Pharmacy Self Care is a program of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Contact lenses can be made of hard plastic or
soft gel-like material. One lens is put into each eye
and sits on the tear film that coats the cornea, the
curved front surface of the eye. It is important to
have contact lenses prescribed, fitted and regularly
checked by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Types of contact lenses
Hard contact lenses (also called rigid, gas-
permeable lenses) are firmly shaped lenses. They
are more durable than soft contacts, so they do not
need to be replaced as often. Hard contacts may
be more suitable than soft contacts for some vision
problems.
Soft contact lenses are flexible lenses that
conform to the shape of the eye. They are more
comfortable than hard contacts and so are generally
easier to get used to. They also tend to stay in place
in the eye better than hard contacts.
There are different types of hard and soft contact
lenses, which cater for different needs and lifestyles.
They differ according to how they correct vision,
their wearing schedules and their replacement
schedules.
Wearing schedules
• Daily-wear lenses are inserted in the
morning, worn through the day, and taken out
at night.
• Extended-wear lenses allow wearers to
keep their contacts in while sleeping, either
occasionally or for up to 30 days. Extended
wear lenses are not suitable for everyone.
Replacement schedules
• Conventional lenses – hard/rigid lenses
generally need to be replaced every 1 or 2
years and conventional soft lenses after about
1 year of regular use.
• Soft ‘frequent replacement’ (disposable)
lenses – are replaced at short intervals (e.g.,
daily, fortnightly or monthly). Replacing lenses
at short intervals can help avoid protein build
up on lenses. Disposable lenses are often used
by people who wear contacts only for sport or
social occasions.
Cleaning contacts
Disposable lenses that are discarded after one use
do not require cleaning, but most hard and soft
contact lenses need to