Hard Lenses And Hybrid Lenses: What You Need To Know

Hard Lenses

Gas permeable lenses, commonly referred to as "hard lenses", are an alternative to soft lenses many lens wearers should consider. Historically, they have a reputation for being rigid and uncomfortable. They were made of a hard material called PMMA, which didn't let oxygen through — though this is crucial to eye health. 

However, technology has now moved on almost beyond recognition and the new generation of hard lenses actually offers many advantages over soft lenses:

• Partly made of oxygen permeable silicone, modern hard lenses let more oxygen into the eye than most types of soft lenses.
• Rigid gas permeable lenses offer better clarity of vision than soft contact lenses. 
• They last for longer and have better deposit resistance because they don't contain water as soft lenses do. Though they may cost more upfront, the durability of hard lenses means they are often cheaper than soft lenses in the long run. (As long as you don't lose them, which does happen, or need a prescription change, which also happens.)

Yes, believe it or not, hard lenses can actually last you for years! So, what's the downside of hard lenses? For one, they require an adjustment period. While soft lenses are easy to get used to, making them a great option for people who are new to lenses, hard lenses take a while before they feel comfortable in your eyes. Not wearing them for a week or longer means the user has to go through the adjustment period all over again. What's more, hard lenses have a smaller diameter. They are designed to move around as the user blinks, but this also means they are more likely to come out during vigorous physical activities. It's also more likely you'll get debris (dust, insects, eyeliner, and so on) stuck between hard lenses and the surface of the eye. This can be very uncomfortable and lead to infections. 

Caring For Hard Lenses

Hard lenses have a similar care routine as soft lenses. After washing and drying your hands removing the lens, place a few drops of cleansing solution on the lens and start rubbing it gently. Rinse the lens, rub it again, and repeat rinsing one more time. Place the lens in a lens storage container with fresh lens fluid and never reuse the same solution. You may also use an enzymatic cleaner that helps remove protein build-up. You should always use lens fluid designed for hard lenses, and you can either choose an all-in-one fluid or separate cleansing and storage solutions. Again, do not use tap water to cleanse or store your lenses. Though people have done this with hard lenses in the past, it most certainly puts you at risk of very nasty infections. It's not worth it!

See Also: Modern Technology And Digital Eyestrain

Hybrid Lenses

Finally, hybrid lenses combine technology from both soft and hard lenses. They have a gas permeable optical zone in the middle for vision, but are surrounded by silicone hydrogel or regular hydrogel for greater comfort. These lenses can be seen as the best of both worlds, but they are not very popular yet and can be hard to come by.