Gas permeable (GP) contact lenses, also known as rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, are hard contact lenses made of silicone-containing compounds that allow oxygen to pass through the lens material to the eye.

Though they are less popular than soft lenses, gas permeable contacts are the best choice for many individuals, including:

People who are very discerning and are willing to go through a period of adaptation to contact lens wear to achieve the sharpest vision possible.

Some people with astigmatismfor whom soft contacts don’t produce the desired visual acuity.

People with presbyopia, because GP lenses come in numerous bifocal and multifocal designs. Different bifocal designs work well for different people, so having many choices is a real plus. Also, many people find that the best combination of near and distance acuity is obtained with GP bifocals.

People who have a condition called keratoconus, where the cornea is cone-shaped and causes extreme visual distortion.