Contact Lenses

Making it possible for many to enjoy the convenience of contacts

Today the custom contact lens can be made to suit just about anyone's needs or vision problem. Many people that may have been told years ago that they weren't suitable candidates for wearing contact lenses may now be told differently, as technological advances continue to provide solutions for those "hard to fit" patients.

Individuals with any of the following conditions may find that they are in need of a custom contact lens to ensure proper fit, and to maintain good eye health.

Dry eyes: As many as half of all contact lens wearers have reported some symptoms of dry eyes such as red, irritated eyes that frequently tear or water for no apparent reason. People with chronically dry eyes have typically found it difficult to wear contacts without exacerbating the problem. Depending on the reason for your dryness, an eye care professional can recommend the best type of custom contact lens that will help, not hinder the problem.

Astigmatism: A toric lens is a specially made custom contact lens that has two different optical powers at right angles of one another, and is worn by people with an astigmatism. These lenses have a special, tiny mechanism designed to keep the lens in place and also keep them from rotating. Toric lenses weren't available in soft or disposable form until just recently, but now they can even be made into multi-focal as well as multi-colored lenses.

Keratoconus: This condition causes a thinning of the outer membrane of the eye. During the thinning process, the cornea is distorted and begins to bulge out of shape, which then causes double vision. To correct this, an eye care professional well versed in the condition will take precise measurements of the eye to find its exact diameter and curvature.

Since the cornea is now so irregularly shaped, it may need an extra layer of cushioning that is achieved using a "piggyback" technique. With this technique, the patient actually wears two lenses on each eye. A soft lens is worn first up against the cornea to fit to its shape, regardless of how irregular it may be, and then a hard, gas permeable lens that retains its shape is worn over top of that. Patients with keratoconus also have another option by wearing a custom contact lens that is specially made with a rigid center and a soft outer perimeter.

Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC): This uncomfortable condition is an inflammatory reaction caused by the proteins on the surface of the eye. People with this condition who wear soft contact lenses may find that their lenses frequently cloud over with the protein deposits making it difficult to see. Gas permeable lenses may be needed since proteins don't adhere to them or soft contacts that are daily-wear disposables that don't have the chance to accumulate debris. In some cases, a medicated eye-drop is also needed to reduce the allergens and irritation to the eye.

The custom contact lens isn't only used for correcting problems caused by illness or disease to the eye. Custom lenses can be created in different colors and designs, and can also be hand painted, and specially ordered to individual specifications.

Soft Contact Lens |