At a glance
- There are many different contact lens types available, all of which require a prescription from an eye care provider.
- Talk to your eye care provider if you’re thinking about getting contact lenses or changing your contact lens type.
Overview
Wearing contact lenses without a proper fitting and lens care instructions from an eye care provider can lead to eye injury, infection, or other complications.
To get a prescription for contact lenses, an eye care provider will:
- Perform a complete examination of your eyes
- Try contact lenses on your eyes
- Determine how the contact lenses fit on your eyes
- Test your vision through the contact lenses
- Give you instructions on proper contact lens wear and care
Types
Contact lens types may differ based on what they are made from (lens material), how long they are designed for wearing each day (wear schedule), and how often they should be replaced (replacement schedule).
The most common types of contact lenses are:
- Soft lenses or hard lenses
- Worn daily or for an extended period
- Daily disposable or planned replacement
Less commonly, people wear other types of contact lenses for special reasons.
Contact lens material
There are two general categories of contact lenses – soft and rigid gas permeable.
Soft
Soft contact lenses are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea—the clear dome that covers the colored part of the eye. This lens material may be easier to adjust to and provide better initial comfort than hard, or rigid gas permeable, contact lenses. Soft contact lenses are the most common lens material worn.
Hard, or Rigid Gas Permeable
Hard, or rigid gas permeable contact lenses are more durable than soft contact lenses and are resistant to buildup of eye-produced deposits on the lens surface. Hard contact lenses generally provide clearer, crisper vision. They also tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft contact lenses.
Hard contact lenses are easier to handle and less likely to tear. However, they may take a longer period of time to adjust to as compared to soft contact lenses. They also require a more complex cleaning and disinfection process than soft contact lenses.
Contact lens wear schedule
Daily wear
Daily wear contact lenses are intended for use during the day. They are not designed for overnight wear. Sleeping in daily wear contact lenses can increase the chances of getting a serious eye infection. To properly care for daily wear contacts:
- Remove the contact lenses each night
- Rub and rinse with contact lens solution
- Place in a clean contact lens storage case filled with fresh contact lens solution
Extended wear
Extended wear contact lenses are available for overnight wear ranging from one to six nights or up to 30 days. Extended wear contact lenses are usually made of soft plastics that allow more oxygen to pass through to the cornea. There are also a few brands of hard contact lenses designed and approved for overnight wear.
Length of continuous wear depends on the contact lens type and your eye care provider’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. It’s important for the eyes to have a rest without lenses for at least one night following each scheduled removal. Talk with your eye care provider before considering this option, as overnight contact lens wear has been linked to serious eye infections.
Contact lens replacement schedule
The majority of soft contact lens wearers must replace their contact lenses according to a schedule prescribed by an eye care provider.
Daily disposable
Disposable contact lenses—as defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—are used once and then thrown away. With a true daily disposable schedule, a brand new pair of lenses is used each day. Wearing daily disposable contact lenses for more than one day may cause eye discomfort or other complications. Discard daily disposable contact lenses at the end of each day, and put in a new pair the next day.
Planned replacement
Some soft contact lenses are labeled as "disposable," but they may be removed nightly and re-worn for multiple days. Replacement schedules for these contact lenses can vary from seven to 30 days. Talk to your eye care provider about the proper schedule for replacing your specific type of contact lens.
Replace your contact lenses as often as your eye care provider tells you. Wearing contact lenses longer than the recommended replacement schedule can lead to eye discomfort or other complications.
Special contact lens types
The types of contact lenses listed above correct vision in the same way that glasses do, only they are in contact with the eye. There are additional contact lens types that people may use to enhance eye color, correct special vision problems or even treat eye diseases.
- Combines a rigid gas-permeable center with a soft outer skirt for comfort and stability. Designed for individuals with irregular corneas, providing clear vision.
- Since they are newer, they have limited options and fewer eye care providers who fit them compared to soft or hard contact lenses.
- Designed hard contact lenses to change the shape of the cornea. Temporarily corrects vision and is mainly used in patients who are nearsighted.
- Most often prescribed to be worn while sleeping. Must be worn every night—or on some other prescribed schedule—in order to maintain the treatment effect.
- Discuss with an eye care provider to determine the best maintenance schedule.
- Larger type of hard, or rigid gas permeable contact lens. They rest on the sclera—the white part of the eye—and not the cornea.
- Often prescribed to patients with damaged corneas or patients with severe dry eye conditions.
- Follow eye care providers’ instructions for proper wear and care for wearing lenses.
- Enhances or changes the color of the eye.
- Available with and without vision correction, but all contact lenses require a prescription from an eye care provider.