Major Differences between Hydrogel v/s silicone hydrogel contact lenses

Posted by SEOTech on December 20th, 2019

Silicone hydrogel and hydrogel are the two prominent types of materials that are utilized to compose contact lenses. People generally enquire, how do hydrogels work and what are hydrogels utilized for. As there is often confusion about the two.

What are contact lenses composed of?

Soft contact lenses are all composed of a mouldable plastic element. The structure of these plastics may differ, eventually, producing a marginally altered feeling and level of ease depending on the person who is going to wear it.

Hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses are both soft lenses that are composed by using plastic material. The material is permeable and makes the lens soft when kept inside water or solution, but toughens when dry. Silicone is the name used to define plastic materials that consist of a gel-like consistency and comprise of silicone, as well as oxygen, carbon, and other elements. It’s an extremely flexible material, which makes it ideal for making not only contact lenses but many other medical products such as implants and tubing.

Hydrogel or silicone hydrogel lenses, what should I wear?

It’s entirely fine to wear either option, and most people opt for standard hydrogel lenses fine. The trick, however, is to try various options available to you and observe which one works best for you. The manufacturing of contact lenses is done by many trustworthy companies.

One of the most significant advantages that silicone hydrogel has over standard hydrogel, is that silicone hydrogel lenses are extremely porous and penetrable. They enable higher oxygen transmissibility letting up to five times more oxygen to invade through the contact lens and reach the surface and cornea of the eye in comparison to normal hydrogel contact lenses. If oxygen is unable to reach the cornea, it gives rise to a condition which is known as hypoxia. This can cause a blurry vision, red eyes, loss of visual clarity and augmentation in the possibility of infections.

How do the hydrogels function?

Standard hydrogels are also soft lenses composed by using flexible plastic which is amalgamated with oxygen to let water pass through. They are cost-effective than silicone hydrogel and function in a similar way, however, they have a smaller oxygen permeability.

What are hydrogels used for?

Just like silicone hydrogel lenses, standard hydrogels are used to correct a wide range of visions. They are cheaper than silicone hydrogel lenses but more popular than rigid and gas permeable lenses which are made from a harder material