Specialty Contact Lenses in Gonzales
For some patients, standard contact lenses can feel uncomfortable or fail to provide clear vision. Specialty contact lenses offer an alternative for conditions such as keratoconus, dry eye, and irregular corneas.
What Are Specialty Contact Lenses?
Specialty contact lenses are designed for people who cannot wear, or do not see their best with, standard soft contact lenses. Available in several types, they address a wide range of vision correction and eye health needs. The right lens depends on your unique corneal shape, eye health, and lifestyle.
Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
Rigid gas permeable lenses, also known as RGP lenses, are firm, more durable than soft contact lenses, and provide sharper vision correction. When properly cared for, they can last up to one year. A downside to rigid gas lenses is that they can be difficult to adapt to for those new to wearing contact lenses.
Scleral Contact Lenses
Scleral lenses, another type of rigid gas lens, are generally more comfortable than regular RGP lenses. Rather than resting on the cornea, they vault over it and rest on the sclera (the white of the eye), which is far less sensitive.¹ This design makes them considerably more comfortable than standard RGP lenses and ideal for patients with dry eye or highly irregular corneas.
Prosthetic Contact Lenses
Prosthetic lenses cover the cornea when there are irregularities in eye appearance due to birth defects, eye diseases, or trauma. These lenses can improve the appearance of an affected eye and can also block excess light and glare for increased comfort.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-k)
Ortho-k lenses are specially designed rigid lenses worn while you sleep. They gently reshape the cornea overnight so that patients can enjoy clear, glasses-free and contact lens-free vision throughout the day. Ortho-k is an effective option for myopia management in children and adolescents and can help slow the progression of nearsightedness over time.
Do I Need Specialty Contact Lenses?
Many people assume that if standard contacts are uncomfortable or don’t provide sharp vision, glasses are their only option. But if you have any of the following conditions, you may benefit from wearing specialty contact lenses:
Keratoconus
With keratoconus, the cornea thins and bulges into a cone shape, causing distorted and blurry vision that soft lenses can’t adequately correct.² Rigid gas permeable and scleral lenses vault over the irregular cornea to provide clear, stable vision.
Dry Eye
Scleral lenses are filled with a sterile saline solution before insertion, creating a fluid reservoir over the eye’s surface. This makes them an excellent option for patients with chronic dry eye who struggle with standard contact lenses.³
High Astigmatism
Sometimes, astigmatism can’t be fully corrected with standard toric lenses. Specialty rigid lenses create an artificial smooth surface, often dramatically improving clarity.
Post-Surgical Corneas
Patients who have had LASIK, RK, or corneal transplants may be left with irregular corneal surfaces. Specialty lenses can restore comfortable, clear vision when other options are no longer effective.
Eye Appearance Concerns
Prosthetic lenses can address cosmetic irregularities caused by birth defects, eye diseases, or trauma, restoring a natural appearance.
Order contact lenses online
Order your Alcon, CooperVision, or Johnson & Johnson contact lenses anytime through MARLO. Enjoy convenient direct shipping and automatic reorder reminders that make keeping up with your contact lenses simple and stress-free.
Finding the Right Fit with Specialty Contact Lenses
At Accent Vision Care, our eye doctors are experienced in determining what type of specialty contact lens is best suited to your eyes. During your contact lens exam, they will assess corneal shape and size, your prescription, and eye health and then recommend the most appropriate lens option.
Our contact lens evaluations go beyond a standard prescription. Taking the time to understand each patient’s unique needs allows us to deliver individualized solutions that enhance both comfort and vision. Our doctors have extensive experience fitting patients with customized specialty contact lenses. This personalized approach ensures patients receive the best possible outcome.
If standard contact lenses are not a suitable option for you, specialty contacts may be a good alternative. Schedule an appointment at Accent Vision Care to find out if you are a good candidate for specialty lenses.
Specialty Contact Lenses FAQ
Who Is a Candidate for Specialty Contact Lenses?
Patients with keratoconus, chronic dry eye, irregular astigmatism, post-surgical corneas, or cosmetic eye concerns are often good candidates. Patients who are nearsighted and interested in glasses-free daytime vision may also be candidates for orthokeratology. The best way to find out if specialty lenses are right for you is to schedule an appointment with our team.
What Is the Difference Between RGP and Scleral Lenses?
Both RGP and scleral lenses use rigid, oxygen-permeable materials to provide sharp, stable vision. The main difference is how they fit on the eye.
RGP lenses are smaller and sit directly on the cornea, while scleral lenses are larger and vault over the cornea, resting on the white part of the eye instead. Because scleral lenses avoid direct contact with the cornea, they’re often more comfortable for patients with irregular corneas or dry eye.