Difference Between Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses & Soft Contact Lenses

A common problem for contact lens wearers is dry eyes. Contact lenses become dry and the eye's oxygen supply is cut off, resulting in tired eyes. However, silicone hydrogel contact lenses offer improvements on traditional soft lenses that keep the eyes from drying.

Soft Contacts

• Regular soft contact lenses are made with plastic, which does not allow oxygen to reach the eyes. Extra water in the lenses feeds oxygen to the eyes, but this water dissipates as the day wears on, causing the lenses to dehydrate.

Dry Eyes

• When soft contact lenses with a high water content lose their water over time, the wearer feels the itchiness and discomfort of dry eyes.

Silicone Hydrogel Lenses

• Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are made with hydrogel instead of plastic, allowing six times more oxygen to reach the eye than with regular soft contacts.

Comfort

• Because silicone hydrogel contacts allow the eye to breathe oxygen, they do not carry as much water--meaning they do not dehydrate as readily as regular soft lenses. This increases all-day comfort for the wearer.

Eye Infection

• Silicone hydrogel contacts also reduce the risk of eye infection, since their low water content prevents bacterial buildup.