Soft contact lenses are absolutely the most typically recommended contact lens readily available. Made from soft, versatile plastic, it is approximated that about 87% of contact lens users in the U.S. wear soft lenses.
Short History
In 1971, Bausch & Lomb presented the very first commercially offered soft contact lens. For several years, this traditional soft day-to-day wear lens was the only kind of soft contact lens readily available. This lens preferably was implied to last in between 6 and 12 months and needed everyday cleansing and weekly enzymatic treatment.
In 1981 the FDA authorized the very first contact lenses authorized for extended or over night wear.
It wasn’t up until 1991 that the very first frequent-replacement contact lenses were offered. Frequent-replacement contacts are usually changed every 1 to 3 months. The next year, 1992, non reusable contacts (disposed every 2 weeks or less) were presented.
In less than a years, frequent-replacement and non reusable lenses ended up being the lenses of option for the large bulk of eye care service providers. Today around 75% of soft contact lens clients are using some sort of frequent-replacement or non reusable lens. Frequent-replacement and non reusable contacts are offered as both prolonged and everyday wear.
Soft Contact Lens Options
As suggested, everyday wear contacts are eliminated and cleaned up daily, while extended wear lenses can normally be used constantly for approximately 7 days (or more as CibaVision’s Focus Night & Day contacts have actually been authorized for as much as 30 days constant wear).
Non reusable contacts are, as the name indicates, gotten rid of on a routine duration, while the non-disposable contacts are cleaned up and decontaminated before reinserting the contacts.
Clients who select extended wear must understand the included threat of eye infections and problems that feature oversleeping contacts. I usually prevent prolonged wear, however will fit contacts as prolonged wear just after the client comprehends the included threat and consents to be seen for more regular follow-ups. I likewise will utilize a silicone hydrogel lens product for these clients.
Kinds Of Soft Contact Lenses Available
Soft contact lenses are readily available for a range of visual corrections.
For clients with substantial astigmatism, I will frequently utilize a soft toric contact lens. Toric contacts have actually enhanced considerably over the last couple of years. Lots of clients who have actually never ever been able to use contacts due to their astigmatic prescription are now able to effectively use contact lenses.
Soft bifocal contacts are a reasonably current alternative for clients needing a reading prescription or bifocal. Along these very same lines, monovision continues to be a great choice for these exact same clients. Monovision correction does not utilize a bifocal contact, however rather utilizes one contact for the range vision (generally the dominant eye) and one contact for the near vision.
Soft contact lenses come as either clear or with a presence (handling) tint. The exposure normally has no impact on eye color, however exists to assist you see the lens while you’re managing it. These lenses are not the like cosmetic soft contacts.
Cosmetic soft contacts have actually been popular sellers considering that their intro. Now clients with or without a prescription can alter the color of their eyes with colored or tinted contacts.
CibaVision’s Wild Eyes contact lenses and CooperVision’s Crazy Lenses are novelty lenses that are enjoyable to fit around Halloween.
Concluding Thoughts
Part of the factor for the success of soft contact lenses is the convenience these lenses provide over stiff gas permeable (RGP) contacts. As an outcome, they have a much shorter adjustment duration. In some cases with soft contacts, vision might not be as sharp as with RGP contacts.
When recommending a soft contact, my very first lens of option is CibaVision’s O2Optix. This lens can be used for approximately one week extended wear or 2 weeks everyday wear. For clients who might not desire a non reusable lens (this is really unusual), I will advise CibaVision’s Cibasoft Visitint basic day-to-day wear.
For clients who experience drying with their contacts, I will frequently advise contacts with more recent, moisture-retaining products. Such contact lenses consist of Proclear Compatibles by CooperVision and Acuvue Advance with Hydraclear by Vistakon (Johnson & Johnson). Vistakon has actually just recently introduced the Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear, which is mainly targeted for clients who experience contact lens dryness.
Despite your own circumstance, opportunities are great that you will wind up using a soft lens if you choose to attempt contacts Be sure to talk about with your eye care company all the choices you might have, provided your prescription, age, requires, and expectations.
Numerous clients who have actually never ever been able to use contacts due to their astigmatic prescription are now able to effectively use contact lenses.
Monovision correction does not utilize a bifocal contact, however rather utilizes one contact for the range vision (typically the dominant eye) and one contact for the near vision.
Part of the factor for the success of soft contact lenses is the convenience these lenses provide over stiff gas permeable (RGP) contacts. In some cases with soft contacts, vision might not be as sharp as with RGP contacts.
For clients who experience drying with their contacts, I will typically suggest contacts with more recent, moisture-retaining products.