Types, Benefits and Drawbacks of Soft Contact Lenses

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.