than soft lenses do.
Who Are Hard Contact Lenses Best Suited For?
While hard contact lenses can be worn by anyone who needs vision correction, they’re often a good choice for people with astigmatism—a condition that causes blurred vision due to an irregularity in the shape of the eye’s cornea or lens. That’s because unlike soft lenses, which can’t correct astigmatism as effectively as hard lenses can, RGP lenses are designed to maintain their shape on the eye and provide clear vision at all distances.
Now that you know a little more about hard contact lenses, it’s time to decide if they’re right for you. If you need vision correction but don’t want to wear glasses or if you have astigmatism, hard contact lenses may be worth considering. Talk to your eye doctor to learn more about RGP lenses and whether or not they would be a good fit for you. Thanks for reading!