What are the Different Types of Contact Lenses?

If you wear glasses and are considering changing to contact lenses or would like to wear them occasionally, you may be wondering exactly what is available.

Soft Contact Lenses

There are around 3.7 million contact lens wearers in the UK alone. The majority of these wear soft contact lenses. Soft contact lenses are the lens of choice for many people as they are made from the latest optical technology, meaning they are comfortable, flexible and breathable. They feature an adaptable design which makes them compatible for almost anyone who wants to wear them.

Soft contact lenses can also be worn intermittently and are therefore the ideal choice for those who want to switch between wearing glasses and contact lenses.

There are multiple types of soft contact lenses, depending on different wearing patterns. These include:

Daily Disposables- are designed to be worn for one day only and then thrown away. They do not require any additional products such as contact lens solutions, though some people like to use eye drops when their eyes feel dry.

Two weekly disposables- these lenses require daily cleaning and overnight storage and should be disposed of after two weeks of wear. You will need a compatible contact lens solution to do this, and your optician will recommend the best one for you.

Monthly disposables- these lenses also require daily cleaning and overnight storage but should be disposed off after a month of wear. Buying monthly disposable lenses is more cost effective than dailies and is ideal for those who want to wear lenses for 5 or more days a week.

Extended wear- these lenses are a popular choice for many as they can be worn continuously for a period of time, often around 30 days. This means they do not need to be taken out when you go to sleep or shower, meaning they are low maintenance and ideal for those who are on the go.

Gas Permeable Contact Lenses

Also known as hard lenses, gas permeable (GP) lenses can be created to match different prescriptions and eye types; ideal for those who are harder to fit with soft lenses. GP lenses are more durable than soft lenses and can be worn for longer periods of time. Many people opt to wear GP lenses daily, and they need to be replaced every six to twelve months.

Gas permeable lenses are ideal for people who:

• Have an astigmatism
• Have an eye condition that causes irregularity to the shape
• Have worn soft lenses but find their vision isn’t sharp enough

Coloured Contact Lenses

Coloured contact lenses are soft lenses that are worn to change a person’s eye colour. They are available in daily or monthly disposables and in a range of colours and shades. Coloured contact lenses can also be purchased to match an existing prescription for both long and short-sightedness.

They can also be worn by people who do not have an existing prescription. This is called ‘no prescription’ or ‘plano’ contact lenses.

If you’re fed up of wearing contact lenses or glasses and would like more information on how corrective eye surgery could help you, get in touch today! Give us a call on 01744 646 643 or visit our contact page for more information.