If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed researching your contact lens options or wondered why your friend seems to wear a completely different type of lens than you, you’re not alone. Contact lenses are not one-size-fits-all. Every pair of eyes is unique in shape, size, and visual needs, which means there’s no single lens that works for everyone.
At Vision Eye Group, we believe you deserve lenses that were made for your eyes. That’s why we offer an extensive selection of both regular and specialty contact lenses, and why our team is highly experienced in fitting even the most complex cases. Whether you’re a first-time contact lens wearer or you’ve been told your eyes are “difficult to fit,” we’re here to help.
Let’s walk through everything we offer so you can feel informed and confident heading into your next contact lens exam.
What Are Common Lens Materials?
Before diving into specific lens types, it helps to understand that contacts come in two main materials: hard and soft.
Hard lenses, also called rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, are made from a firm plastic combined with breathable materials. They hold their shape on the eye, which makes them especially useful for correcting certain vision conditions, and they allow oxygen to flow through to your cornea. Hard lenses are more durable, longer-lasting, and better for people with more complex prescriptions.
Soft lenses are the most popular choice for a reason: they’re comfortable right from the start and easy to get used to. Soft lenses are more flexible, which allows for greater comfort, but they are also more fragile and susceptible to rips and tears. Most contact lens wearers use soft lenses, though that doesn’t mean they’re right for everyone.
How Long Can You Wear a Single Pair of Contact Lenses?
The length of wear and use depends on the design of your lenses:
Daily wear contacts
Daily wear lenses are designed to be worn once and discarded at the end of the day. No cleaning, no storage solution—just a fresh, new lens every morning. This makes them the healthiest and most convenient option on the market. They’re a great choice for people who want simplicity or who only wear contacts occasionally.
Planned replacement lenses
A single pair of planned replacement lenses should be replaced every two weeks or every month. They’re designed for 12–14 hours of daily wear. At the end of the day, you clean and store them to wear again the next day. For people who wear contacts every day, planned replacement lenses can be a cost-effective option.
Contact Lens Designs Available at Vision Eye Group
Did you know that the design of a lens determines what visual conditions it can correct and who it’s best suited for? At Vision Eye Group, we offer all of the following types of contact lenses:
Spherical Contacts
Spherical lenses are the most common lens design and are available in both soft and RGP options. They correct for myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. If you have a straightforward prescription, there’s a good chance spherical lenses will work well for you.
Toric Lenses
Toric lenses are specifically engineered for people with astigmatism. Unlike spherical lenses that have the same power all the way around, toric lenses have multiple powers in different meridians of the lens to precisely match the irregular curvature of your eye. They’re available in both soft and RGP materials.
Bifocal and Multifocal Lenses
As we get older, many of us start to notice that reading small print or looking at a phone screen becomes a challenge—a condition called presbyopia. Bifocal and multifocal contact lenses address this by incorporating multiple prescriptions into one lens, correcting for distance, intermediate, and near vision all at once. These are available in soft or RGP materials, and even in toric designs for patients with astigmatism.
CRT/Orthokeratology Lenses
CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy), also known as orthokeratology or ortho-k, is one of the more exciting innovations in contact lens technology. These specially designed RGP lenses are worn only while you sleep. Overnight, they gently reshape the cornea, so when you wake up and take them out, you can see clearly throughout the day, no glasses or daytime contacts needed.
This is often referred to as myopic control, and it’s a particularly popular option for children and teens whose myopia is progressing, as research suggests it may help slow that progression over time.
Prosthetic Lenses
For patients with a disfigured or injured eye, prosthetic lenses are custom-colored contacts designed to match the appearance of the unaffected eye, restoring a natural, symmetrical look. These lenses are a meaningful option for people navigating eye injuries, corneal scarring, or certain congenital conditions.
Custom/Made-to-Order Lenses
If you’ve tried conventional lenses and they just haven’t worked—whether due to an unusual eye shape, an extreme prescription, or a complex condition—you may be a candidate for fully custom lenses. These are designed and manufactured specifically for your individual eyes, accounting for parameters that off-the-shelf lenses simply can’t accommodate.
Hybrid Lenses
Can’t decide between the crisp optics of an RGP lens and the comfort of a soft lens? Hybrid lenses give you both. They feature a rigid gas-permeable center for sharp, clear vision, surrounded by a soft skirt for all-day comfort you’d expect from a soft lens. They’re a great middle-ground option for patients who need RGP-quality clarity but have struggled with comfort in the past.
