The choices available to contact lens wearers are broad and varied. There are contact lenses that can be thrown away at the end of every day (daily disposable contact lenses), contact lenses that can be worn for a whole month (extended wear contact lenses) and contact lenses that change the colour of your eyes.

But with so many choices available, how do you select the right contact lenses for you? In this article we discuss the features of different contact lenses to help you find what you are looking for.

Soft Contact Lenses

Soft lenses are made of a special plastic polymer that combines with water. This water allows oxygen to pass through the lens so that it is more comfortable for the wearer. There are also some soft lenses available that also offer UV protection.

Many soft lenses are disposable which reduces the risk of infection. The fact that you throw them away at the end of each day means that you do not have to worry about cleaning them. This makes them a convenient option.

The trouble with soft lenses is that although they are more comfortable than hard lenses, they are more fragile than hard lenses. This makes them susceptible to rips and tears. They also absorb substances like soap from your hands easily. If this happens then they can cause eye irritation.
Daily disposable contact lenses are the most common type of soft lens. As the name would suggest, daily disposable contact lenses are worn for a day and then thrown away before you go to sleep in the evening.

Silicon extended wear disposable contact lenses are also popular soft lenses. They can be worn for up to thirty days and nights.

Hard Contact Lenses

Hard contact lenses are more durable than soft contact lenses owing to the rigid material from which they are made.

The latest hard contact lenses (called rigid gas permeable lenses) are made from silicone polymers. These enable oxygen to flow to the cornea to increase the wearer’s comfort.

Unlike soft contact lenses, they keep their shape and provide better vision correction for some sight problems. Furthermore they are also easier to look after and are more long lasting. However, it can take longer to get used to wearing hard contact lenses.

Rigid gas permeable hard contact lenses can be worn on an extended wear basis. They can even be worn while you are asleep. However do note that this can reduce the flow of oxygen to your eyes.

Coloured Contact Lenses

Coloured contact lenses can be fun and enable you to experiment with different looks. There are also some practical benefits to wearing coloured contact lenses. For example, the fact that they are tinted makes them easier to find if you drop them.