Understanding the 2 Types of Specialty Lenses
Contact lenses can transform your way of experiencing the world, but not everyone can wear regular contact lenses.
If you fall into that category, don't worry! Here at Eye Q Optique, Dr. Debbie Simon, Dr. Emily Davis, and Dr. Romaya Ahmed offer specialty lenses to help you see clearly.
Here’s what you need to know about the two most common specialty lenses available in our Buffalo Grove and Chicago, Illinois, locations.
What are the two most common specialty lenses?
Specialty contact lenses are designed to address specific vision problems that go beyond the capabilities of standard soft or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. Specialty lenses can be customized to accommodate a variety of eye conditions, restore clear vision, and even accommodate irregular eye shapes.
Here at Eye Q Optique, our team offers several types of specialty lenses, but the two most common ones are scleral lenses and hybrid lenses.
Scleral lenses explained
Traditional contact lenses are nearly the same size as your cornea. Scleral lenses are larger than this and rest on your sclera instead. Your sclera is the white part of your eye.
These lenses “vault” over your cornea and hold a small amount of artificial tears to keep your eyes moist. Scleral lenses are hard so they hold their shape, and because they’re gas-permeable, oxygen can still reach your eyes. This is why these specialty lenses are ideal for those who tend to have dry eyes and don’t like traditional soft contact lenses.
You might benefit from scleral lenses if you have:
A cone-shaped cornea (called keratoconus)
Irregular astigmatism
Corneal transplants
Corneal scarring
They can also help with vision issues, including myopia and hyperopia.
Hybrid lenses explained
As the name suggests, hybrid lenses combine the benefits of two different types of lenses. They combine the comfort of soft lenses with the visual clarity of rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses.
The center of a hybrid lens is made from RGP material for clear vision, and it’s surrounded by a soft lens skirt for comfort.
You might consider this option if you have a hard time adapting to a traditional RGP contact lens. You might also consider a hybrid lens if you have astigmatism.
Other types of specialty lenses
While sclera lenses and hybrid lenses are the most common, they aren’t the only types of specialty lenses.
Other types include:
Transition lenses
Digitally surfaced spectacle lenses
Lenses for digital eye strain
Lenses for children with myopia
In addition to these specialty lenses, our team also offers a robust line of regular contacts, including daily use and extended-wear contacts.
How to know which type of contact lenses you need
Before you can get started with any type of contact lens, your first step is to schedule a comprehensive contact lens fitting and eye exam.
During a contact lens fitting, we first assess your eye health and measure the curvature of your cornea. We also evaluate your tear film to determine the best type of lens material for your eyes.
After fitting you with trial lenses, we check the lenses on your eyes for proper alignment and comfort. You'll receive instructions on how to insert, remove, and care for your lenses, and you'll likely schedule a follow-up appointment to make sure you’re adjusting well to your new contact lenses.
To determine if you need regular or specialty lenses, Dr. Simon, Dr. Davis, and Dr. Ahmed also consider your specific vision needs, eye conditions (such as astigmatism or keratoconus), and lifestyle requirements.
If you’re interested in contact lenses — but haven’t had luck with regular contacts — call the location of your choice to find out if specialty lenses are right for you. You can also click here to request your contact lens fitting and exam.