Not everyone can wear standard soft contact lenses comfortably or effectively. People with irregular corneas, high astigmatism, keratoconus, or corneal scarring often struggle to find contact lenses providing clear, stable vision.
At Focused Eye Care, our doctors offer advanced specialty contact lens fitting solutions for patients whose vision cannot be corrected by conventional methods. Hard-to-fit eyes require personalized fitting strategies and custom lens designs. With the right approach, most people with challenging prescriptions or corneal irregularities can enjoy the freedom and clarity contact lenses provide.
Why Some Eyes Are Harder to Fit
Your eyes may be considered hard to fit if you have any of the following conditions:
- High astigmatism causes an irregular corneal curvature, making it difficult for standard spherical lenses to fit properly and provide clear vision.
- Keratoconus causes your cornea to thin and bulge into a cone shape, distorting your vision and preventing regular contact lenses from centering correctly on your eye.
- Corneal scarring from injury or infection creates uneven surfaces that standard lenses cannot accommodate, resulting in discomfort and blurred vision.
- Dry eye symptoms can make wearing lenses uncomfortable or impossible with conventional options, as standard lenses can worsen dryness and irritation.
- Post-surgical corneas, whether from LASIK, cataract surgery, or corneal transplants, often require custom lens designs to achieve optimal vision and comfort.
- Giant papillary conjunctivitis develops when your eyelids react to contact lens wear, creating bumps under the upper lid and causing discomfort with traditional lenses.
- Presbyopia after age 40 means you need both distance and near vision correction, which typically requires multifocal or custom lens designs.
Several advanced lens designs can address these challenging situations and restore clear, comfortable vision for most patients.
Specialty Contact Lens Options
Rigid gas permeable lenses, often called RGPs or hard lenses, maintain their shape on your eye and vault over corneal irregularities. They provide sharper vision than soft lenses for many hard-to-fit conditions. While they require an adaptation period, most wearers find them comfortable after a few weeks of consistent wear. Scleral lenses are larger-diameter rigid lenses resting on the white part of your eye rather than the cornea. They create a fluid reservoir between the lens and your cornea, which makes them excellent for dry eye sufferers and those with corneal irregularities.
The fluid layer smooths out corneal distortions and provides consistent, stable vision throughout the day. Hybrid lenses combine a rigid center with a soft outer skirt, offering the clarity of gas-permeable lenses with the comfort of soft lenses. Toric soft lenses correct astigmatism using weighted designs or stabilization zones to keep the prescription oriented adequately on your eye. Custom soft lenses can be manufactured with parameters outside the standard ranges for unusual prescriptions or eye shapes.
What to Expect During Specialty Lens Fitting
The fitting process for specialty contact lenses requires more time and precision than standard fittings. Our doctors will perform detailed measurements of your corneal shape using advanced diagnostic equipment. We’ll evaluate your tear film quality and measure your cornea’s curvature and diameter to select the best lens type for your needs.
You’ll try diagnostic lenses in the office to assess fit, comfort, and vision quality. We’ll adjust the lens parameters based on the initial lenses’ performance. Follow-up appointments allow us to refine the fit and ensure your eyes are responding well to the lenses. Your doctor will provide instructions on proper insertion, removal, and care for your specific lens type. The adaptation period varies by lens type. Soft custom lenses typically feel comfortable immediately, while rigid lenses may take one to two weeks of gradual wear to feel natural.
Caring for Specialty Contact Lenses
Proper care extends the life of your lenses and protects your eye health. Most rigid gas-permeable and scleral lenses require multipurpose solutions or hydrogen peroxide cleaning systems. Daily cleaning removes protein deposits and lipid buildup, which cloud your vision and harbor bacteria. For scleral lenses, fill the bowl with saline solution before insertion to create a fluid reservoir.
Never use tap water to clean or store your lenses, as it can contain microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections. Replace your contact lens case every three months to prevent bacterial contamination. Schedule regular follow-up eye exams to monitor your eye health and update your prescription if needed. The contact lens team at both our Nashua and Milford locations can guide you through proper care techniques and answer any questions about maintaining your lenses.
Schedule Your Specialty Contact Lens Consultation at Focused Eye Care
If you’ve been told you can’t wear contact lenses, or if your current lenses don’t provide the vision or comfort you need, custom contact lenses may be the solution. Our doctors have extensive training in advanced contact lens fitting techniques and stay current with the latest lens technologies. We work with patients who have complex prescriptions, corneal irregularities, and dry-eye needs to identify contact lens options that restore clear, comfortable vision.
Focused Eye Care serves patients throughout New Hampshire with comprehensive eye care services. All of our doctors are members of the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association, ensuring you receive care based on the highest professional standards. Contact us today to schedule your custom contact lens evaluation and discover the difference personalized fitting can make.
