Last Updated: March 27, 2023
Video: What is the difference between soft and rigid contact lenses? | Dr. Barry Thienes
There are two major types of contact lenses: soft contacts and hard contacts. Soft contacts are the most common day-to-day lenses. They are made of a very flexible polymer material designed to provide comfortable and clear vision. Hard contacts are made of a less flexible polymer material and are often used in specialty cases to provide clear vision. For example, they may be good options for individuals with a high prescription, dry eye disease, keratoconus and for myopia management.
Below is a comparison between soft and hard contact lenses.
Soft Contact Lens
Advantages
- Better comfort
- Shorter adaptation period
- Rarely fall out of the eye making them ideal for sports
- Available in UV protection
- Available in coloured options
- Available in daily disposable options which are convenient and healthy for the eye
- Available in multifocal options to correct for presbyopia
Disadvantages
- Vision may not be as sharp for some individuals compared to hard contacts
- More difficult to handle for lens insertion and removal
- More prone to drying out causing discomfort for some individuals
- More susceptible to protein and lipid deposits on the lens causing discomfort over time
Hard Contact Lens
Advantages
- Excellent vision
- Excellent oxygen supply
- Long life span
- Good durability
- Easy handling of lens insertion and removal
- Decreased risk of eye infection compared to soft contacts
- Available in multifocal options to correct for presbyopia
Disadvantages
- Less initial comfort
- Longer adaptation period
- More easily dislodged from the eye making them not ideal for contact sports
- Require consistent wear to maintain adaptation making them not ideal for part-time wear
- More susceptible to debris under the lens causing discomfort
References
- McDermott M et al. Therapeutic uses of contact lenses. Surv Ophthalmol. 1989;33(5):381-394.
- Jones L et al. TFOS DEWS II management and therapy report. Ocul Surf. 2017;15(3):575-628.
- Worp EVD et al. Modern scleral contact lenses: a review. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2014 37(4):240-250.
- Rathi VM et al. Contact lens in keratoconus. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2013;61(8):410.
- Romero-Rangel T et al. Gas-permeable scleral contact lens therapy in ocular surface disease. Am J Ophthalmol. 2000;130(1):25-32.
- Bullimore MA et al. Myopia control 2020: where are we and where are we heading? Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2020;40(3):254-270.
- Stapleton F et al. The incidence of contact lens-related microbial keratitis in Australia. Ophthalmol. 2008;115(10):1655-1662.
- Bennett ES. Contact lens correction of presbyopia. Clin Exp Optom. 2008;91(3):265-278.