(Vanity) Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses

[E_li32]

I have recently failed an eye exam and must have my vision corrected. I've decided to get contacts lenses, but I'm not sure whether to get soft or Rigid Gas Permeable lenses. I've done some research into the subject, and from what I've read, Rigid Gas Permeable(Oxygen Permeable) lenses are a good choice, especially since they are supposed to slow the progression of myopia. All the literature I've read about them does point out that they require a two-week period of adaptation, and that they may not be for everyone. Could any Freepers tell me of their experiences with contacts and recommend either of these types?

[jellybean]

I've had rigid gas perms for years. Had no problem getting used to them. After a couple of days I hardly knew they were there.

They have some advantages over soft lenses. They don't have to be replaced as often, but might be more expensive initially. They won't tear or roll up as I've seen soft lenses do.

I only wear them occasionaly now (after having worn them daily for about 10 years) because they started to irritate my eyes. That has more to do with changes in my eyes than with the lenses.

[forsnax5]

Rigid lenses will give you clearer vision. Soft lenses will be more comfortable, but your vision will not be as crisp. Neither one will give you the clarity of glasses.

Soft lenses won't correct astigmatism. Rigid lenses can, but I've not tried those (they're weighted, so that they have an up-down orientation, and they can be formed to correct astigmatism to some extent).

That said, I've worn contacts for ~30 years. I wore hard lenses for about 10 of those years.

Hard lenses are easier to handle, soft lenses take a bit of practice. Hard lenses will pop out if your eyes dry out (if you stare at something intensely for a long time without blinking, then blink ... pop!).

Hard lenses will survive a fall to the carpet, even if you don't find them until the next day. Soft lenses will harden up quickly if they're not recovered (I don't know at what point this would become "fatal" to the lens, however).

Hard lenses bounce when you drop them in the sink. If you don't have the drain closed, they're gone. Soft lenses stick to whatever they hit first. I've never lost one down a drain, but I've searched for an hour for one that was stuck to my sleeve.

You can't put hard lenses in "inside-out," but you can with soft lenses. You can still see when this happens, but the edge of the lens will be annoying. This is only a problem when you put one in backwards and it starts to annoy you when you're stuck in traffic on the way to work. ;)

Hard lenses are more prone to having debris get between them and the eye surface (something that can be extremely painful). Soft lenses can have this happen as well, but, in my experience, not as often and not as painfully.

After you reach a "certain age," you begin to suffer from presbyopia -- a condition that limits your ability to focus. My lenses focus at about six feet and beyond. To focus on a computer screen, I wear +2 reading glasses. To read, I use a pair of prescription glasses that correct for astigmatism.

Why would I wear glasses and contacts at the same time? Because I am so farsighted that full correction with glasses requires +5.5 or +6, and those suckers are heavy!

Like any list of pros and cons, you have to pick out the ones that are meaningful to you. I wear soft lenses because comfort is more important to me than visual acuity, and the actual difference is minimal.

Your mileage may vary...

[Sandy]

Get the throwaway lenses. Hard contacts suck, which is why hardly anyone wears them anymore. I wear soft torics that correct both my near-sightedness and my astigmatism. I can see better out of these than I can see out of my eyeglasses. They're absolutely wonderful. No scratches, no fuss, no cleaning hassle. I throw them out and start with a fresh pair every 2 weeks. Unless your vision is horrendous, there's no need to get hard lenses. What's your prescription? Do you know?

[deport]

Gas perms are fine. I'd suggest talking to your eye doctor and get the recommendations of his. They make a thinner gas perm now that is more comfortable but does or is easier to break. I've tried them and have broken two after about a year of wear on each. Since then I've switched back to the thicker ones.

I got hard lenses some30 years ago and have not had any problems. I started with an extended wear program and was wearing them from get up to bed time after a couple of weeks.

So give them a try if that's what and your doctor feel appropriate. I've used the soft ones but don't care for them as much....

[Diddle E. Squat]

Wow, the Smokey Back Room sure has gotten tame!

[E_li32]

I wasn't sure where to put this - it didn't seem appropriate to post a vanity in general interest.

[E_li32]

No, I have an appointment with an optometrist on Monday, but I wanted to know what to look for. My vision is somewhere in between 20/40 and 20/50. Since I'm rather young, I was thinking about RGP lenses because they are supposed to slow the progress of myopia, not for vision correction alone.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Just having a little fun. But seriously, good luck.

[BADJOE]

If you have not needed glasses till now, your chance of successfully being a "hard contact lens" wearer are slim to none.

I practised optometry for 40 years, so have a great deal of experiance with this. A good rigid lens patient usually can't find his own "rear end" without his glasses. : )

I told my patients in your catagory that anyone who sold them hard lenses was stealing from them.

For my information, how old are you and are you still in school?

[balrog666]

No, I have an appointment with an optometrist on Monday, but I wanted to know what to look for. My vision is somewhere in between 20/40 and 20/50. Since I'm rather young, I was thinking about RGP lenses because they are supposed to slow the progress of myopia, not for vision correction alone.

I was going to ask how old you were and how bad your vision is. Given what you've already said, I suggest you forget RGP and go with soft contacts.

[LowOiL]

18 years of glasses. Same prescription. Nuff said.

[exnavy]

I pay about $200. a year for soft two week disposable contacts. I use a new set every two weeks, love 'em, I do still keep a pair of glasses to give my eyes a rest every now and then.

[unsycophant]

I hope you went with the gas permeables. They're much easier to put in and take out, and to care for-blink, and they're out. If you went with softs, just wait until you've had one roll up under your eyelid and get 'stuck' there-you'll be thinking "I should have listened to those other guys!"

[E_li32]

I just came back from the optometrist and apparently my myopia was very slight.(-.75 diopters) I got a pair of glasses for distance, but there was no need for contact lenses at this point. I'd like to thank all of you for your concern and good advice.
E_li32

[jellybean]

You're welcome. Happy everything worked out well for you.

Welcome to Free Republic, btw...