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Hard Contact Lenses vs. Soft Contact Lenses

Hard or Soft?

Contact lenses can offer a world of convenience over frames. When making the decision to shift from framed glasses to contact lenses, you may encounter that there’s more than one type of lens.

The Difference Between Hard and Soft Contacts

The primary difference between these types of lenses is what they’re made of. Hard contacts are made of rigid gas-permeable plastic that ensures stiffness, while soft contacts are most often made of silicone hydrogel. This allows for more flexibility and comfort. Both soft and hard contact lenses will correct your vision if you struggle seeing due to farsightedness or nearsightedness.

Below, we’ll go through the pros and cons of each to help you understand how the decision between the two is made.

Hard Contact Lenses

Pros

1.Longer lasting and more durable, reducing cost of lens replacement
2.Sharper vision
3.Best for people with unique eye shapes
4.Effective for those with dry eyes

Cons

1.Requires daily 2-step cleaning
2.Prone to collecting debris underneath
3.Not as comfortable as soft contacts

Soft Contact Lenses

Pros

1.Allow for more comfort compared to hard contacts due to flexibility
2.Light and soft, resulting in easier mold
3.Come in disposable variants
4.Generally less maintenance
5.Easy to get used to for first-time contact wearers

Cons

1.Less durable than hard contacts
2.The resulting vision is not as sharp as that resulting from hard lenses
3.Need to be replaced frequently

Why Choose Hard Contact Lenses?

Depending on the shape of your eye, level of sight impairment, and personal comfort with maintenance habits, your eye doctor may decide that hard contact lenses are the best choice for you.
One of their biggest assets is their durability; while soft contact lenses need to be replaced frequently, hard contact lenses often have a lifespan of up to two years. They will require annual polishing at appointments and daily at-home cleaning, but offer a specialized fit for those with more specific sight correction needs.

It’s important to know how to properly maintain this type of contact lens. Your optometrist will discuss with you what is required to keep your hard lenses in top shape. Developing a dependable schedule and routine for caring for your lenses will provide you with the best results.

Why Choose Soft Contact Lenses?

Due to their flexibility and more comfortable fit, soft contact lenses are often considered easier to adjust to for first-time wearers. While they are less durable than hard lenses, they are also more easily replaceable. Those who desire less maintenance may find soft lenses to be preferable. This may be considered a trade-off for having refreshing comfort that can be shaped. Their versatility can be quite appealing to those wary about how long-lasting and rigid hard lenses are.


Post time: Sep-19-2022