Contact lenses – what’s the difference?

Tags: #Human #Medical

There are loads of different types of contact lenses available on the market, varying in shape, durability, and material. If this seems confusing, you’re not alone. To find the correct contact lenses, you need to visit a contact lens specialist who will interview you on your needs, take the necessary measurements, check the contact lens fit and the condition of your eyes. He or she will take all these variables into account when finding the right lenses for you.

Wondering what all the abbreviations on the lens package mean? Check our blog post.

Soft Contact Lenses

Soft lenses are made from hydrogels; gel-like, water-containing plastics. These contacts are thin and flexible and conform to the front surface of the eye. Silicone hydrogel lenses are the most popular soft lenses. Soft lenses are more porous than hydrogel lenses and allow more oxygen to reach the cornea., The soft lenses are often seen as more comfortable, easier and safer-to use in comparison to hard contact lenses.

Types of Soft Contacts

Daily disposable contacts: You wear the daily disposable contacts while you are awake and remove them before going to sleep. You wear a fresh pair each day  and throw them away after using them, so there’s no need to worry about cleaning them or buying contact lens fluids.Daily disposable contacts are the most suitable option if you wear contacts occasionally or if you don’t want to be bothered with cleaning and storing the lenses. Many young or first-time contact lens wearers choose this option.

Daily wear contacts: If you are a regular contact user, you might want to choose contacts that last longer and only need to be replaced once a week, every two weeks or every month. These are still taken out at night, but you clean and store your lenses in contact lens fluids. If you wear dailies, you can use the easee eye test to update your prescription.

Extended wear contacts: You can wear extended wear contacts while you sleep, but the lenses have to be removed for cleaning at least once a week. Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible to wear these.  Eligibility for extended wear contacts is dependent on the condition of your eye. Fewer specialists recommend these contacts because they may increase the risk of getting a serious eye infection.

Toric contacts:These correct vision for people with more severe astigmatism. Toric lenses can be both for daily or extended wear. They are often costlier than the regular (spheric) contacts. Toric contacts power can unfortunately not be updated with the easee test, you always need to see a specialist for this.

Tinted and decorative contacts: Contact lenses can be tinted or otherwise decorative to change the color or look of your eye. You can in some cases get them as daily wear, extended wear, and toric lenses. They can correct vision but can also be used solely for cosmetic purposes.

Multifocal contacts: They have more than one power in them, meaning that they can correct vision at different distances. Multifocal contacts are usually used by people over 40 years old, who require different strengths to target vision at varying distances. Multifocals can be found in daily wear, disposable, extended wear as well as toric lenses. The power of multifocal lenses can not be measured or adjusted with the easee test yet.

Hard Contact Lenses

Gas permeable contact lenses are made of rigid, durable plastic that transmits oxygen. . Hard contacts have to be taken out at night and you can use the same pair for a long period of time. These lenses are also called GP lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, RGP lenses and oxygen permeable lenses. Hard contacts retain their shape on the eye. The benefits of hard contacts include healthy oxygen flow and great durability. They correct most astigmatism and offer clear vision. Hard contacts are often more difficult to adjust to than soft contacts.therefore, they are usually worn as an alternative by people who can’t wear or don’t like soft contacts. Unfortunately, you cannot adjust hard contacts’ power with the easee test.

Many cactuses symbolizing the choice of contacts

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We have 3 short questions before we can get started.

1. The eye-exam takes about 20 minutes from beginning to end. Is now a good time?

● No lost time traveling or waiting for your appointment. The only minutes spent is on the test itself.

Glad to hear you’re not in a hurry. This will improve the results.

Do you have a smartphone, together with a laptop (or tablet), and 3 meters of space at your disposal?

● Your smartphone will function as a remote, and is also used together with a laptop (or tablet) to perform the online eye-exam.

That’s great! We’re almost good to go. Just one more thing.

Do you have your current eyewear prescription at your fingertips?

● Your prescription powers your eyewear. Our optometrists use your old one as areference for validating your new prescription.

Take the exam now, or save it for later?

Based on experience, we advise you to take your time with the online eye-exam to optimize your results. We can email you a link to proceed whenever you’re ready.

    If you want to do it right now or maybe you are just curious, no problem.

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