| When asked "what would you prefer - soft | | | | don't stick to them. |
| contact lenses or rigid?", most people would | | | | |
| say "soft, of course". The idea of having a | | | | Use as color contacts to change your eye |
| hard object in your eyes scares people and | | | | color |
| eye doctors know about this, so they tend to | | | | |
| prescribe soft lenses for their patients. But | | | | Here RGP lenses can't compete with soft |
| which type provides more benefits for your | | | | contacts. All color contact lenses are soft - |
| eye health and gives you better comfort and | | | | an RGP lens is smaller than the iris (the |
| vision? The answer isn't as obvious as you | | | | colored part of your eye), so it can't change |
| might think it is. | | | | your eye color effectively. |
| | | | |
| Vision clarity | | | | Which is more expensive - RGP or soft lenses? |
| | | | |
| Both high quality soft and RGP contact lenses | | | | Soft lenses cost per pair is lower than RGP |
| provide good vision. However, studies have | | | | lenses. But considering that RGP lenses are |
| shown that properly fitted RGP lenses provide | | | | usually good for at least 2 years, the |
| better vision. This is important for people | | | | picture turns the other way around. Lets say |
| who rely on their eyes in their jobs - truck | | | | you wear Acuvue 2 week disposable contacts |
| drivers, pilots - and for certain sports, | | | | and buy them at $15 (6 lenses per box). 2 |
| like shooting. | | | | years supply would cost you $ 240. This is |
| | | | definitely more than you would pay for RGP |
| Also, many soft lens wearers report that | | | | contact lenses, if you know where to buy |
| their contacts feel funny in the dark and | | | | discount contct lens. |
| their vision decreases. RGP don't have this | | | | |
| problem. | | | | On the other hand, RGP lenses can break and |
| | | | are easy to lose. So if you think that in two |
| Eye health comparison | | | | years you might loose your lens a couple |
| | | | times, soft disposable lenses are more cost |
| Two important factors determine how healthy a | | | | effective for you. |
| contact lens is for your eyes - oxygen | | | | |
| permeability and resistance to protein | | | | Comfort comparison |
| build-up. | | | | |
| | | | Many people think that rigid lenses aren't |
| RGP lenses let through 2-4 times more oxygen | | | | comfortable. This is nothing but a |
| than soft contact lens. Therefore the risk of | | | | misconception. People who wear RGP lenses |
| corneal inflammation is much lower. The only | | | | usually don't feel any discomfort; in fact, |
| soft lenses that have oxygen permeability | | | | they don't feel the lens at all. |
| comparable to RGP lenses are silicon hydrogel | | | | |
| contacts, like Focus Night and Day or Acuvue | | | | However, soft lenses feel good from the first |
| Advance | | | | time you put them in, while RGP require a 5-7 |
| | | | days adjustment period. They feel strange |
| Soft lenses are more prone to protein | | | | initially but, after a week, most people |
| build-up than RGP contacts. Of course, if you | | | | adjust to them quite well. |
| wear daily disposable soft lenses, this is | | | | |
| not an issue. But if you use monthly or | | | | If you aren't happy with the soft lenses you |
| quarterly replacement lenses, by the end of | | | | currently wear, ask your doctor if RGP |
| its life the lens is covered with proteins no | | | | contacts would be better for you. If your |
| matter how carefully you clean it. RGP are | | | | optometrist knows that you aren't afraid of |
| made from totally different material - | | | | the word "rigid", he or she might suggest |
| plainly said proteins and other secretions | | | | that RGP lenses would suit your better. |