While you may be most familiar with soft contact lenses, a second, less familiar type of contact lenses exists: rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, sometimes referred to oxygen permeable lenses.
In reality, GP lenses involve newer technology than soft contacts, and they last longer, allow better vision quality, and offer increased durability. Further RGP lenses may also be less expensive in the long term than soft lenses. Certainly, its best to first discuss with an optometrist to determine if GPs suit your lifestyle. Our optometry staff can help you figure out if you’re a candidate for hard lenses.
Since a GP is made of inflexible material, it does a good job of maintaining its form when you blink, which tends to provide sharper vision than the typical soft lens. In addition RGPs are extremely strong. Though they will break if stepped on, they don’t tear easily like soft lenses. Also, because they're composed of substances that don't contain water, proteins or lipids from your tears won't adhere to RGPs as easily as they do to soft lenses. People that are especially fussy about vision quality will most likely choose RGPs.
RGPs are also a good choice for people that have special considerations such as astigmatism, presbyopia or keratoconus, in which standard contacts may not produce the desired visual acuity. RGPs are also suitable for those who need contact lenses after refractive surgery.
If you're looking into GP lenses, be sure to first ask your eye doctor to ascertain if you truly are a candidate. Who knows…hard lenses could be the right match for you!