Are you considering wearing soft contact lenses? Maybe because
you found out a refractive error or maybe you want to switch from eyeglasses to
contacts, whatever the reason is, we will provide you with a complete guide
including the types, benefits and drawbacks of soft eye contact lenses.
We will also list down and briefly describe the type of
refractive errors that can be corrected by using soft contacts.
Types of Contact Lenses
1. Soft Contact Lens
This type of lens is made with flexible plastic material using
new optical technology which enables such lenses to adjust according to your
eye allowing you to have a comfortable vision and enables oxygen to pass
through making it breathable. Due to its flexibility and adaptivity, it is
prescribed the most by opticians.
Soft contact lenses are further categorized as:
·
Daily-Wear (Daily
Disposable) Contact Lens: Such lens, by its name, is designed in a way which
only allows wearers to enjoy it for only a day after which it is thrown away.
·
Weekly and
Monthly Disposables: These lens type offer same features as daily-wear with
the exception that weekly and monthly disposable can be worn for a week or two
and a month respectively.
·
Extended
Wear: Extended wear contacts are made up of silicone hydrogel, an
advanced lens material which allows the lens to transmit oxygen 5 times more
than ordinary lens in reaching corneal tissues. More transmission of oxygen
makes it much more breathable which is why they can be worn for a continuous
period of time, for up to 30 days. Note that during showers and sleeping, you
don’t have to take them off.
Benefits of Soft Contact Lens
1. Flexible
The adapting nature of this lens allows the wearers to have a
comfortable vision as it adjust according to your eye shape, and such
compatibility allows almost anyone to wear it without any hassle.
2. Cost Effective
Although buying contact lens might be expensive but it
becomes even more expensive when spending has to be allocated towards
maintenance and repair.
Soft contact lens also comes in daily wear, which do not
request for any maintenance like solutions, containers, cleaning etc. because
it is easily worn throughout a day without accumulating dirt and debris.
Let’s say you require contact lens for only a day and then
you might not need it for another 2 months, buying daily disposable contacts
would save you daily maintenance cost.
3. Less Time Allocated Towards Care
Extended-wear contact lens as mentioned above can be worn for
a month without taking them off, such as while sleeping, showering etc.
therefore, a busy person may not need to spend a lot of time in caring and
maintenance.
Drawbacks of Soft Contact Lens
1. Soft Lens Tear Easily
Being made up of soft plastic material, this lens is highly
susceptible to scratches and tearing therefore, when cleaning a lot of
attention has to be paid otherwise a slightly mistake may lead to eye
infections and poor vision.
2. Absorbs Water From Eyes Leading to Dry Eyes
Soft contacts are not highly recommended for long time
wearing as they absorb water from eyes which results in dry eyes, due to this
reason it is to be removed after few hours of wearing or else blurred vision
and irritation may be the consequence.
Soft Contact Lens Corrects the Following Eye Problem
·
Myopia: Refractive
error that relates to a weak vision of distant objects, also referred to as
nearsightedness.
·
Hyperopia: Vision
problem also known as farsightedness which makes near objects to appear
blurred.
·
Astigmatism:
This is a vision problem which is common as it causes blurred vision due
to the cornea being shaped asymmetrically, or sometimes due to the curvature of
the lens inside the eyes.
·
Presbyopic:
It is an age related problem especially found in people above age 40. At
that age, the lens loses the ability to focus automatically on close objects because
the eye focuses light behind, instead of focusing on the retina. This error can
occur along with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.
