Hybrid contact lenses

When it comes to improving your vision with contact lenses, there are many options available. Hybrid contact lenses offer a versatile solution that can be a great choice for people with various vision issues or trouble wearing traditional contacts.

Read on to learn the basics about hybrid contacts, who they can benefit, and what vision problems they can help correct.

What are hybrid contact lenses?

A hybrid contact lens is a specialty lens that combines two different materials. It’s a cross between a gas-permeable lens (often referred to as a hard contact) and a soft contact lens. The centre portion of the lens is rigid while the outer part (called the skirt) is soft. Hybrid lenses are useful for people with different types of vision problems and corneal conditions.

Gas-permeable (GP) lenses, also called rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses, are made from a durable and breathable material. Thanks to their rigid structure, they hold their shape well and can provide clear, crisp eyesight. However, they can be more difficult to get used to and may require a longer adjustment period. GP lenses can also fall out of the eye more easily than soft lenses and they do not come in disposable options.

Soft contact lenses are made from a pliable material that conforms to the eye’s surface. They’re generally comfortable to wear and usually easy to adapt to. But soft contacts are more fragile and more susceptible to damage.

Some people find hard lenses uncomfortable but don’t get the vision clarity they need or desire from soft contacts. Offering the best of both worlds, hybrid contacts are designed to provide the visual clarity of GP lenses with the comfort of soft lenses. The rigid centre ensures sharp, crisp vision while the soft outer zone enhances comfort and helps keep the lens in place.

Benefits of hybrid contacts

Hybrid contact lenses emerged on the vision correction scene in the 1980s. Since then, their design has been further refined to enhance their capabilities and features. Today’s hybrid contacts offer the following benefits:

• Versatility – These lenses address a variety of vision needs (see more on this below).
• Enhanced comfort – Their soft edges make them more comfortable to wear.
• Visual clarity – The rigid centre helps maintain a smooth surface for sharp vision.
• Stability – The soft lens skirt helps keep the lens in place and prevents it from shifting on the eye’s surface when blinking.
• High-oxygen permeability – The lenses allow oxygen to reach the cornea, promoting eye health.

Who needs hybrid contact lenses?

Hybrid contact lenses can correct a range of vision issues, including these common refractive errors:

• Myopia (short-sightedness) – Blurry distance vision
• Hyperopia (long-sightedness) – Blurry near vision
• Astigmatism – Blurry vision at all distances
• Presbyopia – Age-related changes in the eye that cause blurry near vision

Hybrid contact lenses can be made to address single-vision or multifocal needs.

While hybrid lenses may not be ideal for everyone, they can be a good choice for people who:

• Seek sharper visual clarity not provided by standard contact lenses.
• Have irregular astigmatism, high astigmatism, or astigmatism with presbyopia.
• Have corneal damage or a history of a corneal transplant with ongoing visual distortion.
• Have keratoconus, a condition that affects the shape of the cornea. (Hybrid contacts can also be ideal for people with normal-shaped corneas.)
• Have undergone refractive eye surgery, such as LASIK, but are not pleased with the results.
• Are unable to wear soft contact lenses, multifocal contacts, or other types of lenses.

The best way to learn if hybrid contacts are right for you is to visit an eye care professional. They can check your eyes and vision, perform an eye test to determine your prescription, and help you explore your vision correction options.

Hybrid contact lenses for astigmatism

Astigmatism occurs when the shape of the cornea or crystalline lens has too much curvature. This excess curvature prevents light from landing directly on the retina as it enters the eye, causing blurry or distorted vision. 

Hybrid contact lenses are effective for correcting corneal astigmatism. The rigid lens centre creates a smooth surface that helps compensate for the cornea’s steep curvature, allowing light to focus properly on the retina for sharp vision.

This rigid centre is a benefit not found in the soft toric lenses commonly prescribed for astigmatism. Soft lenses tend to conform to the cornea’s shape and therefore may not correct astigmatism as precisely.

Hybrid contact lenses for keratoconus

Keratoconus occurs when the cornea, which is usually dome-shaped, gradually becomes thinner and bulges into a cone shape. This affects the eye’s ability to focus light properly on the retina, which can cause blurry vision and other eye-related problems. 

Hybrid contacts help address keratoconus by compensating for corneal irregularities and keeping the gas-permeable zone properly aligned and centred over the pupil.

People with corneal transplants, corneal damage, and other corneal concerns may also benefit from wearing hybrid contact lenses.

Hybrid contact lenses for combined presbyopia and astigmatism

Presbyopia is an age-related condition in which the eye’s natural crystalline lens gradually becomes less flexible, making it difficult to see up close. Many people begin to experience presbyopia around age 40. It’s possible to have presbyopia along with other vision problems, such as astigmatism and myopia.

Finding a contact lens solution for presbyopia with astigmatism can prove challenging, as options that simultaneously address both conditions are limited. Some people have found success with certain types of hybrid contacts, which can be customised and tailored to individual corneal shape and vision needs.

Caring for and cleaning hybrid lenses

While hybrid contacts can last up to six months, it’s important to replace them as frequently your eye care professional recommends. This is longer than standard soft contact lenses, which are typically replaced on a daily, bi-weekly, or monthly schedule.

As with all types of contacts, proper care and cleaning are essential for hybrid lenses. This helps keep your eyes healthy and ensures your contacts remain effective and intact through their intended lifespan.

Consider the following general tips on caring for and cleaning your hybrid contact lenses: 

• Clean your lenses each day. This helps prevent bacterial growth that could lead to eye infections.
• Begin by washing your hands thoroughly and drying them with a clean, lint-free towel. 
• After removing the contact from each eye, rinse and disinfect it with the appropriate contact lens solution. Your eye care professional can help you choose the correct products for your lenses.
• Use only gentle pressure when cleaning your lenses. Applying too much pressure could damage the hard portion of the lens.
• Store your lenses in a clean contact lens case filled with fresh contact lens solution overnight.

Additional tips include:

• Avoid sleeping in your hybrid contact lenses, as they are not intended for overnight wear.
• Do not use tap water to rinse or clean your lenses. This could put you at risk of developing eye infections.
• Do not shower or swim while wearing your lenses.

Your eye care provider may provide further instructions on cleaning your hybrid contacts. Always follow your provider’s instructions for inserting, removing, and caring for your lenses.

You can experience the world with clearer, sharper vision. Book an eye test and contact lens check with Vision Express, our trusted partner in eye care.

SOURCES:

1. Comparison of hybrid contact lenses and rigid gas-permeable contact lenses in moderate and advanced keratoconus. Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology. June 2023.
2. What to know about gas permeable lenses. Eyes on Eyecare. April 2023.
3. Contacts. Cleveland Clinic. July 2023.
4. Hybrid contact lenses and your eyes. Verywell Health. July 2024.
5. Custom soft vs. hybrid vs. rigid lenses. Contact Lens Spectrum. October 2022.
6. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Verywell Health. October 2022.
7. The complete guide to SynergEyes hybrid contact lenses. Eyes on Eyecare. November 2020.
8. Refractive errors. Cleveland Clinic. September 2022.
9. Keratoconus. Moorfields Eye Hospital. NHS Foundation Trust. Accessed August 2024.
10. Astigmatism. Cleveland Clinic. November 2022.
11. Your eyes in your 40s and beyond. Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO). Accessed August 2024.