4 Benefits of Hybrid Lenses
Hybrid lenses offer excellent vision correction and superior comfort for patients with corneal astigmatism or presbyopia with astigmatism.
You may be aware that there are “hard” and “soft” contact lenses, but did you know that there is a happy medium? Hybrid lenses combine the best of both worlds in one lens that consists of a rigid center surrounded by a soft lens skirt. These lenses can provide both the comfort of soft lenses and the superior visual quality of RGP lenses. Hybrid lenses are ideal for patients with corneal astigmatism or presbyopia with astigmatism; they also work well for individuals who have trouble achieving optimal vision with soft lenses or who are concerned about the comfort of RGP lenses. Consider these four advantages of hybrid lenses over other types of contacts.
- Hybrid lenses are more comfortable than RGP lenses. While many people wear hard contact lenses every day with no trouble, others struggle with the sensation of these lenses in their eyes. It’s important to apply RGP lenses correctly and give your eyes plenty of time to adapt to them. However, a few contact lens wearers are unable to get used to the sensation of rigid lenses, especially if they have highly irregular corneas. Hybrid lenses offer a more comfortable compromise on the eye and easier to wear for long periods.
- Hybrid lenses offer better and more stable vision than soft lenses. Because the center of a hybrid lens is made of rigid material, it does not change its shape when put on the ocular surface and can help neutralize corneal irregularities. This stability reduces or eliminates the problem of soft lenses moving around or adopting the irregular corneal shape, leaving irregular astigmatism uncorrected. In cases where soft contacts cannot always provide optimal vision for patients with astigmatism, hybrid lenses can.
- Anyone can wear hybrid lenses. If you wear soft contact lenses, the chances are that you can wear hybrid lenses. That doesn’t mean they are always a better option, as hybrid lenses have particular benefits for specific patients, such as those with corneal astigmatism or those who cannot wear RGP lenses due to comfort factors. However, if you have struggled with the comfort of RGP lenses yet need the better vision they provide, you may find that you have no trouble with hybrid lenses.
- Hybrid lenses are easy to maintain. Unless you are wearing daily lenses that you discard each night, all contact lenses require regular cleaning and proper storage. Following cleaning and storing instructions significantly reduces your risk of contracting a potentially serious eye infection. However, hybrid contact lenses are no more difficult to care for than other lenses. In general, you will need to clean your lenses every time you remove them and then store them in a clean case filled with fresh hybrid lens solution. Most people quickly adapt to this routine and find that it takes just a minute or two each night.
Are hybrid lenses suitable for you?
Hybrid lenses have some unique characteristics that make them more suitable for some people than others. The individuals who report the highest satisfaction with hybrid lenses typically:
- Have irregular corneal astigmatism
- Have both presbyopia and astigmatism
- Complain of lens rotation with soft contacts
- Want the superior visual quality of RGP lenses with more comfort
- Currently wear soft contacts but still desire better vision
If you are interested in learning more about hybrid contact lenses and how they might help you, contact us for an appointment. We offer a wide range of vision and eye health services, including contact lenses, eyeglasses, myopia management and kids’ eye care, dry eye treatments, and more. We’ll be happy to provide a thorough eye exam, discuss your needs and expectations, and make recommendations for your best vision correction options.