Candidates for Specialty Lenses

For contact lens wearers, there are more choices than ever before. This means that contact wearers no longer have to make do with ill-fitting lenses or lenses that don’t give the wearer great vision. There are great options on the market today designed to fit even uniquely shaped eyes. There are contact lenses available for many different kinds of vision problems.

Some contact wearers are great candidates for specialty lenses. The most common contact lenses do not adequately accommodate their individual vision needs. The eye doctor will identify several factors to determine if a patient can benefit from specialty contact lenses. Here are some important things to consider in deciding on the best lens options.

Fit and Comfort

Although hard or Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses are less prone to leading to infection or tearing, many wearers find them uncomfortable. Soft lenses are a great option for many, but not all. If contacts don’t fit well, the wearer’s vision isn’t as clear. This is also a problem when the contacts irritate the wearer.

Scleral contact lenses are an option for some in this case. The lenses are gas permeable and are a good solution for some who have struggled with contact lenses in the past. Another lens type to consider is the multifocal lens. They correct for both myopia (farsightedness) and presbyopia (nearsightedness).

Types of Scleral Lenses

Scleral lenses are much larger than traditional contact lenses. They fall into three basic categories:

• Full-scleral lenses.
• Mini-scleral lenses.
• Semi-scleral lenses.

Because these lenses are larger, they are more stable on the surface of the eye. This makes them more comfortable to wear for many people.

These lenses are a great choice for contact lens wearers who have irregular corneas. Because they are less likely to shift out of place, wearers can get clearer vision than with smaller contact lenses. Patients diagnosed with dry eye disease also find that scleral lenses work well because they allow the cornea to breathe.

When to Choose Multifocal Lenses

Contact lens wearers with both presbyopia and myopia see great results with multifocal lenses. These lenses can replace the multiple pairs of glasses that many people over 40 need. They allow wearers to focus clearly at multiple distances.

There are a few drawbacks to multifocal lenses. They are not the best choices for people with cataracts or severe dry eye disease. Also, some brands help the wearer focus better on nearer things and some on farther things. It may take some trial and error to find the brand that works best.

Making Good Vision Choices

The wonderful thing is that there are more and better choices in contact lenses than ever before. People don’t have to settle for basic contact lenses anymore. In many cases, there is a simple solution to achieve excellent vision.

Your eyes are as unique as you are. Depending on your vision needs, scleral or multifocal lenses could change the way you see the world. Limestone Eye Care’s doctors are ready to create an individualized vision plan of care for you. Call our Lawrence, Kansas, office today at (785) 268-6880 to find out if a specialized contact lens can work for you.