Soft vs Hard Contact Lenses

SOFT VS HARD CONTACT LENSES

Today there are so many different types of contact lenses on the market that no matter what your pre-existing conditions you should be able to find a contact that is right for you. One of the biggest differences in contact lenses is whether you choose hard or soft lenses. There are benefits and drawbacks to each type and your optometrist will be able to recommend the best type of contact lens to you based on your personal situation. However, here you can read about the different benefits and drawbacks of soft vs. hard contact lenses and then you will not only be more educated but will likely have an idea of which type of contact will be best for you.

Soft Contact Lens Ratings

Soft contact lenses are wonderful, yet they are not perfect. Consider the following information that pertains to soft contact lenses to learn all there is to know. First of all, soft contact lenses come in three varieties from daily wear to extended wear and disposable wear as well. Because of this some soft contact lenses are better in some categories than others. Here all three will be discussed so you can get a good idea.

For sharpness of vision soft contact lenses are wonderful. In fact, daily wear lenses are considered excellent and provide extra sharp vision as if you had perfect vision. The other types of soft lenses like extended wear and disposable both have very good ratings when it comes to sharpness of vision as well.

When it comes to the correction of astigmatism soft contact lenses are not overly successful. In fact, it does not matter what type of soft contact you choose to use you will not be able to correct your astigmatism perfectly. There is new technology in soft contact lenses that is making them able to correct astigmatism more and more. However, at the moment they are not the best choice for astigmatism sufferers. The daily wear and extended wear soft contact lenses do correct astigmatism to some degree and are ok for individuals with just a hint of astigmatism. However, those individuals with a large degree might choose another option. Disposable contact lenses do not offer any correction for astigmatism sufferers.

Those individuals with an irregular curvature cannot wear soft contact lenses of any kind. Well, at least not if they are expecting some for of correction from wearing the soft lenses because unfortunately soft contact lenses cannot correct irregular curvature.

An area where soft contact lenses have an excellent rating is with adjustment period. When you get new soft contact lenses it takes anywhere from a few hours to a week to adjust to them. That is no time at all and then you will be enjoying your contact lenses like you always had them. Then, soft contact lenses have a comfort rating of excellent because they seem to become part of your eye and individuals with soft contact lenses simply adore them when it comes to comfort because you can't even tell you have them on most of the time. So, when it comes to comfort, soft contact lenses come out on top.

Extended wear is another consideration when it comes to contacts. Soft contacts do have the option for extended wear if you purchase the disposable or extended wear versions. Daily wear soft contacts are not recommended for extended wear.

Daily disposables: These contacts are only worn once and then thrown away. The benefits of Daily Disposables include never having to clean your contact lenses, convenient replacement schedule, and reduction of dry eye and irritation related to contact solutions. If you are an allergy sufferer, these are the contacts for you.

Silicone extended wear disposables: These are made with a new material that can be worn for up to 30 nights and days. The new silicone material also prevents deposit build up and reduces dry eye irritation.

Hard Contact Lens Ratings

Hard contact lenses have been around for longer than soft contact lenses, yet they still beat out soft contact lenses on several fronts. On the other hand, soft contact lenses are considered better than hard on several fronts as well. So, you need to read the description and decide if hard contact lenses would be beneficial to you or if you prefer the soft contact lenses.

The first comparison is for sharpness. Hard contact lenses are known for outstanding sharpness of vision and everyone that wears them really enjoys seeing clearly with sharp resolution. This is perhaps one of the best benefits of hard contact lenses.

Another benefit of hard contact lenses are the fact that they are excellent at correcting astigmatism. Most individuals with astigmatism, whether mild or extreme, that wear contact lenses are wearing hard contact lenses.

Those with an irregular curvature also benefit from hard contact lenses because these lenses are capable of correcting this problem whereas soft contact lenses are not. If you have an irregular curvature and are tired of glasses then give hard contact lenses a try.

The adjustment period for hard contact lenses is actually quite a long time at 1-4 weeks. Individuals have a tough time getting used to the contact lenses, but by the time they do they find them rather comfortable. Generally, hard contact lenses are considered to have a very good rating according many wearers regarding comfort.

Also, when it comes to extended wear hard contact lenses are a great option because they are comfortable and allow the wearer to keep them in for some time. Your doctor will let you know how long is appropriate, but hard contact lenses are rated high for long wear.

When it comes to durability, hard contact lenses can last for years. The material they are made of is more durable and because of this hard contact lenses last at least twice as long as soft lenses.

Toric Contact Lenses

Toric lenses are special lenses for people with astigmatism. They made from the same material as other contact lenses and come in soft or rigid gas permeable forms. Like bifocal lenses, toric lenses have two powers, one for the astigmatism and another for myopia or hyperopia if either of these conditions is also present.

Making the Choice - Hard or Soft Lenses

As you can see both soft contact lenses and hard contact lenses have their benefits. It is up to you and your optometrist to make the best decision regarding the lenses that you want and your eye prescription and needs. You will enjoy many benefits with each type of lens, but it is up to you to decide the lens that will be best for your lifestyle, eyesight, and your budget.