The Shape of Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses

Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses - A Historical Look.The first rigid gas permeable contact lenses were created in the 1800s but the science and technology of the day meant that the lenses were thick, uncomfortable and it often took months to achieve an acceptable fit. Because of the thickness, the wearer is said to have had an unnatural look, a further detriment to the general acceptance of contact lenses. But in the mid 1900s, the plastic contact lens was introduced and the shape of rigid gas permeable contact lenses began to change.

How do rigid gas permeable contacts work?

With soft contacts, the flexible lenses can take on the shape of the eye. This is not the case with rigid gas permeable, or "hard" contacts. The shape of the rigid gas permeable contact lens is fixed and must be crafted exactly to the shape of the wearer's eye. The shape of the inside of the contact must match the shape of the eye exactly. Otherwise, the wearer gets less than ideal vision, experiences discomfort and can even suffer damage to the eye. Fortunately, the technology exists to create the perfect shape of rigid gas permeable contact lenses. If the shape of the rigid gas permeable lenses is not correct, the lens can move on the eye, creating distorted or fuzzy vision.

What vision problems can rigid gas permeable contacts address?

Rigid gas permeable lenses can be an alternative to glasses for people with a myriad of vision problems. The shape of the rigid gas permeable lens can be altered to create corrective lenses for myopia and astigmatism, among others.

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