Rigid Gas Permeable

Although soft disposable lenses are the most popular, Rigid Gas Permeable contacts (or RGPs) are a separate category of contact lenses that some people prefer due to their long-lasting benefits. Not to be confused with the older 'hard' lenses, RGPs are made from a plastic material containing no water, but still allow oxygen to pass through so that your eye can breathe. Getting enough oxygen is important for healthy eyes, which is why many people who used the old hard PMMA lenses have since switched to RGPs.

Rigid Gas Permeable lenses offer numerous benefits over soft contact lenses. Firstly, because they are made of a firmer material, they retain their shape better and so give you clearer vision. They are also extremely durable and do not tear easily like soft lenses; plus, because they have no water content, they do not absorb proteins and lipids as readily as soft contacts. RGPs can literally last for years before they need replacing.

RGP contact lenses are the ideal choice for a number of different prescriptions. Many wearers who suffer from astigmatism find that RGPs offer better clarity that equivalent toric soft lenses, likewise people with presbyopia often prefer RGP lenses. Others with rarer conditions may only be able to choose RGP contact lenses as some more advanced prescriptions are better treated with Rigid lenses.

Thanks to the durable nature of RGP lenses, in some cases they can be expertly polished and reshaped to correct any problems without having to order a new pair of contact lenses. However, the same precautions should be taken as with soft lenses in ensuring that damaged lenses are never worn, even for a short time. Opticians generally recommend soft contact lenses to first-time wearers, and RGPs are often seen as a more specialist choice.

As Rigid Gas Permeable lenses are long-lasting they often work out cheaper than soft contacts over time, however they do take more time to get used to, as they do not naturally fit to the shape of your eye as easily as soft lenses, and must be worn regularly for maximum comfort. RGP lenses do have a slightly higher chance of falling out of your eye, however this is still very unlikely. As RGPs are removed at night and stored for the next morning, they require the same careful treatment and daily cleaning as weekly or monthly disposable lenses.