Gas Permeable Contact Lenses : Filling a Special Niche
Many contact lens wearers were relieved when new technology made contact lenses softer and more comfortable, with choices ranging from hard contact lenses of the old days, to rigid gas permeable contact lenses, to soft contact lenses. It is a common impression that it is now best to choose soft contact lenses, because they can provide maximum comfort and ease of care, especially with disposable lenses. However, a lot of people don't know that there is still a special niche occupied by rigid gas permeable contact lenses which makes them the best choice of contact lens in certain circumstances.
Yes, it is true that soft contact lenses can be more comfortable and convenient than gas permeable contact lenses. Because gas permeable lenses are more rigid and hold their shape, it takes a little time for your eyes to get used to them and become comfortable, whereas soft lenses are usually immediately comfortable when you first start wearing them. Sometimes the ridge around a gas permeable lens can irritate the eye and may need to be adjusted to fit the cornea better. Also, you can quit wearing your soft lenses for awhile, and then start again with no problem. With gas permeable contact lenses, if you quit wearing them for awhile and then start again, it will take some time to adjust to them again before they are comfortable.
Even so, rigid gas permeable contact lenses may be the most desirable option in some cases. For example, some patients may have substantially misshapen corneas (such as patients with "keratoconus" - a cone-shaped cornea), and a soft lens cannot be properly fitted. The best thing about rigid gas permeable contact lenses in this situation is that they can be properly fitted to such a patient, due to their rigidity and ability to hold a certain shape.
Another example of what's great about gas permeable contact lenses is the ability to use such lenses in the process of reshaping the cornea, called "orthokeratology". The rigid properties of gas permeable lenses allow them to mold the shape of they eye. This can be detected when a patient removes their gas permeable lenses, and they still continue to have clear vision for a short time after removing the lenses. A patient's rigid lenses can be changed to a different shape gradually over time, thereby molding their corneas gradually to a desired shape. Then they can be fitted with a soft maintenance lens to keep that shape thereafter. Such reshaping is not possible with soft lenses.
Some patients making comparisons between gas permeable contact lenses and soft contacts don't realize some of the other special advantages that gas permeable contacts have. They last longer, are stronger and won't tear or break as easily, so they are less expensive. They provide better visual acuity, more choices in bifocal designs, and allow more oxygen to reach the eye. They resist protein build-up and don't absorb chemicals like soft lenses do (e.g. - soaps, lotions, perfume, etc.). Comparisons of gas permeable contacts with soft lenses also show that gas permeables are available with many of the same convenient options such as lenses tinted with various colors, extended wear (overnight) lenses, and discount lenses.
As long as there are contact lens patients with special needs; like unique corneal shapes, the desire for orthokeratological reshaping, or the need for a high level of visual acuity (required by certain professions); rigid gas permeable contact lenses will always be needed to fill a special niche. They may take a little more getting used to at first, and may require cleaning since they are not disposable; but they are still your best choice if you are one of those people who has those special needs or want the unique benefits that only gas permeable lenses can provide.
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