Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
“Rigid” Gas Permeable (RGPs) contact lenses usually provide far superior vision results than do soft contact lenses. This is especially true for instances of a regular or an irregular astigmatic corneal surface.
What Are GP Contact Lenses?
“Rigid” Gas Permeable (RGP) contact lenses are made of a firm, durable polymer (fluorosilicone acrylate), with high oxygen permeability, and was introduced in 1987. GP contact lenses account for about 10% of all new contact lens evaluation in the United States.
Why Are GP Lenses Comfortable?
GP contact lenses are truly custom made for an individual’s eye. When GP lenses are manufactured, it requires information about the shape of your cornea, the curvature, its size, and the corrective power that suit your particular eyes. This customization enables the GP lenses to provide superior vision, when comparing to glasses or even soft contact lenses.
Why Doesn't Everyone Wear GP Lenses?
One of the main and only reason is that soft contact lenses are almost instantly comfortable, when compared to GP lenses. GP lenses will always require an adaptation period, sometimes up to a couple of weeks, before they feel as comfortable as soft contact lenses.
What Are the Advantages of GP?
GP contact lenses performs much better than soft contact lenses because the lenses are very durable, easy to care (handle and wear), retains their shape, does not dehydrate, correct majority of astigmatisms, and performs well with bifocal as well as multifocal contact lenses.
What Are The Disadvantages of GP?
Despite the many advantages of GP contact lenses, there are some downfall. These includes the lens easily being dislodged from the center of the eye and may scratch the eye itself. Although comfortable, GP lenses requires consistent wear time in order to sustain the comfort levels, and this comfort can be disrupted if debris accumulates and gets under the lens.
How Do I Care for My GP Contact Lenses?
GP contact lenses cleaning reagent are very different from soft contact lens cleaning solutions. GP contact lens solutions should NOT be used with soft contact lens solutions.
I Have Dry Eyes; Can I Wear GP Lenses?
Absolutely! Because GP lenses does not contain water within the lens, hence does not prone to dehydrate, GP lenses can be a great option for dry eye patients!
Am I a Candidate for GP Contact Lenses?
Please contact Dr. Q @ QT Optometry for a full comprehensive contact lens evaluation to determine if you’d be a great candidate for GP contact lenses:
- Email: info@QToptometry.com
- Phone: (916) 985-7848
- Text: (916) 985-7848