Optical Polymer Research Contact Lenses

Optical Polymer Research develops and manufactures contact lens materials and finished lenses. Their work focuses on the polymer science behind lens comfort and oxygen performance.

Optical Polymer Research contact lenses are rigid gas-permeable lenses made from durable polymer materials that hold their shape on the cornea rather than conforming to it like soft lenses. Because they contain no water, they are naturally resistant to bacterial growth and deposit buildup, and feature highly wettable surfaces that lock in moisture for comfortable wear throughout the day.

Like all RGP lenses, Optical Polymer Research lenses require an adjustment period of several weeks before they feel comfortable. Wearers should wear them consistently during the adjustment period as skipping days will reset the process. Once adjusted, most wearers find RGP lenses comfortable for full-day wear.

All Optical Polymer Research contact lenses sold in the United States are FDA-cleared medical devices that meet safety and effectiveness standards for vision correction. FDA clearance means each lens has been reviewed and determined safe for its intended use, and the polymer materials used in Optical Polymer Research lenses are approved rigid gas-permeable and PMMA lens materials under that clearance.

Purchasing from a licensed retailer like Lens.com ensures you are receiving authentic FDA-cleared products. Lens.com verifies all prescriptions directly with your eye care professional before fulfilling any order, in compliance with the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act. A valid prescription is required to purchase any Optical Polymer Research lens regardless of prescription type.

Optical Polymer Research lenses are most commonly prescribed for wearers whose prescriptions or eye conditions are better addressed by rigid gas-permeable lenses than soft lenses. Because RGP lenses hold their shape on the eye, they can mask certain corneal irregularities and provide more stable, sharper vision than soft lenses in these cases.

Conditions commonly addressed with Optical Polymer Research lenses:

• Keratoconus - progressive thinning and bulging of the cornea that causes irregular astigmatism and blurred vision
• Irregular astigmatism - caused by corneal scarring, injury, or post-surgical changes that soft toric lenses cannot fully correct
• High refractive errors - prescriptions that fall outside the range of most soft contact lenses
• Post-surgical corneas - following procedures like LASIK, corneal transplants, or other refractive surgeries
• Wearers who cannot tolerate soft lenses due to sensitivity, allergies, or poor visual acuity with soft lens materials

Optical Polymer Research contact lenses are rigid gas-permeable lenses and require a care routine specific to RGP lens materials. Always wash and dry your hands before handling lenses, and use only solutions formulated for RGP lenses as recommended by your eye care professional.

• Clean lenses daily with an RGP-approved multipurpose or conditioning solution
• Never rinse lenses with tap water as contaminants can damage the lens surface and cause eye infection
• Store lenses in fresh RGP solution each time they are removed
• Replace the lens case regularly to reduce contamination risk
• Never use soft lens solutions on RGP lenses as they are not formulated for rigid materials
• Follow your eye care professional's recommended wear and replacement schedule

Optical Polymer Research contact lenses are rigid gas-permeable lenses and follow a different insertion and removal process than soft lenses. Always wash and dry your hands before handling lenses.

To insert:

• Wash hands with mild soap and dry with a lint-free towel
• Rinse the lens with RGP conditioning solution and place it on the tip of your index finger
• Pull down your lower eyelid with the middle finger of your dominant hand
• Place the lens directly on the cornea while looking straight ahead
• Blink gently to center the lens and repeat with the other lens

Note: RGP lenses require an adjustment period of several weeks. Wear them consistently as skipping days will reset the adjustment process

To remove:

• Wash and dry your hands before starting
• Place the index finger of one hand at the outer corner of your eye and hold your other hand below your eye
• Look down and pull your eyelid toward your ear
• Blink and the lens should pop out
• Repeat for the other eye