GP Lenses vs. Soft Contact Lenses: Weigh the Difference

Unless you already wear GP contact lenses, you may not know about their many advantages over soft contacts — including disposable soft contacts. Here's a comparison chart to help you see how well these lenses perform in a number of key areas:

	GP Contacts	Soft Lenses
Oxygen Delivery	GP contacts are made of special materials that allow your eyes to breathe. Oxygen is absolutely necessary to the health of your eyes.	Some soft contact lenses just don't allow enough oxygen to get through to your eyes. This can lead to corneal problems.
Visual Acuity	GP contacts have superior optics. Since they're firm, they retain their shape better when you blink, so your eyes don't have to refocus as much. And they are superb for astigmatism or bifocal needs.	When you blink, soft lenses are more likely to distort; your eyes must then refocus, which can be annoying if you're reading, or detrimental to your performance if you're driving or participating in sports.
Initial Comfort	GP contact lenses require a short adaptation period.	Soft lenses are comfortable from just about the moment you put them on.
Long-Term Comfort	GP contacts require almost no water to maintain their shape, so they won't pull the moisture away from your eyes.	After a few hours of wear, water-absorbing soft lenses can dry out your eyes, making them itchy and tired.
Durability	GP contacts are made of a firm plastic, so they don't scratch or tear. And they stay clear over time.	Made of a gel-like plastic, soft lenses are easy to tear. And protein deposit buildup clouds the lenses over time.
Deposit Resistance	Their smooth finish and lack of water retention mean they harbor fewer protein deposits from your tear film. This is healthier and more comfortable for your eyes.	Since soft lenses absorb more of your tears, they are more likely to contain protein deposits from your tears and harbor bacteria. More deposits are scratchy, too.
Value	GP contacts are much less expensive to maintain; also, they last longer so you don't have to spend as much on replacements.	Soft lenses require significant spending on cleaning supplies; and they don't last as long, so you buy new lenses more often.

As you can see, initial comfort is the only area where soft lenses excel over GP contacts. But once you get used to them, GP contacts are comfortable, more durable, easier and less expensive to care for, healthier, and provide crisper vision.

Why take the shortcut? By investing a little time and effort in adapting to your GP contacts, you'll be rewarded with a lifetime of healthy and hassle-free contact lens wear.