Five Reasons RGP Contact Lenses Might Be the Best Lense for You

If you're in the market for contact lenses, then you should consider RGP contact lenses.  There are many myths and a lot of different opinions on RGP contact lenses, and it's worth it to do your research before ruling them out as an option for you. 

RGP, or rigid permeable gas lenses, are not as popular as soft contact lenses, but for many people they are a much better option.  One of the most popular myths or misconceptions is that RGP lenses are the same as “hard” lenses, which (for good reason) got a very bad rap.  None of the major contact manufacturers even make hard lenses anymore. 

Hard lenses were made of a plastic material called PMMA, and the main problem was that they did not allow oxygen to reach the cornea, allowing the eye to “breathe.” This led to numerous eye problems, not to mention discomfort and clouded vision.

RGP contact lenses, on the other hand, are made of a material that includes silicon; which creates a slightly less rigid lens and also allows oxygen to reach the cornea (more oxygen, actually, than most soft contact lenses). This creates a more comfortable fit than hard lenses, and is healthier on the eye. They are, however, still “rigid,” and for that reason aren't as popular as soft contact lenses.

So why would someone choose these contact lenses over soft?

1. RGP lenses, overall, provide cleaner, crisper vision than most soft lenses. If great vision is your top concern, then RGP lenses might be for you. Because of their more rigid material, they retain their shape when you blink or look around; and by retaining their shape, they allow the clearest vision.

2. They are more durable than soft contact lenses. Although they can actually break, for example if you step on one, they don't tear like soft lenses do.

3. They do not contain water, as soft lenses do, so they do not build up with proteins and lipids from your natural tears. This allows them to last for months, even years, if you follow proper contact lense care instructions.

4. If you need contact lenses for astigmatism, then RGPs might provide much clearer vision than soft.

5. If you need multifocal contact lenses or progressive contact lenses. Many people find that their best option for seeing both near and far are RGP bifocal contact lenses.

Of course, there are some very valid concerns about RGP contact lenses that make them less popular than soft lenses. Due to their rigidity, they do take some getting used to. Also, once your eyes do adjust to wearing these contact lenses, you need to wear them regularly. If you decide not to wear them for a week, for example, then you will have to start over with the process of getting your eyes to adjust to them.

Also, some people experience “spectacle blur.”  This happens when the eye forms to the shape of the lens and therefore, when you take the lens out, vision remains blurry even with eyeglasses.  This makes RGP's a bit of an “all or nothing” lens, which does not appeal to everyone. 

Your best option would be to find a site that offers a free trial, and see if the benefits of RGPs outweigh the drawbacks.  You just might find that RGP contact lenses are the best contact lenses for you. 

More Reading:

RGP bifocal contact lenses
Opinions on RGP contact lenses

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