What Are Hard Contact Lenses?

“Hard” and “soft” are the two main types of contact lenses. The vast majority of contact lens wearers use soft contacts. Doctors prescribe hard contacts far less frequently and generally only in special circumstances. 

The term “hard contact lenses” doesn’t tend to elicit warm, fuzzy feelings—the thought of putting something hard in your eye can be downright wince-worthy. But truth be told, modern hard contacts aren’t really as “hard” as the name suggests.

In this article, we’ll discuss what hard contact lenses are, why they’re prescribed, and how they compare to soft contacts.

Hard Contact Lenses: What They Are and How They Work

Hard contacts are, simply put, contact lenses made of a stiffer material than soft contacts, which are more flexible. 

In the past, all contact lenses were “hard” contacts. During the late 1800s, contact lenses were made of glass and felt about as comfortable as having glass in your eye sounds. All this changed roughly half a century later when contacts started being made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a plastic material that’s lighter than glass but still stiff.

Today’s hard contact lenses retain the name “hard,” but although firm, they’re softer than the hard contacts of yesteryear. 

What Are Rigid Gas-Permeable Contact Lenses?

When people refer to hard contacts today, they’re usually talking about rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contacts. Likewise, for our purposes here, hard contacts and RGP contacts are one and the same.

RGP contact lenses (sometimes simply called “GP contacts”) are made of a semi-soft compound of elements such as silicone. This sieve-like material allows oxygen to permeate the lens (which is why the contacts are called “gas-permeable”) to reach the eye. (Soft contact lenses also let oxygen flow through the lens, but generally not as well as RGP lenses do.) Oxygen flow is crucial for eye health.

RGP contacts are custom fit to follow the individual curve of the wearer’s cornea.

Why Would Someone Wear Hard Contact Lenses?

Some people just prefer hard contacts. But for the most part, doctors prescribe them in special cases, such as when a high prescription isn’t available in soft contacts, or when there’s an eye issue that hard contacts might better address.

For instance, hard contact lenses can provide crisper vision in a person with irregularly shaped corneas, such as someone with keratoconus (cone-shaped corneas) or extreme astigmatism. 

Hard vs. Soft Contacts: How They Compare

We learn early in life that the words “hard” and “soft” are opposites. But in the contact lens universe, this isn’t really the case. In fact, hard and soft contacts are more alike than their names suggest. That being said, they definitely aren’t the same.

Let’s take a look at their similarities and differences.

Soft and Hard Contact Lenses: What They Have in Common

Prescription soft and hard contacts share a lot of qualities and features. They both:

• Are thin, plastic lenses worn on the eye’s surface
• Help people see more clearly by correcting refractive errors like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, and presbyopia
• Have a bowl-like shape
• Are almost imperceptible to onlookers 
• Require diligent  adherence to proper wear schedules and care
• Must be prescribed by an eye doctor

Differences Between Soft and Hard Contacts

Soft and hard contact lenses have several notable differences. We’ve outlined the main ones below.

Caring for RGP Contact Lenses

Cleaning and storing your hard contacts properly is an important part of your eye health—and overall health. Always follow your eye doctor’s instructions for the proper wear schedule and care of your RGP lenses. The method your doctor recommends may include these steps:

1. Only use fresh cleaning products approved for hard contact lenses.
2. Clean one lens at a time. With one lens in your palm, put a few drops of cleaning solution on the lens and gently rub.
3. Use saline solution to rinse the lens. Then put it in a clean case filled with storage solution.
4. Repeat these steps with the other lens.

Your recommended lens care system might also include an enzymatic cleaner once a week to get rid of any protein deposits.

Soft or Hard? Ask Your Doctor

How do you know if you need hard contacts? The best way to find out is to discuss it with your eye doctor. Together, you can talk about the pros and cons of RGP contacts and if they might benefit you.