Understanding the Different Types of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses have many advantages over glasses. One is that you don’t need to worry about caring for your glasses. But, out of all the types of contacts available, which kind is right for you?

There are many factors to consider when selecting contact lenses. And our team of optical experts at Benjamin Optical is here to help you understand the different types.

Soft contact lenses

Soft contact lenses are more common, as most patients choose this type. They’re much more comfortable and you have a range of options, from daily or extended wear to colored contacts.

Daily wear

The name says it all: Put them in when you wake up, take them out when you go to sleep. Daily wear contact lenses are disposable and designed to be worn once a day and thrown away. 

Sleeping in daily wear lenses isn’t recommended, as they can starve your eyes of oxygen. It can also cause corneal damage and increase your risk of eye infections.

Our team at Benjamin Optical recommends this option if you don’t wear contact lenses that often. They’re easy to put in and remove, they’re comfortable, and they can be worn for up to 12 hours a day.

Extended wear

Extended wear contacts can stay in your eyes for more than a day, sometimes several days at a time. Some patients choose to sleep in them too. Extended wear contacts can also be disposable, and you wear them anywhere from two to seven days.

If you choose extended lenses, it’s important to know that you need to remove them for cleaning at least once a week. While convenient, extended wear contacts do increase the risk of eye complications and infections.

The reason is that your eyes need oxygen to stay healthy and fight off bacterial infections, such as bacterial keratitis. This condition occurs when Staphylococcus aureus gets in your eye and infects your cornea.

Colored contact lenses

Colored or tinted contact lenses are simply lenses that are tinted to change the color of your eyes. They’re soft contact lenses that can be either daily wear or extended wear.

Hard contact lenses

Hard contact lenses are made of flexible plastic and other materials. They’re firm and hold their shape well, while also allowing oxygen to pass over your eyes. The most common type is a rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lens.

Hard lenses can correct most vision problems. However, these types of lenses, specifically RGP lenses, work best for patients with astigmatism and keratoconus. 

Keratoconus changes the shape of your cornea, causing blurred vision. RGP lenses provide better vision correction for this condition because of the material they’re made from. They’re able to better fit on an unevenly curved cornea.

Find out which type of contact lenses are right for you

Whether you want to swap your glasses out for contact lenses, or if you just want more options, our team at Benjamin Optical can find out which type of lenses are best for you. A detailed eye examination can help us match your eye’s unique shape and health to the right style of contact lenses.

To learn more about contact lenses, call our team at Benjamin Optical to schedule your appointment. Or, use our online booking tool to schedule your consultation.