Who Needs Specialty Contact Lenses? Benefits, Types, and What to Expect

When standard soft contact lenses just don’t deliver the comfort or clarity you need, specialty contact lenses may be the solution. Designed to address a range of unique eye conditions and vision needs, these lenses offer tailored vision correction for patients who have been told they’re “hard to fit” or have experienced discomfort with conventional lenses.
 

What Are Specialty Contact Lenses?

Specialty contact lenses are custom-designed lenses created to address vision issues that standard soft contacts cannot correct effectively. Unlike traditional lenses, they are tailored to fit unique eye shapes and conditions. These lenses come in various forms and offer improved vision, comfort, and eye health for individuals with complex or “hard-to-fit” eyes. Specialty lenses are carefully fitted by our optometrist using advanced diagnostic tools to ensure optimal performance and safety.
 

Who Needs Specialty Contact Lenses?

Specialty contact lenses are often recommended for individuals with:
 

• Keratoconus: A progressive condition that causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone shape, distorting vision.
• Severe Dry Eye: Patients with chronic dry eye may find relief with scleral lenses, which retain moisture and protect the eye.
• Post-Surgical Eyes: Individuals who have undergone procedures like LASIK or corneal transplants may benefit from specialty lenses that help smooth out irregularities in the cornea.
• High Astigmatism: While some standard lenses can correct astigmatism, high or irregular levels often require custom toric or hybrid lenses.
• Presbyopia: Multifocal specialty lenses can help patients over 40 manage age-related near vision loss.
• Myopia Management: Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses can reshape the cornea overnight to temporarily correct nearsightedness and slow progression in children.

Benefits of Specialty Contact Lenses

• Enhanced Vision: These lenses are custom-designed to match the unique shape of your eye, offering sharper vision than glasses or standard contacts for certain conditions.
• Increased Comfort: Even patients with irregular corneas or dry eye can enjoy comfortable wear with options like scleral lenses.
• Customized Fit: Specialty lenses are tailored to your eye’s exact measurements, ensuring optimal performance and reduced risk of complications.
• Therapeutic Relief: In addition to correcting vision, some lenses provide therapeutic benefits—such as reducing glare, protecting the ocular surface, or alleviating pain caused by certain eye disorders.

Types of Specialty Contact Lenses

• Scleral Lenses: Large-diameter lenses that vault over the cornea and rest on the sclera, ideal for keratoconus, dry eye, and post-surgical corneas.
• Hybrid Lenses: Feature a rigid center with a soft outer ring, offering the clarity of gas permeable lenses with the comfort of soft lenses.
• Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses: Smaller lenses that provide crisp vision for patients with irregular corneas or high prescriptions.
• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Lenses: Worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea and correct myopia without daytime lenses.
• Custom Soft Lenses: Designed for high prescriptions, unusual eye shapes, or specific needs like color vision deficiency correction.

What to Expect from the Fitting Process

Fitting specialty lenses involves a more detailed and personalized process than standard lenses. Your optometrist at Woodley Optometry will conduct comprehensive measurements of your eye’s surface and curvature, often using corneal topography. You may try several lens designs before finding the one that delivers the best combination of vision, comfort, and fit.
 

Once the ideal lens is selected, you’ll receive training on insertion, removal, and proper care. Follow-up appointments ensure the lenses continue to fit well and support your eye health.
 

Find the Perfect Fit at Woodley Optometry

Specialty contact lenses can be life-changing for patients with complex vision needs. Whether you’re dealing with keratoconus, post-surgical changes, or chronic dry eye, there’s likely a specialty lens that can help restore both your comfort and clarity of vision.
 

Schedule a specialty contact lens consultation with Woodley Optometry and discover a new level of personalized eye care. Visit our office in Encino, California, or call (818) 862-4800 to book an eye exam today.