If your contacts feel fine in the morning but uncomfortable by afternoon, the material they are made of may be the reason.
Silicone hydrogel lenses were developed to fix exactly that. The material passes oxygen directly through the lens itself, so your eyes stay better supplied all day. For people who deal with dryness, redness, or fatigue by the end of the day, switching to silicone hydrogel is often the first thing an eye doctor recommends.
Online retailers carry a wider range of silicone hydrogel lenses than most optical shops stock locally, including toric options for astigmatism and multifocal options for presbyopia that can be harder to find in person. You can match your prescription to your order using the details on your lens box, upload your prescription for verification, and set up automatic refills so you always have a fresh supply on hand.
The main reason eye doctors moved toward recommending silicone hydrogel lenses over the past two decades is straightforward: your eyes need oxygen, and this material delivers significantly more of it during wear than older conventional hydrogel lenses. That translates to less redness, less dryness, and eyes that feel more comfortable at hour ten than they would in a conventional lens.
Silicone hydrogel is now available across daily, bi-weekly, and monthly replacement schedules at 1-800 GET LENS.
Your eye doctor handles the technical decisions during your contact lens exam, but knowing what to look for when placing an order online makes the process smoother. Here is what to check before you buy:
Start with your contact lens prescription. Your eye doctor will have already selected a brand based on your eye shape and prescription range.
Confirm the details on your lens box, including base curve, diameter, power, and brand, since these all need to match your order exactly.
Decide on a replacement schedule. Silicone hydrogel lenses come in daily, bi-weekly, and monthly options depending on your lifestyle and how often you wear contacts.
Check whether you need a specialty lens. Toric silicone hydrogel lenses are available for astigmatism, and multifocal options are available for presbyopia.
Upload your prescription or have the retailer verify it with your optometrist before completing your order.
Dry eyes are one of the most common reasons people stop wearing contacts, and lens material is often a significant part of the problem. Conventional hydrogel lenses lose moisture as the day goes on, which makes dryness worse for people whose eyes are already prone to it. Silicone hydrogel lenses hold up better because oxygen delivery does not depend on the lens staying wet. If you have struggled with dryness in contacts before, your eye doctor can help identify which silicone hydrogel brand and water content level works best for your eyes specifically.
The primary advantage is higher oxygen permeability, which helps your eyes stay clearer and more comfortable across a full day of wear. They are less likely to cause end-of-day redness and dryness than conventional hydrogel lenses, and they hold up better for people who wear contacts for extended hours or deal with dry eye symptoms.
They tend to be a better fit than conventional hydrogel lenses for people with dry eyes because oxygen delivery does not rely on the lens staying hydrated. That said, dry eye sensitivity varies between individuals, and the right brand, water content, and replacement schedule for your eyes specifically is something your eye doctor is best positioned to advise on.
Yes. Silicone hydrogel toric lenses are made to correct astigmatism while providing the same higher oxygen permeability as standard silicone hydrogel lenses. Your eye doctor can confirm which toric options fall within your prescription range before you place an order.
Most multipurpose solutions are compatible with silicone hydrogel lenses, but the best option depends on the specific lens brand your doctor prescribed and your eyes' sensitivity. Your eye doctor or the lens manufacturer's care instructions are the most reliable source for a solution recommendation specific to your lenses.
Not unless they are specifically prescribed for extended wear. Most silicone hydrogel lenses are approved for daily use only, and sleeping in them raises the risk of irritation and infection. Extended wear versions exist and are approved for overnight use, but require a specific prescription. Ask your eye doctor if overnight wear is something you need.
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