Life is full of choices, and one choice those with visual impairment can make is to wear prescription contact lenses instead of traditional glasses.
The first step in making any choice about your eye care is to make an appointment and have a discussion with your eye doctor. They can help you not only weigh the pros and cons of different contact lens types and manufacturers, and of course, are the ones that will help determine the exact prescription you will need.
How to Choose Contact Lenses: Daily vs. Monthly
When it comes to choosing your contact lenses, there are too many factors related to your personal comfort and preference for someone to make a choice for you. However, as eye health professionals, we do have advice on how to narrow down your options.
In this article, we are helping you choose the best contact lenses for your vision prescription, focusing on the differences between daily and extended-wear lenses.
The Differences in Contact Lens Material
Contact lenses are manufactured from differing types of plastic depending on the intended application. There are two types that make up most daily wear lenses.
Soft contact lenses are the most common type of contact lenses. They are made of hydrophilic plastics, or plastics that can absorb water. This ability to absorb moisture makes them ideal for wearing on the eye as it helps prevent drying the eyes. But they must be kept hydrated, or they become brittle and can break.
The second type of daily wear contact lenses can be referred to as ‘hard’ lenses but may often be referred to as RGP or Rigid Gas Permeable lenses. In contrast to the soft lens type above, these don’t absorb water and are more rigid in shape, but they do allow oxygen to flow freely through the lens.
Both traditional types of lenses above are usually recommended to be removed at night for cleaning, disinfection, and rehydration. Hence the term daily wear.
But there is a third type that allows for wear over an extended duration.
Extended-wear lenses evolved out of the traditional soft contact lens varieties, combining that water-absorbing plastic with more flexible silicone into a compound called silicone hydrogel. This combination results in a lens that not only retains moisture well but also can allow oxygen to move through the lens. These lenses are also thinner and more comfortable to wear.
Daily, Extended-Use, and Disposable Lenses
While different materials lend themselves better to certain use recommendations, each manufacturer will specify if a lens is disposable, able to be re-used for daily wear, or safe for extended wear durations.
- Daily Wear Soft Lenses: The least expensive choice is soft daily wear lenses. These lenses are worn during the day and then removed at night to be cleaned and disinfected. The length of time you can reuse a single pair of daily-wear lenses varies depending on the manufacturer.
- Extended-Wear Soft Contact Lenses: You can wear extended wear soft contact lenses when sleeping; most must be removed at least once a week for cleaning and disinfecting, but there are a few that are approved to leave in up to 30 days. It is important to note, however, that nighttime use raises the risk of eye infections, so many discourage their use.
- Disposable Lenses: Compared to other soft contact lenses, disposable lenses are the safest to wear. The lenses can be worn during the day and removed at night but are only recommended for a single use before throwing them away.
Making the Right Choice for You
When it comes to making a choice about what type of contact lens prescription to choose, you will want to determine the best fit for your lifestyle and your eyes. There is not a one size fits all option, and you should always be sure to have a good discussion with your eye doctor when deciding to make the switch from glasses to contact lenses or between contact lens types.
Here are some general recommendations that may help inform that discussion.
- Traditional soft lenses are more comfortable to use than stiff lenses, and it is easier to make the adjustment to them from glasses.
- RGB Lenses are generally more breathable than soft contact lenses, lowering the risk of infection. For most vision disorders, rigid or hard contact lenses provide clearer, crisp vision.
- Extended-wear lenses give a good combination and are good for individuals who may otherwise struggle with upkeep on regular lenses.
Once you have made your choice, you must commit to taking care of your contact lenses (unless you are using daily disposable lenses). For reusable lenses, it is vital to be vigilant about taking them out as prescribed, cleaning, and disinfecting them.
Additionally, it is essential to take care of your eyes. If you have allergies or experience dry eyes, you may need to switch from contacts to glasses during some seasons.
Asheville Vision and Wellness Can Help
Asheville Vision and Wellness has been helping patients throughout the mountains of western North Carolina with their eye care needs since 1989. We provide comprehensive eye care from annual exams, management of chronic conditions, glasses, and contact lenses.
If you would like more information on how to love your eyes and protect your eyesight, you can check out further reading on contact lenses, sunglasses, and protective eyewear in our articles on the following subjects.
Come see what sets us apart and put yourself on a path to healthier eyes. You can conveniently schedule an appointment online or call on weekdays during our office hours. We would be more than happy to help determine a care plan that helps keep you seeing clearly.