Contact Lenses
Contact lenses offer certain advantages over wearing eyeglasses for vision correction. Unlike glasses, contact lenses won’t get fogged up, and are excellent for people who play sports and are physically active. Some people also prefer a more natural appearance over how they look in eyeglasses, and so they prefer to wear contact lenses for vision correction.
Our office collects contacts and blister packs for recycling
The most common contact lenses are soft lenses, and the wear schedule for soft contact lenses may be daily or extended. Soft contact lenses are made of soft plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea.
While soft contact lenses are the most common, they may not be the best option for everyone. In cases of keratoconus, dry eye, or other conditions in which a person is advised against wearing contact lenses, specialty contact lenses can be a suitable alternative.
What Are Specialty Contact Lenses?
Specialty contact lenses are designed for people who cannot wear standard contacts. Available in several types, they are used for various vision correction needs. An individual’s unique eye health needs will impact the specific type of specialty contact lens they wear.
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 contact lenses are larger than conventional contact lenses. They are large-diameter gas permeable lenses which are designed to vault over the entire surface of the eye, and they rest on the sclera, otherwise known as the “white” part of the eye.
Scleral contact lenses essentially replace the irregularly shaped cornea with a perfectly smooth optical surface to correct vision problems caused by keratoconus, a high amount of astigmatism, and other corneal irregularities. Since scleral contact lenses rest on the sclera, which is a less sensitive part of the eye, they can also be more comfortable for people who have dry eye disease.
Scleral contact lenses are customized for the individual patient’s needs. Learn more.
Prosthetic Contact Lenses
Prosthetic contact lenses are suitable for people who have experienced scarring of the eye, noticeable congenital defects, or other types of disfigurements. They conceal abnormalities so that they eye looks natural and give patients more confidence in their appearance. They can also help reduce double vision associated with eye trauma or surgery and reduce light sensitivity due to an eye injury.
