Unless you already wear GP contact lenses, you may not know about their many advantages over soft contacts — including disposable soft contacts. Here’s a comparison chart to help you see how well these lenses perform in a number of key areas:

GP contact lens
Also known as a gas permeable or RGP (rigid gas permeable), this contact lens is made of breathable plastic that has been custom fit to the shape of the cornea. GP contact lenses are long-lasting, comfortable, easy to clean, and healthy for the eyes.

Soft lens
Made of gel-like plastic, soft contact lenses contain varying amounts of water. They provide good initial comfort for first-time wearers but must be replaced often.

Oxygen Delivery:

GP contacts are made of special polymers that allow your eyes to breathe. Oxygen is absolutely necessary to the health of your eyes.

Some soft contact lenses just don’t allow enough oxygen to get through to your eyes. This can lead to corneal problems.

Visual Acuity…

GP contacts have superior optics. Since they’re firm, they retain their shape better when you blink, so your eyes don’t have to refocus as much. And they are superb for astigmatism or bifocal needs.

When you blink, soft lenses are more likely to distort; your eyes must then refocus, which can be annoying if you’re reading, or detrimental to your performance if you’re driving or participating in sports.

Initial Comfort…

GP contact lenses require a short adaptation period.
Soft lenses are comfortable from just about the moment you put them on.

Long-Term Comfort…

GP contacts require almost no water to maintain their shape, so they won’t pull the moisture away from your eyes.
After a few hours of wear, water-absorbing soft lenses can dry out your eyes, making them itchy and tired.

Durability…
GP contacts are made of a firm plastic, so they don’t scratch or tear. And they stay clear over time.
Made of a gel-like plastic, soft lenses are easy to tear. And protein deposit buildup clouds the lenses over time.

Deposit Resistance…

Their smooth finish and lack of water retention mean they harbor fewer protein deposits from your tear film. This is healthier and more comfortable for your eyes
Since soft lenses absorb more of your tears, they are more likely to contain protein deposits from your tears and harbor bacteria. More deposits are scratchy, too.

Value

GP contacts are much less expensive to maintain; also, they last longer so you don’t have to spend as much on replacements.
Soft lenses require significant spending on cleaning supplies; and they don’t last as long, so you buy new lenses more often.

Gas Permeable RGP contact lens are available at Fine Eyewear & Eye care, located the three corners of Cedar Park, Austin and Round Rock, TX and a short drive from Georgetown, TX. Our address is 2800 E. Whitestone Blvd Suite 210 Cedar Park, TX 78613. See main website for contact information. www.FineEyewear.Net

AOA warns consumers about risks of decorative contact lenses.
Medical News Today (10/21) reports, “With Halloween approaching, the American Optometric Association (AOA) is warning consumers about the risks of wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription from an eye doctor.” While the Food and Drug Administration regulates “decorative lenses as a medical device, similar to corrective lenses,” some “decorative lenses continue to be illegally marketed and distributed directly to consumers through a variety of sources, including flea markets, the Internet, beauty salons, and convenience stores.” Paul Klein, O.D., chair of the AOA’s Contact Lens and Cornea Section, emphasized that “purchasing contact lenses without a prescription can result in serious eye health and vision damage since consumers are not properly educated on cleaning and disinfecting, nor in proper removal and application of the contact lens.” He explained that “consumers who wear these contact lenses put themselves at risk of serious bacterial infection, or even significant damage to the eye’s ability to function, with the potential for irreversible sight loss.” Additional “risks associated with the use of decorative contact lenses include conjunctivitis, swelling, allergic reaction, and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit.”