Gas Permeable (GP) Contact Lenses
Gas Permeable (GP) or Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) contact lenses are a less popular but still viable alternative to soft contact lenses (which are most common). As research continues to develop and technology advances, there have been significant improvements made to GP lenses and people are slowly beginning to consider them as a competitive alternative to soft contacts. If you’re dissatisfied with your current soft contacts, consider talking to your ophthalmologist about if Gas Permeable contact lenses are right for you.
What Makes GP Contact Lenses Different?
Better hygiene: One of the most notable differences between standard contact lenses and gas permeable ones is that most GP contacts include silicone as a part of their general make. This allows GP contacts to be more flexible than the standard issued PMMA contacts that are typically more rigid. This may be a benefit to you because the silicon technology allows more oxygen to pass easily into the eye, increasing your cornea’s overall health, ability to relubricate, and fight infection.
Durability and Longevity: The GP contact lens can also be more closely fitted to the surface of your eye, ensuring that they are not only more comfortable, but are also more stable, which means that individual contacts last longer and need to be replaced less frequently than soft lenses, which oftend times lend itself to an overall cheaper ophthalmology bill.
Comfort: Another benefit of the silicon technology implemented into a GP contact is that it is equipped to partner with your tear ducts and keep your eyes well moist. The ultimate goal is to alleviate some of the pressure from your tear ducts to constantly so that your eyes are moist and hydrated regularly and you don’t experience discomfort from dry or itchy eyes. The GP contact is often times reported as more comfortable than typical soft contacts once your eye adjusts to the change. These contacts may be especially helpful for you if have naturally lower producing tear ducts and struggle with dry eye syndrome. GP lenses also are created with a smaller diameter than soft contacts so they cover a smaller portion of your eye and are more comfortable in the long run.
Equipped for Asitgmatism: GP contacts are often prescribed to patients who suffer from astigmatism that hinders them from wearing standard soft contacts. The rigid nature of the GP contact allows astigmatics to receive more clear and stable vision correction than a typical soft lens might, making it an excellent asset for those who may not want to only wear glasses.
Can Combat Worsening Nearsightedness: Recent research suggests that GP lens can be helpful in slowing the progression or worsening of diseases like myopia, or nearsightenedness, specificially in children. Parents who want to be proactive about their child’s eye health and potentially reversing the negative effects might consider the less common GP lenses.
Can Reshape Your Cornea Via Ortho-K Procedure: GP lenses are included in Orthokeratology (ortho-k) which is an eye vision improvement procedure in which you wear specifically prescribed contact lenses at while sleeping. The goal of this procedure is to reshape your cornea while you rest and equip you with stronger, more clear vision throughout the day. If you’re interested in combatting poor eye vision in this way, GP lenses should be something you talk to your eye doctor about.
Drawbacks to GP Lenses
While there are many benefits of Gas Permeable Contact Lens, there are drawbacks. Patients report eventually becoming comfortable in their new GP lenses, however there is an adjustment period as it takes time for your eyes to accept the different lenses. This period time typically averages around two weeks and can be uncomfortable or irritating. People who switch from soft lenses to GP lenses communicate discomfort throughout the adaptation period because most eyes are accustomed to a larger diameter for lenses, so the smaller lenses feel strange and take time to get used to. Throughout the adjustment period, you may feel like you can see the edge of your contact when you blink. This is called lens awareness and is due to the differing size of your old contact and your new lens. However, after a few weeks time, most patients easily adjust and feel more comfortable in their GP lenses than they did previous ones.