PHONE: 360-357-3410
SPECIALTY CONTACT LENSES
Do you have trouble wearing contact lenses? Have you been told you're not a good candidate for contacts, or that your eyes are "hard to fit"? If so, this doesn’t mean you can’t wear contact lenses. It may just mean that you need to be transitioned into a different type of contact lens or moved into a specialty contact lens. Our doctors are here to evaluate and determine which lens is best for your eyes.
There are certain conditions that can make contact lenses fitting and wearing more challenging:
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Astigmatism
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Presbyopia
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Dry eyes
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Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC)
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Keratoconus
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Post refractive surgery (LASIK or PRK)
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Corneal injury
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Light sensitivity (such as in Acrhomatopsia)
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Iris abnormalities
If you have a condition listed to the left and you would like to wear contact lenses, please make an appointment to learn about your options. Our doctors are trained to fit various types of specialty contact lenses, including:
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Toric lenses
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Multifocal lenses
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Monovision lenses
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Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses
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Corneal refractive therapy (CRT) lenses
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Scleral lenses
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Hybrid lenses
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Tinted/colored lenses
Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
Toric contact lenses are specially designed lenses to correct for astigmatism. A soft toric contact lens is the most common toric lens that is used and is the lens of choice for the majority of patients. For higher amounts of astigmatism or more challenging to fit astigmatism patients, we may use rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses.
Contact Lenses for Presbyopia
Multifocal and monovision contact lenses are made specifically to address the need for clear vision at all distances. As we age, our near vision starts to degrade and we start needing reading glasses, or in terms of prescription glasses, we use bifocal and progressive lenses. We use these uniquely designed contact lenses to prevent you from needing to wear reading glasses over top of your contacts, so you can remain glasses-free while wearing your contacts.
Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes
Dry eye can affect your ability to wear contact lenses comfortably all day long and is a common reason patients stop wearing contacts. If you are experiencing symptoms of dry eye, there are contact lenses that are specifically designed for people with dry eyes, that help retain and promote moisture on the eye. We may also recommend dry eye treatment such as artificial tears or medicated eye drops. There are many different causes of dry eyes— our doctors will develop a treatment plan that is specific to your eyes.
Contact Lenses for Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis
Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is an allergic reaction of the eye that causes small round bumps (papillae) to develop on the underside of the eyelids. This is a common condition in contact lenses wearers and can make it uncomfortable to wear them for more than a couple of hours. GPC is more common in patients who wear monthly replacement or two-week replacement contact lenses. The answer to resolving GPC can be as simple as switching to a daily disposable contact lens. However, it may need additional treatment before resuming contact lens wear.
Contact Lenses for Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a progressive condition of the cornea that is caused when the cornea thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape. This condition can have a profound impact on your vision and many times glasses do not work to improve your sight to a level that you’d like. Specialty contact lenses are oftentimes the only way to achieve acceptable vision. There are several lens choices available to correct your vision in keratoconus: rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, scleral lenses, hybrid lenses, piggyback lenses, and custom soft lenses. Our office has specialty instruments to map the curvature of the cornea, which our doctors use to assess which lens option is best for you.
Contact Lenses for Post-Refractive Surgery
If you have undergone LASIK or PRK in the past, and feel like your vision is degrading, contact lenses may be an option to correct your vision. Refractive surgery corrects your vision by flattening a portion of your cornea. With time, your prescription may change to the point where it is too blurry and you need correction. If you had a mild prescription before having refractive surgery, then you may be able to wear a standard soft contact lens. However, if your prescription was higher, you may need to use a specially designed contact lens to fit your flatter cornea. Our office has instruments that will aid the doctor in deciding what type of lens is needed to best fit your eyes.
Tinted and Colored Contact Lenses
There are certain conditions that require the use of specialty tinted and colored contact lenses. Patients who suffer from severe light sensitivity, as in Achromatopsia, usually need a red or amber-tinted contact lens to allow them to function without the need for very dark sunglasses. Patients with corneal scarring or corneal opacities may need a colored contact lens to hide the appearance of these scars/opacities so it better matches the appearance of the other eye. Similarly, patients with iris abnormalities may need a colored contact lens to improve cosmetic appearance and decrease the amount of light and glare entering the eye.
Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) Lenses
Corneal Refractive Therapy is a process in which we use specially designed contact lenses to reshape the cornea in order to correct a person’s refractive error. This lens works at night while you sleep, which allows for clear vision during the day without the need of glasses or contact lenses. The treatment is completely reversible, so it offers a great alternative to refractive surgery. Additionally, people that experience dry eyes while wearing traditional contact lenses may prefer this option as there is no need to wear contact lenses throughout the day. CRT lenses are a fantastic option, but not everyone is a candidate, ask our doctors to know if CRT lenses are an option for you.