Are hard lenses still used?!
Question: Are hard lenses still used?
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
[Footprint..] you're being pedantic again...
I think the question is about Hard versus Soft contact lenses.. not about the actual material....
And to be even more correct... what you meant as Hard lenses (went out 30 yrs ago)... are actually PMMA lenses...
To answer the question... Yes.. 'hard' (non-soft) contact lenses are still being used... Northen European countries, as well as Japan, Korea, Taiwan..etc.. they're probably used more than soft contact lenses.
There are pro's and cons with hard lenses.
Pro's:
+ if fitted right, they're more healthy for eyes as they 'float' on your tears rather than 'hug' and 'touch' the eye like soft lenses.
+ as it floats on the tears, the tears shape actually corrects the Rx.. and so irregular and high powers can easily corrected.
+ they last up to 2 yrs if cared for properly
+ they can be prescribed to mould your eye and reduce your prescription (only works for some people)
Cons:
- for new wearers, they hurt!!!... for around a month... after that, you will still feel them on the eye, but they won't hurt.
- as they float on the tears (and they're a lot smaller than soft CL's), they can 'fall' out of the eye... esp. if you play rough contact sports.
Most people now use soft CL mainly due to the comfort, and the disposable nature of the CL's.
Actual " hard lenses " went out about 30 years ago .
Many people today refer to RGP ( rigid gas permeable ) lenses as hard lenses ( even though they aren't the same thing ) and are used mainly for special cases, such as very high myopia, or high astigmatism.
RGP lenses are similar to the old hard lenses , in size and feel , but are much more technologically advanced , and are of different materials.
So, no...hard lenses aren't used anymore , but rigid, RGP lenses are.
Optician
Yeah, but I think that they are generally used for people who can't wear the traditional soft contacts lenses, so usually people with bad astigmatism or other eye conditions.
Yes, I wear them. So does my brother.