Types of Specialty Contact Lenses for Hard-to-Fit Eyes

Types of Specialty Contact Lenses for Hard-to-Fit Eyes

Some people find it difficult to wear contact lenses for diverse reasons. Many of them have tried wearing regular contacts but find them uncomfortable. Others find that they do not get the desired results in terms of vision correction.

Some patients are considered hard to fit when it comes to contact lenses. They may have extremely dry eyes, irregularly shaped corneas, and other eye conditions. The conditions make it difficult for people to wear conventional contact lenses.

Specialty Contact Lenses

Many people choose to wear contact lenses because of the convenience they offer over eyeglasses. For hard-to-fit eyes, getting contacts goes beyond choosing between daily disposables and permanent lenses. They have to get contacts that they can wear and achieve the comfort and effectiveness they desire.

Fortunately, there are specialty contact lenses. These can help people with different eye conditions. Specialized fitting by a qualified eye doctor will help determine the best products for the specific condition.

Candidates for Specialty Lenses

People who are considered candidates for hard-to-fit contacts are those with certain eye conditions. The conditions include:

• Dry eyes.
• Astigmatism.
• Keratoconus.
• Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC).
• Pellucid marginal degeneration.
• Corneal scarring.
• Presbyopia.

People who have had refractive surgery or LASIK may also require specialty lenses. An eye doctor will recommend the best option depending on the patient’s needs and lifestyle.

Types of Specialty Contact Lenses

There are different types of specialty lenses for hard-to-fit eyes. The lenses include:

• Custom soft lenses.
• Rigid gas permeable contacts.
• Hybrid contact lenses.
• Scleral contact lenses.

Custom soft contacts provide enhanced power and parameters while improving comfort. Rigid gas permeable lenses offer good optics. Hybrid contacts are ideal for those desiring enhanced comfort as well as good optics. Scleral lenses require special handling, and they help provide comfort and good optics.

Dry Eye Syndrome

People who have extremely dry eyes find it almost impossible to wear regular contact lenses. The condition causes the eyes to feel dry, gritty, irritated, and experience a burning sensation. Wearing contacts makes the symptoms worse.

If you have dry eyes, the doctor can recommend specialty lenses. These are made from special materials designed to be much more comfortable. Rigid gas permeable lenses (RGP) are a good option for people with dry eyes.

Specialty Lenses for Eye Conditions

People with astigmatism find it difficult to wear traditional contact lenses because the cornea has an irregular shape. These people require specialized lenses like rigid gas permeable lenses or Toric lenses.

For patients with giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), a condition where the eyelid becomes swollen, RGP and daily disposable lenses are recommended. RGPs are also recommended for people with keratoconus and side effects resulting from LASIK or correction surgery. Bifocal and multifocal lenses are ideal for those with presbyopia.

Specialty contact lenses are customized, requiring a more complicated fitting process. This makes the lenses more costly than regular contacts.

To know more about specialty contact lenses, visit Justice Vision Clinic at our office in Duluth, Georgia. You can call (770) 626-7883 today to schedule an appointment.