Choosing the Right Specialty Contact Lenses

When looking for the best specialty contact lenses, people consider a few things. Is it about convenience or cost? Are you worried about safety or ease of use? Are you thinking about comfort or routine? Whatever your preference is, there is a wide variety of contact lenses to choose from. 

But all these are just a matter of perception, according to the American Optometric Association. Regardless of the preferences, the experts agree that contact lenses offer vision correction benefits to patients. So, how do you choose the right contacts? Here are a few considerations.

Custom Contact Lenses

Some patients cannot wear conventional contact lenses. It may be due to issues uncommon to others. In such cases, custom contact lenses are perfect for you. For instance, these lenses are ideal for you if you have too much astigmatism or your eye is irregularly shaped. 

But if traditional contacts cause vision problems or are uncomfortable, you should consider custom contact lenses. They are available in soft lens or gas permeable materials too. Compared to regular lenses, they can provide better comfort and visual clarity for some people.

Gas Permeable Contact Lenses

Also known as RGP, rigid contact lenses comprise resilient plastics. As the name suggests, this material allows oxygen to pass through the lens. They are best suited for:
 

• People with severe astigmatism and compromised visual acuity.
   

• People with keratoconus. Gas permeable contacts hold the cone-shaped cornea to its original shape.
   

• Recent patients of refractive surgery.
   

• People with presbyopia.

Piggybacking Contact Lenses

Also known as the PBCL, this contact lens is especially beneficial for patients with intolerant keratoconus. The lens stands out from the rest because it heals epithelial erosions and enhances tolerance. It also alleviates the mechanical trauma of stiff lens materials used in other lenses. It is a viable option for patients with contact lens intolerance or astigmatism.

Hybrid Contact Lenses

Corneal astigmatism patients can benefit from these lenses. They have a gas permeable lens surrounding the film like a soft lens. It gives it the comfort of soft contacts and the clarity of a gas-permeable lens.

Scleral Lenses

The design of a scleral lens makes this a specialty optical tool. They are quite larger than conventional contacts. These lenses can rest on the white part of your eye, hence the name. Most people can use these specialty lenses since they are more stable on the eyes. Yet, good candidates include people with dry eye syndrome or corneal irregularities.

Prosthetic Contact Lenses

This type of lens improves the appearance of the eye while masking certain flaws. It could be due to eye disease, trauma, and birth defects. Experts can design special prosthetic lenses that reduce glare or block excess light. It is especially true if there is eye disfiguration or injury.

Ortho-K

Orthokeratology (ortho-k) is a specialty lens used to shape your cornea temporarily. Most patients wear them overnight to improve their vision for a day or two. The lens reshapes your eye while you sleep, giving you sharp eye vision for some time. It is ideal for people who prefer clear eye vision sans eyeglasses and conventional contact lenses.

For more on specialty contact lenses, visit Atlanta Eye Group at our offices in Alpharetta, Atlanta, or Kennesaw, Georgia. You can call (770) 727-0772 today to schedule an appointment.