Scleral Lenses
Scleral lenses are larger-diameter RGP lenses that rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera), not the cornea. Because they don’t touch the cornea directly, they create a smooth, fluid-filled space over the eye’s surface, making them ideal for people with irregularly shaped or damaged corneas.
At Vision Eye Group, we use scleral lenses to treat a range of complex conditions, including:
- Keratoconus—a condition where the cornea progressively thins and bulges outward
- Post-LASIK complications—for patients experiencing vision irregularities after laser eye surgery
- Chronic dry eye—the fluid reservoir keeps the eye constantly hydrated
- Astigmatism—especially in cases where other lenses haven’t provided adequate correction
- Post-corneal transplant—helping eyes heal and function well after transplant surgery
- Pellucid marginal degeneration—a rare condition causing thinning near the lower edge of the cornea
If you’ve been told your vision can’t be fully corrected with standard contacts or glasses, scleral lenses may be the answer.
How Do I Know Which Lens Is Right for Me?
Choosing the right contact lens shouldn’t be something you have to figure out on your own. A proper contact lens fitting at Vision Eye Group goes well beyond reading your glasses prescription. We evaluate the size and shape of your corneas, your tear film health, your lifestyle, and your vision goals to match you with the lens that truly works for your eyes.
Whether you’re looking for a daily lens for weekend wear, a specialty lens for a complex condition, or something in between, our team has the experience and the lens selection to find your fit. We’re proud to accommodate patients who have been told they’re “hard to fit,” because we believe everyone deserves clear, comfortable vision.
Ready to find the right contact lenses for you? Schedule an Exam With Vision Eye Group! 478-744-1710
If it’s time to explore your contact lens options, schedule a contact lens exam with Vision Eye Group. Let’s find the lens that was made for you.
Call us today at 478-744-1710.
Vision Eye Group serves patients throughout Middle Georgia with offices in Macon and Warner Robins, GA.
Frequently Asked Questions About Contact Lenses
Q: Can I wear contact lenses if I have astigmatism?
Yes! Vision Eye Group offers multiple options for astigmatism, including toric lenses (soft and RGP), spherical lenses, scleral lenses, and hybrid lenses. The right choice depends on the severity of your astigmatism and the shape of your cornea, which we assess during your fitting exam.
Q: What are scleral lenses used for?
Scleral lenses are large-diameter RGP lenses designed for complex eye conditions, including keratoconus, post-LASIK complications, chronic dry eye, astigmatism, post-corneal transplant recovery, and pellucid marginal degeneration. They vault over the cornea, providing a smooth, hydrated surface for clear, comfortable vision.
Q: What are orthokeratology (CRT) lenses and who are they for?
CRT lenses are worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea while you sleep, allowing you to see clearly during the day without any contacts or glasses. They’re commonly used for myopia (nearsightedness) and are especially popular for children and teens whose prescriptions are still changing, as they may help slow myopia progression.
Q: I’ve been told I’m hard to fit for contacts. Can Vision Eye Group still help?
Absolutely. VEG specializes in fitting complex contact lens cases. Between custom/made-to-order lenses, hybrid lenses, and scleral lenses, there are solutions for eyes that don’t fit standard lens parameters. We encourage you to come in for a consultation so we can evaluate your specific needs.
Q: What’s the difference between daily wear and planned replacement contacts?
Daily wear lenses are single-use — worn once and discarded. Planned replacement lenses (bi-weekly or monthly) are cleaned and reused. Daily lenses are the healthiest option and require no maintenance, while planned replacement lenses can be more economical for everyday wearers.
Q: Do Vision Eye Group contact lens options include multifocal lenses for presbyopia?
Yes. We offer bifocal and multifocal contact lenses in both soft and RGP materials. These lenses correct for distance, intermediate, and near vision simultaneously, making them a great alternative to reading glasses for patients with presbyopia. They’re also available in toric designs for patients with astigmatism.
Q: How do I get started with contact lenses at Vision Eye Group?
Schedule a contact lens exam with our team. This is different from a standard eye exam — it includes measurements and assessments specific to contact lens fitting. Based on your prescription, eye shape, and lifestyle, we’ll recommend the best lens options and ensure you leave with lenses that fit well and feel comfortable.
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