Soft Lenses

Soft contact lenses cover the entire cornea of the eye. Because they contain water, soft contact lenses are very pliable. Over 85% of all contact lens wearers in the U.S. wear soft lenses.

Soft contact lenses are more popular than rigid gas permeable lenses because they are immediately comfortable. Soft lenses don't require a "break-in" period like RGP lenses and can be worn with a high level of comfort from the first day.

For clear, comfortable vision, soft contact lenses must stay moist. If they begin to dry out, vision may fluctuate and the lenses can become less comfortable.

Wearing Schedule Soft contact lenses are classified as daily wear or extended wear.
Daily Wear	Daily wear soft lenses are removed at the end of the day. Lenses are then cleaned and disinfected (re-usable lenses) or discarded (disposable 1-day lenses). Daily wear lenses are not approved for overnight wear.
Extended Wear	Extended wear soft lenses can be worn overnight and are approved for up to six nights of continuous wear. Lenses are then cleaned and disinfected (re-usable lenses) or discarded (disposable extended wear lenses).

Power Design There are three types of soft lenses based on power design: spherical, toric, and multifocal.
Spherical	Spherical soft lenses correct nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Toric	Toric soft lenses have a more sophisticated design to correct astigmatism.
Multifocal	Soft lenses are available in bifocal and multifocal designs to correct presbyopia.

Tints Soft contact lenses are available in three types of tints: locator tints, enhancer tints and opague tints.
Locator Tints	Soft lenses with locator tints don't change the color of your eye. The purpose of locator tints is to make your lenses easier to see and find when they are removed from the eye. Most locator tints are light blue.
Opaque Tint	Soft lenses with opaque tints allow you to completely change the color of your eyes. For example, they can make brown eyes appear blue.
Enhancer Tint	Soft lenses with enhancer tints make your natural eye color more dramatic. For example, they can make pale blue eyes appear deep blue or blue/green.