Soft contact lenses

Soft contact lenses were first developed in 1960’s but were not available to the public until the 1970’s and 1980’s. They are made from a soft, water friendly plastic which allows oxygen to pass through to the eye. This is essential for eye health.

Soft contact lenses have become with many people for a variety of reasons, the main ones being comfort, flexibility and convenience. They are easy to use and fit neatly and securely over the cornea.

These lenses are worn to correct a variety of eye problems which include myopia (short sightedness) and hyperopia (long sightedness) but are also worn for aesthetic reasons (novelty lenses) and sports participation.

There are even soft lenses for people with astigmatism or presbyopia.

Types of soft contact lenses

There are many different varieties of soft lens which includes:

• Daily disposable lenses
• Two weekly disposable lenses
• Monthly disposable lenses
• Continuous wear lenses
• Astigmatic lenses
• Multifocal lenses
• Varifocal lenses
• Coloured contact lenses
• Silicone hydrogel lenses
• Toric lenses
• Bifocal lenses
• Novelty lenses
• Sports lenses
• Vial lenses
• Implantable lenses

Visit any of these sections to find out more about a particular type of lens.

The main characteristic of soft lenses is their ability to mould themselves to the shape of your eye. This softness and flexibility means that they are comfortable to wear and easier to adapt to than hard or gas permeable lenses.

They are also popular with people who play sport or have a physically demanding job as they are less likely to move around or fall out of the eye.

These benefits are often why people choose soft lenses in preference to gas permeable lenses.

Disadvantages of soft contact lenses

Whilst there are undoubtedly, many benefits to wearing soft lenses there are a few disadvantages as well which include:

• Thinner and liable to tear or break: fragile compared to gas permeable lenses.
• Not suitable for every type of eye problem
• Have to be replaced on a regular basis

These are just a few things to consider if you are looking to buy soft contact lenses.

We have presented this information about soft contact lenses in an objective manner which enables you to consider all the alternatives before making up your mind. There are pros and cons to all type of lenses which means thinking through each of these before deciding which pair is right for you.

As we have said: this is an individual decision so what is right for you may not be for another person.