Specialty Contact Lenses

Unlock Clear Vision Solutions for Challenging Eye Conditions with Specialty Contact Lenses | Crescent Heights Optometry

Contact Lenses for the “Hard-to-Fit” Patients

Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can make contact lens wear difficult and cause a number of symptoms such as blurry vision, burning sensation, or a gritty sensation.

The first step is to treat the condition. Once the dry eye is treated and the symptoms are reduced or eliminated. Contact lenses can be fit. Some contact lens materials work better than others but everyone reacts differently. After the initial contact lens fitting, you will have a week to try your contacts and get a feel for them. If you feel they are still too dry the doctor may recommend reducing the daily wear time, changing the lens material, or reducing the replacement frequency.

Find out more about our Dry Eyes Treatments.

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Contact Lenses for High Astigmatism

Astigmatism means the front of the eye is shaped more like a football. This means you need a different kind of contact lens. A toric lens is designed to correct astigmatism. It has mechanisms in place that keep the lens from rotating on the eye. Different brands have different anti-rotation designs. If soft lens rotation cannot be fixed, GP lenses with or without toric design can be used.

Contact Lenses For Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a progressive disease that usually starts in the teen years. The exact mechanism remains unknown but it appears that oxidative damage from the free radicals plays a role. It causes the cornea to progressively thin and bulge. The cone-like shape of the cornea causes blurred vision. Depending on the severity of the disease there are many treatment options. Eyeglasses, Scleral Contact Lenses, RGP lenses, intact (plastic rings inserted into the cornea). Corneal Collagen Cross-linking is the only treatment that can actually halt the progression of the disease.

In cases of early keratoconus, a standard GP lens may be used. They are the treatment option of choice for mild and moderate Keratoconus. Because they are rigid, GP lenses can help contain the shape of the cornea to prevent further bulging of the cornea. They also can correct vision problems caused by Keratoconus that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or soft contacts. However, if the lens does not center properly on the eye or moves excessively with blinks and causes discomfort, switching to a large-diameter scleral contact lens may solve the problem.

Because scleral lenses are designed to vault the corneal surface and rest on the less sensitive surface of the sclera, these lenses often are more comfortable for a person with keratoconus.

Some patients with mild to moderate Keratoconus are fit with a hybrid contact lens. It has a GP center and a soft skirt. It combines the comfort of a soft lens and the visual acuity of a GP lens.

Contact Lenses For Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC)

Giant Papillary conjunctivitis is an irritation, not an infection, it refers to large bumps in the conjunctiva under the eyelid. This condition is often caused by allergic reactions to chemicals in contact lens solutions such as thimerosal, allergic reactions to environmental allergens, or Allergic reactions to deposits on the contact lenses. These deposits are from components of your tear film that stick to your lenses and become chemically altered. Usually changing to a daily disposable lens eliminates this problem. GP lenses are also a good solution since protein deposits don’t adhere easily to GP lenses. A medicated eye drop may also be required to reduce the inflammation prior to resuming contact lens wear.

Find Out If You Can Wear Contact Lenses

If you are interested in wearing contact lenses, call our office to schedule a consultation. Even if you’ve been told you’re not a good candidate for contacts because you have one of the above conditions or for some other reason, we may be able to help you wear contact lenses safely and successfully.