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Home » Contact Lenses » Gas Permeable (GP) Contact Lenses

Gas Permeable (GP) Contact Lenses

See All that Hard Contacts Have to Offer!

Rigid gas permeable lenses can be a great alternative to soft contacts. Many people mistakenly think of hard contact lenses as an old-fashioned, obsolete type of eyewear that was replaced by flexible soft contacts. Yet in reality, rigid gas permeable lenses are now making a comeback! Although soft lenses are still more popular, hard GP lenses have many unique benefits.

Composition of Hard Lenses

These hard contacts are composed from durable compounds that contain silicone, which enables oxygen to permeate and reach your eyes. In effect, they let your eyes breathe. This advanced material is the primary reason why rigid gas permeable lenses offer so many advantages.

Many people wonder if they will feel rigid gas permeable lenses in their eyes. In general, patients do feel the presence of these hard lenses initially. However, after a short adaptation your eyes and eyelids will get used to them – and then won’t sense anything. This is because GP lenses have a smaller diameter than soft contacts, so at the beginning you’ll feel the edges temporarily. Afterwards though, many wearers claim that GP lenses give superior comfort.

Benefits of Rigid GP Lenses

  • High oxygen permeability = Healthier

This leads to increased health, safety, and comfort of hard lenses, and a reduced risk of eye problems. Many rigid contacts on the market today actually permit more oxygen to reach the cornea than most soft contacts.

  • No water content = Cleaner lenses

Without water, GP lenses are less prone to the build-up of bacteria and protein deposits. This lowers your chances of eye infections and keeps your lenses cleaner.

  • Smaller size = Healthy cornea

The smaller diameter of GP lenses covers up less of the cornea, which promotes healthier wearing.

  • Enable sufficient tear flow = Less dry eye

When you blink while wearing rigid contacts, they hold their shape and move on your eye. This movement facilitates the flow of healthy tears under the lens, thereby helping to prevent and treat dry eye.

  • Sharper vision = Suitable for astigmatism

Many people, especially when they have astigmatism, achieve sharper vision with hard lenses. People testify that they see much crisper and clearer than they ever did with soft lenses. Also, their lack of water makes it impossible for rigid contacts to dry out, which is a common cause of blurry vision when wearing soft contacts.

  • Durable and long lasting = Cost-effective

The life span of rigid contacts is much longer than soft lenses. Because they are hard, you don’t need to worry about tearing them, and they usually last at least a year. This also makes them cost-effective.

Myopia control & Ortho-k

Myopia control can be an added bonus for children who wear rigid gas permeable lenses. Research suggests that wearing hard lenses may slow the progression of nearsightedness in some kids. In addition, specialized GP lenses, known as ortho-k, are worn while sleeping in order to reshape the cornea, improve vision, and provide myopia control.

Fitting Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses

Hard GP lenses are custom-made for each individual patient, giving optimal comfort. Our Oxmoor contact lenses specialist will measure your cornea precisely in order to prescribe lenses with the best size, curvature, and corrective lens power. We may also use corneal topography to map your eye. Advanced technologies have enabled GP lenses to be thinner than before, with a larger diameter and smoother edges. Altogether, our thorough fitting will ensure that your lenses center comfortably on your eye and give you crisp and clear vision.

Ready to Try Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses? Call Gaddie Eye Centers