Types of Specialty Contact Lenses

August 31, 2020

Are you having trouble fitting standard contact lenses?

Just like regular glasses, contact lenses help people see clearly in daily life. However, contact lenses are more comfortable and convenient, which explains why folks are moving away from wearing spectacles.

That said, you may be experiencing an eye problem that stops you from using regular contact lenses. The good news is that specialty contact lenses are a viable option if you have a disorder that is affecting your vision.

What Are Specialty Contact Lenses?

Specialty contact lenses are contact lenses that eye professionals tailor-make for your eyes to provide the finest vision and comfort possible. The lenses are custom-fitted for people who have corneal irregularities and other conditions for which standard contacts are not suitable.

Besides, not all contact lenses are the same, particularly because not everybody has a perfectly-shaped cornea or flawless visions. Therefore, who might benefit from a specialty contact lens?

Patients who have:

Irregular or damaged cornea.
Keratoconus.
Acute dry-eye syndrome.
Scars, illnesses, or genetic problems that cause alteration of the cornea.
Pellucid Marginal Degeneration (PMD).
Unclear vision and complications after refractive surgeries.
Severe sensitivity to light.
Corneal swelling.
Color blindness.
Aniridia.
Presbyopia or long-sightedness.
Myopia or short-sightedness.
Contact lens intolerance (CLI), a term for people who cannot put on lenses without feeling pain.

Rigid gas-permeable lenses: Rigid GP lenses are designed with sturdy plastic that transmits oxygen. These lenses are ideal for patients who suffer from dry eyes, and they prevent the eyes from drying out thus keeping them calmer.

Scleral contact lenses: These are sizeable gas-permeable lenses made to arch over the corneal surface and rest their weight on the sclera. The lenses are larger than regular soft lenses but just as comfortable.

Orthokeratology contact lenses: These are special part-time lenses to briefly restructure the cornea and correct vision problems like myopia and astigmatism in patients. Ortho-K lenses are gas-permeable and mold the surface of the eye during sleep.

Hybrid contact lenses: A hybrid contact lens is best for post-refractive surgery and treating keratoconus. The lenses give a patient the rich vision of a gas-permeable lens while preserving the original coziness of a soft contact lens.

Multifocal Lenses: These lenses come with more lens influences to help a person see both near and far. This normally happens after a person loses his or her aptitude to naturally coordinate their eye-focus as he or she ages.

Monovision lenses: Monovision lenses treat problems linked to long-sightedness or presbyopia. One lens is suitable for near vision while the other lens for distance.

Corneal refractive therapy (CRT) lenses: These reshape a person’s cornea to correct his or her refractive error. CRT lenses work at night while a person sleeps to allow for better vision during the day without having to wear glasses or contact lenses.

Tinted and colored lenses: Tinted and colored lenses are for people who suffer from extreme sensitivity to light. The lenses allow patients to function without having to put on very dark sunglasses.

Are you experiencing vision problems that some of these specialty lenses can resolve? Visit Eye Associates of New York at our office in New York, New York. We are now open for both routine and medical eye care in person. Schedule an appointment with us today by calling 212-650-4888 today.