Contacts That Correct Your Vision

When it comes to correcting less-than-ideal vision, there's no perfect solution. Glasses work but often get in the way of an active lifestyle. Contact lenses, on the other hand, correct a variety of vision disorders while not interfering with an active lifestyle. You can choose from a variety of options, but they all have limitations, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Rigid Gas Permeable

• According to the American Optometric Association, rigid gas permeable contact lenses, or RGP lenses, provide sharp correction for most vision problems. You can choose bifocal lenses as an alternative to bifocal glasses. The lenses allow oxygen to pass through to the eye and resist deposit buildups. Though you will need a few weeks to adjust to the RGP lenses, they will provide long-term, comfortable wear.

Soft Contact Lenses

• The flexible plastics used in soft lenses allow most wearers to adjust to the lenses within a few days. They may feel more comfortable in the eye than RGP lenses. Unlike RGP lenses, daily-wear soft lenses are difficult to dislodge. Soft lenses also don't correct your vision as crisply as the RGP lenses, soil easily and require a meticulous cleaning routine.

Extended Wear Lenses

• Extended wear lenses are designed for overnight wear. Some can be worn one night and others can be worn up to 30 days. According to the FDA, if you wear extended wear lenses, let your eyes rest for at least one night after you remove them at the scheduled interval. Because they can remain in contact with the eye for extended periods, the risk for complications increase.

Disposable

• If you hate the cleaning routine of regular contact lenses, disposable lenses might fit your lifestyle. Depending on the type of lens your optometrist recommends, you can throw these lenses away after they reach the end of use. True disposable lenses are discarded after one day, although some of the extended wear lenses are often called disposable lenses. You might find disposable lenses more difficult to handle, but their short lifespan generally means you will have fewer concerns about the health of your eyes.

Orthokeratology Lenses

• If you dislike wearing any kind of corrective lens, orthokeratology lenses might interest you. According to the FDA, these lenses work best for near-sighted vision. You wear these RGP lenses while you sleep, allowing the RGP lenses to reshape the contours of your cornea. In the morning, you remove the lenses and enjoy corrected vision throughout the day. Some wearers have experienced correction to 20/20 or better, but results vary. Some people notice declining correction as the day progresses. You must wear the lenses every night to maintain your cornea's corrected contour.