You may not have heard of gas permeable contact lenses, but they are a more recent technology than soft contact lenses, reports All About Vision. Introduced in the 1970s, gas permeable lenses offer the benefit of allowing more oxygen to get to...
Permeable gas contact lenses, also known as GP lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses and oxygen permeable lenses hit the market in the late 1970s. Unlike hard contacts that do not allow the eyes to breathe, permeable gas contact lenses allow oxygen...
For contact lens wearers, finding the right lens fit can increase comfort, reduce irritation and improve visual acuity. For those who experience irritation when wearing contacts due to decreased oxygen flow to the cornea, oxygen flow gas permeable...
Gas permeable contact lenses replaced the use of hard contact lenses. Hard contact lenses, developed during the 1960s, did not allow oxygen to reach the cornea of the eye. Gas permeable contact lenses, however, allow oxygen to reach the cornea...
More than 38 million Americans wear contact lenses and many wear gas permeable or RGP lenses, according to the American Optometric Association. Gas permeable contact lenses are made from a firm plastic that allows oxygen to get to the cornea,...
Toric contact lenses correct a common eye condition called astigmatism. The American Optometric Association describes astigmatism as a vision problem caused either by an irregular shaped cornea, which is the clear outer layer of the eye, or...
Contact lenses are a convenient alternative to traditional eyeglasses and can be used to improve vision whether you are nearsighted or farsighted. Several types of lenses are available, including disposable, extended wear, bifocal and colored...
Gas permeable contact lenses have several advantages over soft lenses. In general, gas permeable lenses give the wearer sharper vision. They also last longer than soft contact lenses. Proper maintenance of gas permeable lenses is important in...
Hard contacts, the predecessor to soft contacts, are also known as rigid gas-permeable lenses and account for only 15 percent of contact prescriptions in the U.S. as of 2010, estimates EyeCareSource.com. They allow more oxygen to your eye, and...
Dry eyes, whether from short-term environmental causes or from chronic conditions, complicate use of contact lenses, but selection and care of the right type of lens may help diminish the itching, redness and irritation associated with dry eyes.
Contact lenses fit snugly in the eye to correct vision without the need for wearing traditional glasses. The original concept for lenses was first proposed by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s. It took approximately 270 years to design a...
Contact lenses have evolved in leaps and bounds since the first polymethyl methacrylate hard lens was introduced in the 1940s, with newer materials such as silicone-hydrogel offering greater comfort, ease and extension of wear. However, while...
With the help of a qualified vision professional you can easily consider your options for soft contact lenses. The Mayo Clinic points out that soft contact lenses are a great option for the active individual. This is due to their ability to stay...
Wearing contact lenses give some people the much desired freedom to wear sunglasses or participate in sports without glasses obstructing their view. However, contact lens use requires care and periodic follow-up with an eye care professional....
Contact lenses are small plastic discs that correct visual problems much like glasses do. In 1837, Swiss physician Dr. Fick and optician Edouard Kalt developed the first glass contact lens. Today, the contact lens can change your eye color as well...
Choosing and using the right contact solution for lenses is crucial for the health and safety of your eyes. The University of Michigan's Kellogg Eye Center notes that contact lenses must be cleaned and disinfected properly to remove germs and...
Eye contact lenses were first developed in the 1960s, and have continually improved. The early contact lenses were known as hard contact lenses. That is, these lenses were rigid. They were made of a plastic called polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)....
The method used for making contact lenses often is dependent upon the type of contact lens. There are three chief contact lens types: soft, gas permeable or hybrid lenses. Soft contact lenses are made in order to retain their flexible properties...
People who need bifocals no longer have to wear little half-glasses in addition to their contacts. According to the Contact Lens Manufacturers Association, multifocal contact lenses are available in bifocal, trifocal and progressive levels....
Athletes need optimum vision and comfort for the best performance results. Glasses are cumbersome and not always practical, especially under helmets or during active sports and games. Contact lenses offer quite a few advantages for an active...
Contact lenses are used to help correct vision problems. Although they do not fix the problem, they are placed over the eye and assist the wearer in seeing more clearly. These thin lenses lay over the cornea, and correct visibility problems....
Toric contact lenses, designed for people who have astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea), are similar to ordinary soft and RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable) lenses. In fact, the only difference is the shape. Toric contact lenses curve at different...
Hard contact lenses, also known as Rigid Gas Permeable lenses, are made of a hard plastic that allow oxygen to reach your eyes. Hard contacts do a better job of correcting some vision problems than soft lenses. When you first receive your hard...
Contact lenses are round plastic disks meant to fit over the eyes to correct faulty vision. According to doctors at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, the plastic orbs are able to cling to the tears on the cornea with surface tension,...
Contact lenses are designed to enhance your vision without the need for glasses. Although not all eyes and vision problems are suited for contacts, most of the time, contacts can be comfortably worn without problems or complications. However, some...
Laser eye surgery can seem like a complicated and scary process. Between the initial exam, the day of the surgery, and the follow-up exams, there are many things to remember. But being aware of the pre-surgery and post-surgery steps and...
Contact lenses are small, disc-shaped pieces of plastic that are placed on the surface of the eye. They are worn primarily to provide vision correction for several eye problems. Contact lenses are often chosen as an alternative to eyeglasses...
Contact lenses offer an attractive alternative for those who have vision defects but prefer not to wear glasses. There are a wide variety of different contact lenses on the market. Some are geared to special vision needs, others offer...
Multifocal contact lenses give people the ability to see near and far distances without the need for glasses. Although many find these contacts useful, they are not for everyone. People interested in using multifocal contact lenses should explore...
