What Are Specialty Contact Lenses?

Specialty contact lenses are different from traditional contact lenses because they are designed and customized to meet the specific needs of your eyes. 

Specialty contact lenses are generally recommended for patients who have impaired vision as well as an eye condition or disease. This can cause standard contact lenses to be uncomfortable or fit improperly.

Who Needs Specialty Contact Lenses?

Specialty contact lenses are recommended when traditional contact lenses do not provide the vision correction and comfort a patient requires. 

Traditional soft contact lenses provide vision correction but are not designed for each patient’s unique vision problems. Many people wear specialty contact lenses because they are designed specifically for comfort and to correct eye diseases, irregularities, and conditions.

Think you may need a pair of specialty contact lenses? The Arizona eye Doctors of Nationwide Optometry can help you find the best contact lenses for your eyes..

Types of Specialty Contact Lenses at Nationwide Vision

In some cases, traditional contact lenses may not provide the vision or comfort a patient need. At Nationwide Vision, we perform comprehensive eye exams and specialize in identifying and treating eye diseases and conditions. We work with you to determine the best vision correction solution based on your eye shape, health, and lifestyle. 

Types of specialty contact lenses include:

• Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses: RGP lenses are the most common specialty contact lenses. Although they are rigid and fit much closer to the eye than a scleral lens, they are still porous and allow oxygen to pass through. RGP lenses provide sharper vision for patients with astigmatism. They are also recommended for people with severe vision problems but not an eye disease or condition. 

• Scleral Lens: Traditional and RGP lenses cover just your cornea; scleral lenses cover the entire front surface of the eye, including the cornea and some of the white part you see (sclera). Scleral lenses are more stable and are recommended for people with irregular-shaped corneas and, in some cases, dry eye syndrome. 

• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Lenses: These lenses are only worn overnight. During this time, the Ortho-K lenses work to reshape your cornea to allow you to see more clearly during the daytime. Ortho-K lenses are typically worn each night and removed upon waking. These lenses are recommended for people who are diagnosed with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).

• Hybrid Lenses: These lenses provide a more comfortable fit as well as clearer and sharper vision. Hybrid contact lenses combine the comfort of a soft or silicone hydrogel lens (traditional contact lenses) with the clarity of a RGP lens. They have a rigid gas permeable central zone that is surrounded by a hydrogel or silicone hydrogel material. 

What is Specialty Contact Lens Care?

Caring for specialty contact lenses is just as important as caring for traditional lenses. This will help keep your eyes healthy and your lenses effective. If you wear any lens type, the eye care team at Nationwide Vision recommends the following:

• Wash your handles with soap and water before touching your contact lenses

• Always use contact solution when rinsing and storing your contact lenses (never water, saline, or eye drops)

• Do not sleep in contact lenses (except for Ortho-K lenses, which are only worn at night)

• Do not swim in contact lenses

• Schedule routine eye exams to ensure your contact lenses are helping you see as clearly and comfortably as possible

The Doctors of Nationwide Optometry are experts in custom contact lens fitting and will help you determine the best solution for your unique eyes.

Your eye doctor may recommend specialty contact lenses if you have an eye disease or condition including:

• Astigmatism

• Keratoconus

• Myopia

• Presbyopia

• Irregular-shaped cornea

• Dry eyes

• Poor vision