Specialty Contact Lenses

Every patient is unique and so are their eyes; therefore, various types of contact lenses are available to suit each individual. Some patients have corneal abnormalities or eye conditions where standard lenses won’t sit comfortably on the surface of their eyes and could cause irritation. To accommodate patients as such, Specialty Contact Lenses are custom-made and designed to address the eye condition at hand. 
 

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

Who might be a good patient for specialty contact lenses?

Your doctor will determine if you need specialty contact lenses and which lenses would be best based on your individual requirements.

Rigid Gas-Permeable Lenses

Rigid gas-permeable lenses (RGP lenses) are made from a special material that allows oxygen to pass through them and reach the surface of the eyes. This helps keep the eyes hydrated and comfortable, benefiting patients who suffer from dry eyes, a condition characterized by dry, stiff, and uncomfortable eyes, blurred vision, and eye fatigue. RGP lenses are hard and durable, allowing the lenses to be both stable and secure on the eyes so that patients can enjoy sharper vision. They also help the cornea maintain its shape, minimizing the effects of some corneal abnormalities. 
 

Scleral Contact Lenses

Scleral contact lenses are RGP lenses that are much larger in diameter compared to standard contact lenses. They are designed so that the edges of the contact lens fall on the white part of the eye, called the sclera, rather than the cornea, so that they vault over the surface of the cornea, leaving a small gap between the surface of the eye and the back of the contact. The gap is used to hold saline to keep the eyes hydrated and also accommodates corneal abnormalities, such as the bulge associated with keratoconus.
 

Hybrid Contact Lenses

Hybrid contact lenses are a combination of both soft and gas-permeable contact lenses, giving patients the opportunity to enjoy the best parts of both designs. The center part of hybrid lenses is made from the rigid gas-permeable material, while the outer edge is a soft skirt made of hydrogel or silicone hydrogel material. This means that patients experience the clarity of RGP lenses with the comfort that soft lenses offer.
For more information about specialty contact lenses, don’t hesitate to speak to our dedicated eye care team. 

Find out if specialty contacts are right for you. Click here to request an appointment or give us a call at 650.343.2080.