Most people wear contact lenses to avoid wearing eyeglasses altogether. They are less bulky, hardly noticeable, and correct vision just as good as, if not better than, eyeglasses. But unlike eyeglasses that can fit any wearer, contact lenses do not fit any eye comfortably. The people who do not get the vision correction they are looking for in conventional contact lenses are candidates for specialty contact lenses.
What Are Specialty Contact Lenses?
Specialty contact lenses are made for individuals with special conditions affecting their eyes. People who have gone through corneal transplants or have keratoconus find conventional contact lenses uncomfortable or impossible to wear. This is because the lens is supposed to sit on the eye’s surface, yet these have uniquely shaped corneas. In most cases, these lenses are made to fit the shape of each specific cornea.
What’s Best For Me?
Specialty contact lenses will depend on the needs of the wearer. One wearer may be looking for a lens that will fit their cornea, while the next needs one because of their dry eyes condition. Go to your eye doctor to know your specific problem and the perfect solution.
Here are examples of specialty contact lenses and the best candidates for each:
- Ortho-k Contact Lenses
These are ideal for individuals with conditions such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, presbyopia, or astigmatism. These not only correct vision but also work towards reshaping the cornea to achieve better vision.
An individual wears these contacts at night and enjoys clear vision during the day without the need for eyeglasses or contacts. The ideal candidates for these are people whose professions make wearing contacts or eyeglasses difficult. These lenses slow down the progression of myopia in kids.
- Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are made from a material that allows enough oxygen to pass through them to the cornea. These help the eye get enough moisture to keep the eyes comfortable throughout the day. The ideal candidates for these lenses are people with dry eyes.
- Scleral Contact Lenses
Scleral lenses have a large diameter than conventional contact lenses. These lenses do not sit directly on the eye’s surface but rather arch over it while maintaining a gap between the cornea and the lens itself.
Scleral lenses improve symptoms of dry eyes because the lenses act as reservoirs for the tear film, keeping it on the surface of the eyes for longer. They also address issues that make wearing regular contact lenses impractical or impossible. These lenses are ideal for individuals with corneal abnormalities such as keratoconus. These are comfortable to wear even when an individual’s corneal tissue is damaged.
Specialty contact lenses are highly dependent on your needs. However, other things like taste, preference, design, and color will also determine the kind of specialty contact lenses you’ll need. Choose something that will be comfortable and ensures functionality.
To know more about specialty contact lenses, visit Eyecare Center Optometrist, PSC. Our offices are in Richmond, Lexington, Beattyville, Irvine, and McKee, Kentucky. You can call (859) 208-2020, (859) 623-6643, (859) 272-2449, (606) 464-8148, (606) 726-9321, or (606) 464-8148 to book an appointment.
