How are Contact Lenses Made?
There seems to be a new type of contact lens created every year. But how are contact lenses made is a mystery to most people. First were the hard lenses made of polymer plastic in the 1960s, followed by soft lenses which were composed of 40-60 % water and far more comfortable. Finally RPG (rigid gas permeable) lenses were introduced in 1979. They allowed more oxygen to get through the lens. Today we can choose from extended wear; toric lenses for astigmatism; disposable lenses that can be tossed out every week or so; and daily use soft contact lenses that never need to be cleaned. In short, how are contact lenses made can be summed up by the word plastic.
What all lenses have in common is their base component of plastic, which has been thinned and curved to fit the human eye. The early prototypes for hard contact lenses were extremely uncomfortable. They did not allow any oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye, and this was bad for the cornea, hence the continued attempts to improve on the "breath ability" of lenses. Introduced commercially in 1971, soft contact lenses are made with a material offshoot of hard lenses called crosslinked polyacrylamide, which absorbs water, and keeps the lenses malleable and flexible. Of course, if soft lenses are not kept lubricated by saline, they will become brittle and even crack.
RGP lenses combine the best of both worlds. RPG lenses keep vision sharp but also provide oxygen to the eye and are better for people with astigmatism. Now that you know a little about the pros and cons of soft and hard lenses and how are contact lenses made, check with your doctor to find out which type is the best for you.
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