Contact Lens Technology
Contact lens technology has come a long way since the days of “hard” contact lenses. Although they were great for correcting vision, these lenses, made from a material called PMMA, were uncomfortable when you first put them on. (Many people joked that your first pair came with a box of tissues because your eyes teared so much.) But more importantly, PMMA lenses did not allow enough oxygen to reach the eye andthey caused some physical problems after long-term wear.
Today, contact lens technology has advanced so much that lenses are safe enough for children to wear. Some lenses are even approved for what’s called “continuous” wear, so that people can wear them, even while sleeping, for up to 30 days. Now, when you ask your eye doctor, “What’s new in contact lens technology,” he or she will be able to tell you about dozens of designs and numerous types of materials.
What many people don’t know about contact lens technology is that manufacturers spend considerable sums in researching and developing new materials and designs. There are research centers around the world that are devoted solely to contact lens technology. One of the more recent breakthroughs was silicone hydrogel material. It has been so well-received by eye doctors that many of the major manufacturers shifted much of their production to this new contact lens technology. Why this shift? Silicone hydrogel material allows even more oxygen to reach the eye than ever before with a soft contact lens. And healthy lens wear is everybody’s goal.