Corneal GP vs. Soft Contact Lenses
Unless you already wear corneal GP contact lenses, you may not know about their many advantages over soft lenses — including disposable soft lenses. Here's a comparison chart to help you see how well these lenses perform in a number of key areas:
GP Contact Lenses
Soft Lenses
Oxygen Delivery
★★★★★
Corneal GP contact lenses are made of special materials that allow your eyes to breathe. Oxygen is absolutely necessary to the health of your eyes.
★★
Some soft contact lenses just don't allow enough oxygen to get through to your eyes. This can lead to problems with eye health.
Visual Acuity
★★★★★
Corneal GP contact lenses have superior optics. Since they're firm, they retain their shape better when you blink, so your eyes don't have to refocus as much. And they are superb for astigmatism or bifocal needs.
★★
When you blink, soft lenses are more likely to distort; your eyes must then refocus, which can be annoying if you're reading, or detrimental to your performance if you're driving or participating in sports.
Initial Comfort
★★
Corneal GP contact lenses require a short adaptation period.
★★★★
Soft lenses are comfortable from just about the moment you put them on.
Long-Term Comfort
★★★★★
Corneal GP contact lenses require almost no water to maintain their shape, so they won't pull the moisture away from your eyes.
★★
After a few hours of wear, water-absorbing soft lenses can dry out your eyes, making them itchy and tired.
Durability
★★★★★
GP contacts are made of a firm plastic, so they are durable.
★★
Made of a gel-like plastic, soft lenses can tear if not handled properly.
Value
★★★★★
Corneal GP contact lenses are much less expensive to maintain; also, they last longer so you don't have to spend as much on replacements.
★★
Soft lenses require significant spending on cleaning supplies or frequent replacement.
As you can see, initial comfort is the only area where soft lenses excel over corneal GP contact lenses. But once you get used to them, corneal GP lenses are comfortable, more durable, easier and less expensive to care for, healthier, and provide crisper vision.
Why take the shortcut? By investing a little time and effort in adapting to your corneal GP lenses, you'll be rewarded with a lifetime of healthy and hassle-free contact lens wear.