Huntingburg
(812) 683-4443
Jasper
(812) 634-0000
Specialty Contact Lenses
Contact lenses can correct a wide range of vision problems, including astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia. While technology in standard contact lenses have improved dramatically over the past two decades, standard lenses are not ideal for every patient. Specialty contact lenses may offer vision correction for those who have been previously told contacts are not an option, such as those with high prescriptions, high astigmatism, and those needing bifocals contact lenses. Additionally, specialized lenses can be fit eye with corneal diseases like dry eye disease, keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, and corneal scarring. In these cases, specialty contacts often provide a level of vision improvement not achievable in glasses.
WHAT IS A
SPECIALTY CONTACT LENS?
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A specialty contact lens is a custom designed lens used to provide the sharpest and clearest vision for patients for whom standard soft contact lenses do not work well.
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These lenses are intended to correct corneal irregularities and extremely high prescriptions, but also can be fit onto a healthy, “normal” eye.
Scleral
Contacts
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Sclerals are large, gas permeable contact lenses fit onto the white of the eye, called the sclera. These are advantageous in very irregular corneas, such as those with keratoconus, corneal transplants, extreme dry eye disease, and severe scarring.
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Sclerals tend to be very comfortable and provide excellent and stable vision.
Corneal Gas Permeable
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Corneal Gas Permeable contacts are fit onto the front surface of the eye, called the cornea.
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These lenses also provide clear and comfortable vision and are especially useful in cases where there is no or mild corneal irregularity or in patients with high astigmatism. Because these are fit onto the front surface of the eye, there is a “break-in” period where the patient will need to adapt to how the lenses feel on the eye.
Hybrid Contacts
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Hybrid lenses have a gas permeable center and a soft contact lens “skirt” on the edge of the lens. This provides for optimized vision with the comfort and feel more similar to a standard soft contact lens.
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These lenses are also very useful in no or mild corneal irregularity or in patients with high astigmatism.
Custom Soft Contacts
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Custom soft lenses are specially designed to mask low to mild corneal irregularity and work well for patients with extremely high prescriptions, if standard soft lenses are not made in a specific power.