Silicone Hydrogel vs Hydrogel: Why Less Water Is Better
Silicone hydrogel lenses hold less water than conventional hydrogels and deliver several times more oxygen. That sounds backwards, and it is the single most useful thing to understand about contact lens materials — because it is also why “high water content” on a box is not the selling point it appears to be. Two different…
Dr. Teresita Bollar, OD
What Are Contact Lenses Made Of?
Nearly every soft lens sold today is silicone hydrogel. The material is not a specification-sheet detail — it determines how much oxygen reaches your cornea, how much water the lens loses during the day, and how many hours you can comfortably wear it. The three families 1. Hydrogel HEMA-based polymers saturated with water, between 38%…