Refractive index of rigid contact lens materials.

A simple hand-held refractometer was used to measure the refractive index of 27 rigid gas permeable contact lens materials. As a general rule, lenses with refractive indices lower than 1.458 are made from fluorosilicone acrylates; lenses with refractive indices in the range of 1.458 to 1.469 are made from either fluorosilicone acrylates or silicone acrylates; and lenses with refractive indices greater than 1.469 are made from silicone acrylates. It is demonstrated how refractometry can be used by contact lens practitioners for the identification and verification of rigid contact lenses.