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Tips For Adjusting To Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses

If your optometrist recently fit you with rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses and you are having a hard time adjusting to wearing them, then you are not alone. Since RGP contact lenses are harder than "soft" contact lenses, they can be more challenging to get used to wearing. The good news is that your eyes will soon adjust to the new sensation and you won't notice your new contacts. In the meantime, to hasten your adjustment period for your new RGP contact lenses, here are some time-tested tips you can use:

Tip: Work Up to Wearing Your RGP Contact Lenses All Day

Whether you are moving to RGP contact lenses from glasses or soft contacts, it is important that you work up to wearing them all day. You cannot expect to put your contacts in at the beginning of the day and take them out at bedtime when you first start wearing them. Instead, you will need to wear the lenses for a few hours each day and work your way up to full-time use. 

Tip: Use Wetting Drops with RGP Lenses for Added Comfort

As with soft contact lenses, the wetter your eyes are, then the better your RGP contact lenses will feel. When you first start wearing your new lenses, use wetting drops very frequently. The wetting drops will add necessary moisture for your eyes and help lower the amount of scratchiness you feel from your new lenses. This will allow you to wear the new harder lenses for a longer period of time each day and adjust more quickly for full-time use.

Tip: Wear Sunglasses Outdoors to Help with Wind and Dust

Since wind and dust will cause your RGP contact lenses to hurt your eyes, you can help keep both out by wearing sunglasses outdoors. The sunglasses will form a physical barrier between your eyes and the dust and wind. For added protection during hiking or other outdoor sports, you should wear sunglasses that have side protection. 

Tip: Don't Skip Your Follow-Up Appointment

Finally, it is vital that you do not skip your follow-up appointment with your optometrist after you start wearing rigid gas permeable contact lenses. Since harder lenses require a more precision fit than softer lenses do, your optometrist needs to look at your lenses on your eyes after you have started to get used to wearing them. At your follow-up appointment, your optometrist can make any necessary adjustments to your contact's fit or prescription.

For more information, contact local professionals like Bucks Eye Specialists.


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