Which Specialty Contact Lens Is Best for You?

The American Optometric Association states that people with specific eye conditions can wear specialty contact lenses instead of eyeglasses. The convenience of contacts are undeniable. You can wear them and go through significant treatments without feeling awkward about the way you look. Your eye doctor can give you the right specialty contact lens that can serve you best. Here are the details that you should consider.

Scleral Lenses

These contacts are rigid gas-permeable lenses with a large diameter. More people are becoming aware of its benefits. Studies show that scleral lenses can help patients with eye surface disease and corneal ectasia. The contacts can vault over your corneal surface. It can also transform an irregular cornea into a smooth one. This then improves the patient’s vision.

The gap between the back of the scleral lens and the cornea will serve as storage for fluids. This can help patients who need their eye surfaces to heal. It can also relieve severe ocular surface disease. Research shows that the lenses can reduce your need for surgery and improve your quality of life as well.

Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses

Most vision issues can get relief from these lenses. You can have clear, sharp vision with these contacts. Wearing them allows the cornea to breathe. People with dry eyes find these contacts comfortable to wear and maintain. You can remove these contacts at night for disinfection and cleaning. Other variants of these lenses are good to wear for a week or a month.

Limbal Fit Lenses

These special contacts are smaller than scleral lenses but bigger than conventional gas-permeable lenses. Their larger diameter allows them to stay stable. They do not interact with the eyelid that much. This increases your visual acuity and comfort.

Hybrid Contacts

Research shows that many patients prefer hybrid contact lenses because of the hard center and the soft surrounding skirt. These components can provide you with crisp images and comfort at the same time. If you have an irregular cornea, keratoconus, or astigmatism, you will find these lenses better than soft contacts. Your eye doctor can ensure the custom fit of these lenses.

Soft Contact Lenses

Most eye doctors prescribe these lenses. These contacts can help correct many vision issues, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. They can also correct the loss of close-up vision due to aging and blurry vision. Soft contact lenses are easier to get used to and comfortable to wear.

On the one hand, you can choose extended-wear soft contacts that you can wear while you sleep for up to a month. On the other hand, you can also choose the daily wear variety. You can wear these lenses for a day and then throw them away at night. Other patients may prefer quarterly disposable soft contact lenses. You can remove these lenses at night for disinfection and cleaning.

Multifocal Lenses

These lenses allow different lens strengths, allowing better vision at different distances. Your eye doctor will provide one lens prescription for objects that are a little far or near. People with presbyopia gain the benefits of these lenses. They experience better focus despite their vanishing close-up vision by wearing multifocal lenses.

Knowing which specialty contact lens can help you get the most from your eye treatments. At Southwest Orlando Eye Care, we always work with our patients to figure out their needs and preferences when it comes to their contact lenses. Please visit our clinic in Orlando, Florida, for an in-person consultation. Call us at 407-271-8931 to set an appointment or inquire about our specialty contact lenses.