Choosing between Soft and Hard Contact Lenses

As an ophthalmic assistant with Charlotte Optometric Clinic, Donnie Rhett Koonce performs optical screenings. Donnie Rhett Koonce has a knowledge of eye conditions that impact vision, as well as corrective lens options.

One significant decision point among those who opt for contacts over glasses is whether to choose soft or hard lenses. Crafted from flexible plastic, soft lenses interact with water in allowing a ready flow of oxygen through the lens to the cornea. This not only increases comfort, but also helps keep the eye healthy. Made to last for several days, the disposable lenses can target near- and farsightedness, as well as blurred vision and age-related conditions.

Contemporary hard contact lenses represent a major improvement over past models. Rigid gas permeable lens technologies are used, such that some oxygen is able to transfer through the lens. Durable and long lasting, they also make the development of nearsightedness a more gradual process.

Drawbacks include the potential of the lens to dislodge from the eye’s center and vulnerability to scratches. Additionally, people must wear hard lenses regularly in order to become accustomed to them. Many people choose to start off wearing soft lenses and eventually switch to hard lenses as they become used to them.