Contact lens technology has come a long way over the past few decades. The latest and (in the opinion of many) greatest material used to make contact lenses today is silicone hydrogel.

What makes silicone hydrogel so wonderful? 

This amazing material allows a lot of oxygen to pass through the contact lens straight through to the cornea. This keeps your eyes comfortable and healthy. In fact, compared with the previous generation of hydrogel lenses, silicone hydrogel allows up to five times more oxygen to pass through.

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Why silicone hydrogel?

When your cornea doesn’t get sufficient oxygen, it can cause hypoxia. If you wore soft contact lenses in the 1990s, you may have experienced some of the symptoms of hypoxia. These include blurry vision, corneal swelling, red and uncomfortable eyes. This is what makes silicone hydrogel a favorite among optometrists and lens wearers alike.

All hydrogel lenses are made of a special plastic that absorbs water to become soft and pliable. This is why it’s so important to keep soft contact lenses, especially silicone hydrogel lenses, wet. When soft lenses get dry they can get brittle, change their shape, and become fragile enough to break.

What are my options?

There are many fabulous options for silicone hydrogel lenses. Some of my favorites include Biofinity, Air Optix, PureVision2 and Acuvue Oasys. I’ve tried them all and found each to be comfortable to wear and easy to care for. As with any type of contact lens, proper care of your lenses is extremely important. Certain silicone hydrogel lens brands recommend a specific type of cleaning agent that adds a certain type of long-lasting moisture.

Talk to your America’s Best optometrist about whether or not silicone hydrogel lenses are right for you. If you haven’t tried contact lenses in a while, you may be pleasantly surprised at how comfortable and easy to wear these lenses are. Try them for yourself!