Soft contact lenses are made from a plastic hydrogel polymer, hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) and have a high water content. Soft contact lenses tend to be more comfortable than hard lenses, but hard lenses usually provide sharper vision. Soft contact lenses have a higher risk of corneal ulcer than rigid lenses, but all lenses have some risk. Disposable contact lenses worn extended wear were found to have a much higher risk of corneal ulcer than any other type of lens, for reasons that are not fully understood.
Soft contact lenses are made from hydrophilic plastics that contain water. In fact they may contain anywhere from 30-75% water depending on what type of wearing schedule they are designed for. Soft contact lenses easily absorb pollutants like lotion or soap from your hands, which can irritate your eyes. Soft contact lenses are also more fragile than hard contact lenses and can rip or tear easily. Soft contact lenses, are made from gel-like plastics, are all gas permeable, and come in many different levels of water-content, which allows different levels of oxygen to reach the cornea. Most people choose soft lenses over hard contact lenses because they are generally more comfortable.
Soft contact lenses come in a wider variety of replacement schedules. Soft contact lenses also benefit from wet conditions since the blotting procedure introduces significant errors. An instrument with a high degree of accuracy is needed to compensate for the reduced sensitivity due to the small refractive index difference between the lens and saline. Soft contact lenses are lenses made of hydrophilic (water-loving) plastics that absorb liquids. When these materials soak up liquids, they become soft and mold to fit the eyeball.
Disposable soft contact lenses are to be worn temporarily, usually for one day at a time, and then thrown away. These lenses are easier to take care of as they usually do not require cleaning. Disposable lenses are sometimes recommended for people with allergies and for those who tend to form deposits on their lenses.
Rigid lenses generally require a somewhat longer adjustment period. Rigid lenses are a very good option as well, but take some getting used to. Many parents get concerned about this adaptation time, and don't want to consider rigid lenses, but they provide great vision, are cheaper, and healthy. Rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses are made of a non-absorbent material that is oxygen permeable. RGP lenses are durable and easy to handle like hard contact lenses, but more comfortable to wear, though usually not as comfortable as soft contact lenses.
Rigid gas permeable lenses, or hard contact lenses, are more rigid than soft contact lenses and therefore more durable. Unlike older versions of hard contact lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses are made with silicone polymers, allowing oxygen to circulate to the cornea of the eye. Rigid and soft bifocal and multifocal contact lenses can also be successful, but the fitting procedure is time-consuming because precise alignment is essential.
Soft contact lenses fit perfectly on the eye balls and are not felt by the user. They are used to correct vision and are better than rigid lenses because they fit exactly on the eye balls. Soft contact lenses are used to correct near sightedness or far sightedness and also problems related to bifocal vision.
It is also possible to have a specialized type of soft contact lenses to reshape the cornea while wearing them during night time. But the draw back is, they have to be worn compulsorily every night, to get a good vision the next day. Since soft contact lenses blend well on the eye balls, the chances of dust particles entering the eyes are minimum.
Soft contact lenses are made up of a special kind of material to retain the moisture of the eyes and make the surface of the contact lens stay wet. The main advantage of soft contact lenses over their other counter parts is that, they allow free flow of oxygen and are permeable thus maintaining healthy eyes.
Though disposable, soft contact lenses are a little expensive, but they are preferred because they alleviate the need to clean the lenses and store them in a contact lens solution, specifically manufactured for this purpose. Even in soft contact lenses colored lenses are available, which serve aesthetic purposes .When disposable contact lenses are used, the user has the facility of wearing them intermittently like week end or occasions. There are extended wear soft contact lenses which are worn overnight for one week and replaced every one to two weeks. But they have to be disposed in the prescribed time; otherwise it would be an invitation to potential disaster.
The most common problems occurring for the wearer of soft contact lenses can be irritation of eyes and blurred vision. These inconveniences should be evaluated in the initial stages. Upon removal of the contact lenses, if the blurred vision lasts for hours, then the medical practitioner should be consulted immediately.
The size of the soft contact lenses can vary from 13 to 14.50 mm and as they are thinner, they are almost weightless and the wearer will barely feel the presence of the soft contact lenses. Soft contact lenses tend to absorb the many kinds of pollutants like lotion or soap which may cause irritation to the eyes and are prone to be torn off. Nevertheless, it is advisable to consult the eye specialist before choosing the type of soft contact lenses.
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