Specialty Contact Lenses

​​​​​​​

Every patient is different and so are their eyes. This means that there need to be different types of contact lenses to suit each individual. Some patients have corneal abnormalities which mean that conventional lenses won’t sit comfortably on the surface of their eyes, while others suffer from eye conditions that mean normal contact lenses won’t be comfortable or could irritate their eyes. 

As you may have guessed from the name, specialty contact lenses are unconventional contacts that are designed for patients that regular contacts might not be suitable. Here are some of the main types of speciality contact lenses and who they are recommended for. 

Who might be a good patient for specialty contact lenses?

Some of the patients that might benefit from specialty contact lenses include those who:

• Have been diagnosed with dry eye syndrome

• Have corneal scarring

• Have been diagnosed with keratoconus, a condition characterized by the bulging of the cornea

• Suffer from strabismus, a condition where the patient has an eye that turns in or out relative to the other

• Have suffered an injury to the eye

• Suffer from a peripheral corneal thinning disorder

• Are intolerant to other types of lenses
   

Your eye doctor or contact lens provider will be able to tell you if you need specialty contact lenses and if so, which lenses would be best based on your individual requirements.

​​​​​​​

Rigid Gas-Permeable Lenses

Also known as RGP lenses, these are made from a special material that allows oxygen to pass through them and reach the surface of the eyes. This helps to keep the eyes hydrated and comfortable, making these lenses easier to wear, especially for patients who suffer from dry eyes. Dry eyes aren’t just a symptom, but a very real condition, characterized by dry, stiff, and uncomfortable eyes, blurred vision, and eye fatigue. RGP lenses are more rigid than soft lenses, and this helps to keep them stable and secure on the eyes so that patients can enjoy sharper vision. They also help the cornea to maintain its shape, which helps to minimize the effects of some corneal abnormalities. 

Scleral Contact Lenses

Scleral contact lenses are very different than standard contact lenses. They are made out of a rigid gas permeable material, but are much larger in diameter, with customizable diameters and curves depending on your specific needs. This larger size difference allows the contact lens to touch only the sclera of the eyes (the white part), rather than the cornea (the clear window). This lens vaults over the cornea without actually touching the corneal surface.  The space under the contact lens is filled with a fluid that gently bathes the eye all day in hydration.  It also helps to create a smoother surface on the front of the eye.  This can be a great choice for scarring of the eye, dry eye, keratoconus, or other eye conditions that create corneal abnormalities.  Many patients do not see well with conventional contact lenses or glasses due to the irregularities of the cornea but can see exceptionally well with scleral contact lenses. They are extremely comfortable to wear all day.   

Multifocal Contact Lenses

Some time after the age of 40, most people experience difficulty seeing both distance and near with their glasses. This condition called presbyopia requires the need for either bifocal or progressive glasses, or the person removing the glasses to read.  Multifocal contact lenses help to restore the ability to see distance and near vision clearly using several different designs. This includes aspheric lenses that have either the distance of the lens in the center and the reading power in the periphery, or the center of the lens for reading and the distance power in the periphery.  This can be done with soft contact lenses, including lenses that also correct astigmatism,  or rigid gas permeable lenses or hybrid lenses (an RGP in the center with a soft skirt).   Other lens designs include a translating lens that the lens has distance vision in the top and then moves upward when looking down to read to see near vision out of the bottom. 

Toric Contact Lenses

People with astigmatism can wear toric lenses that help correct their vision.  Astigmatism is an optical defect where light rays entering the eye are bent unequally in different meridians preventing a sharp point of focus on the retina. Soft, rigid gas permeable, scleral, and hybrid lenses can all help to bring together those points of light into focus.

Limbal Fit Contact Lenses

Limbal contact lenses are another type of specialty lens that falls between rigid gas-permeable lenses and scleral varieties in terms of their size. Their larger overall diameter helps to increase their stability on the surface of your eyes. They also offer minimal interference with the eyelids, which helps to ensure comfort and clarity of your vision.

Hybrid Contact Lenses

Hybrid contact lenses combine a rigid gas permeable (RGP) center with a soft contact lens skirt. This design improves lens centration while providing the comfort and feel of a soft contact lens.

Specialty contact lenses may also be recommended for:

• Myopia control
• High astigmatism
• High prescriptions
• Presbyopia (age-related loss of near focusing ability, typically after age 40)

What to expect during an eye exam: 

Children up to age 18 will have the length of their eyes (axial length) measured at each visit with the doctor to determine if their eyeball's growth is in the normal or abnormal range for their age.  An axial length that is becoming longer at a rapid rate puts the child at risk for developing myopia.  Longer eyes tend to develop eye diseases over time therefore myopia is now considered an eye disease.

When you visit Vision Solutions Optometry for an eye exam, our optometrist will perform a series of tests to assess your vision and the health of your eyes. The exam includes visual acuity tests to determine your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, as well as a refraction assessment. Our eye doctor will also examine the internal and external health of your eyes, checking for signs of common conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal problems. In addition, your eye pressure will be measured to screen for glaucoma, and the overall function of your eyes will be carefully assessed to screen for focusing and eye teaming issues.

For more information about specialty contact lenses, don’t hesitate to speak to our dedicated eye care team.