Specialty Contact Lens Fittings for Unique Needs

What Are Scleral Contact Lenses?

Scleral lenses are a type of contact lens that provides many advantages to patients with certain eye conditions. They are made of gas-permeable materials and are larger than traditional contact lenses, covering the entire sclera (white part of the eye) and creating a protective dome over the cornea.

The Benefits of Scleral Lenses

The unique design of these lenses offers several benefits, including:

1. Improved Comfort: Because scleral lenses do not directly touch the cornea, they are more comfortable for patients with sensitive or damaged corneas. They also stay in place more securely than traditional lenses.
2. Better Vision: Scleral lenses can correct many vision problems, including astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. They also provide sharper, clearer vision than traditional lenses.
3. Protection for the Cornea: Scleral lenses create a barrier between the eye and the outside environment, protecting the cornea from debris, dust, and other irritants that can cause discomfort and damage.
4. Longer Wear Time: You can wear scleral lenses longer than traditional lenses because they allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea.
5. Treatment for Various Eye Conditions: Scleral lenses often treat conditions such as keratoconus, where the cornea becomes thin and cone-shaped, or post-surgical complications. They can also help manage severe dry eye and other chronic eye conditions.

Scleral Lenses to Treat Keratoconus

Scleral lenses can be particularly beneficial for keratoconus—a condition where the cornea becomes thin and cone-shaped, resulting in distorted vision. Due to the cornea's irregular shape causing visual distortions, this condition often proves challenging to correct with standard glasses or traditional contact lenses.

Scleral lenses provide a smooth and even surface for the eye, compensating for the cornea's irregular shape. The large size of the lens creates a tear-filled reservoir between the lens and the eye’s surface. This reservoir helps to provide a constant supply of moisture to the eye, reducing dryness and irritation.

Why Choose Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus?

1. Custom Fitted: The lenses are custom-fitted to each patient’s eye, ensuring a precise fit for optimal visual acuity and comfort.
2. Durable: Scleral lenses can withstand wear and tear over time.
3. Long-Lasting: They require less frequent replacement than traditional lenses, making them an excellent investment for keratoconus patients.

Hybrid Contact Lenses Explained

Hybrid contact lenses are specialized lenses that provide the comfort of soft contacts and the clear vision offered by rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses.

The center of the lens is made of RGP material, correcting refractive errors and maintaining its shape on the eye to provide sharp, clear vision.

Surrounding this rigid center is a soft lens 'skirt.' This outer ring is made of a soft, flexible material similar to that used in regular soft contact lenses.

What Are The Benefits of Hybrid Lenses?

Some advantages of hybrid lenses include:

1. Comfort: The combination of lens materials provides the clarity and durability of RGP lenses with the comfort and flexibility of soft lenses.
2. Improved Vision: Hybrid lenses provide excellent visual acuity, even for patients with high levels of astigmatism or other vision problems that cannot be corrected with glasses or soft contact lenses.
3. Customizable Fit: Hybrid lenses are custom-fitted to each patient’s eye, ensuring a precise fit that maximizes comfort and visual acuity. The lenses are available in various sizes, curvatures, and prescriptions.
4. Longevity: Hybrid lenses are durable and long-lasting. They are less likely to tear or become damaged than soft lenses, and they retain their shape over time.
5. Suitable for Various Patients: Hybrid lenses suit patients with various eye conditions, including keratoconus, irregular astigmatism, and post-surgical complications. They are also ideal for patients who struggle with traditional contact lenses.

Toric Lenses for Treating Astigmatism

Toric contact lenses are contact lenses that correct astigmatism — a common vision problem caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens inside the eye.

How Toric Contact Lenses Work

Unlike regular spherical contact lenses with the same power around the lens, toric lenses have different powers in different lens meridians to compensate for the varying degrees of refraction caused by the irregular cornea. This unique design ensures that toric lenses have a specific orientation and remain stable on the eye to provide clear and consistent vision. They are typically weighted at the bottom or have specific design features to keep them from rotating on your eye.

Why Opt for Toric Contact Lenses?

Available in soft, rigid gas-permeable (RGP) or hybrid materials, toric lenses can cater to personal comfort preferences while effectively addressing astigmatism. They are often the go-to choice for astigmatism individuals seeking clear vision with the convenience and comfort of contact lenses.

Advanced Contact Lens Solutions at Washington Eye Institute

At Washington Eye Institute, we offer specialty contact lens fittings tailored to meet the individual needs of our patients. Our team specializes in providing custom contact lens solutions for those with specific visual requirements, including conditions like keratoconus, severe astigmatism, or post-surgical eyes.

Whether you need a standard correction or a more complex solution, we are here to provide you with quality care and the best possible visual outcomes. Visit any of our locations across Maryland and experience the difference personalized, expert fitting can make in your life.