RGP CONTACT LENSES AT VALUVISION IN JACKSONVILLE FL

When do eye doctors prescribe RGP's? Sometimes eye doctors prescribe RGP’s when they are medically necessary, such as for diseases like keratoconus or extreme astigmatism. Patients with such vision disorders may simply be unable to achieve proper vision correction with soft contact lenses. Valuvision eye doctors can prescribe RGP's on previous soft contact wearers when a patient just can’t achieve the level of clear vision they desire with soft contact lenses. RGP's are great for patients who are very particular about achieving perfect 20/20 vision. In other words, for people who greatly value quality of vision, rigid gas permeable contacts may be the right choice. People who have had LASIK, or refractive surgery, but still need contacts may need to use RGP's as well.

BENEFITS OF RGP CONTACT LENSES

Why do we sometimes need to prescribe RGP's? RGP’s have several benefits. RGP contacts, because of their harder material, retain their shape when the patient blinks. This leads to much crisper vision for the wearer. Rigid contact lenses are very durable as well. You can break them, if you step on them or crush them, but they are not prone to easy tearing like soft contact lenses. And lastly, a more technical benefit is that RGP's are comprised of material that doesn’t contain water. This makes lipids or fats from your tears and protein deposits less likely to build up on the lenses surfaces. With proper care, rigid gas permeable contact lenses can last for a year or longer if a prescription change isn't necessary.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR RIGID GAS PERMEABLE CONTACT LENSES

Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are typically less comfortable initially than soft contact lenses. It may take up to a week for a patient to adjust to them. They can slip off the center of your eye, which can lead to discomfort and blurred vision. All RGP’s are custom made for individual patients and they come in a variety of parameters. They come in different diameters, steepness, materials and colors depending on patients needs. Multifocal and toric (for astigmatism) RGP’s are also available. Every pair of RGP contact lenses are custom made, and the materials last much longer, unlike soft contact lenses. For these reasons, RGP contacts can take a bit longer to get the right fit for the individual patient.

So why do Valuvision optometrists fit the majority of our patients in soft contact lenses? The number one reason is comfort. While it can take up to a week for the eye to adapt to the feel of RGP’s, patients usually get used to soft lenses on the first day. There is also the convenience of disposable soft lenses versus non-disposable RGP’s. Many factors must be taken into account when deciding if gas permeable contact lenses are right for patients. Feel free to ask your Valuvision optometrist if RGP contact lenses are right for you.

Order RGP Contacts Online and get them shipped right to your door, or contact one of our Jacksonville Eye Doctors Offices for more information about Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses.

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