The world of specialty contact lenses is changing at a rapid pace, and our doctors stay current with the latest in technology. Whether you need scleral lenses, RGP (hard) contact lenses, Orthokeratology, Duette lenses, or custom-made soft lenses, our doctors have experience with hundreds and hundreds of cases.

What are specialty contact lenses?

Contact lenses rest on the front of the eye (the clear window called the “cornea”), and if a patient doesn’t have a “regular” cornea, specialty lenses may be necessary. You may need custom contact lenses if you’ve been told you have an “irregular cornea” or “corneal ectasia” or if you’ve had an eye injury. Mass produced soft contacts are not designed to work on an irregular cornea.

Some conditions that can cause an irregular cornea include: Keratoconus, Pellucid Marginal Degeneration (PMD), corneal ectasia due to eye surgery, corneal transplant, having had LASIK or PRK, or any type of eye or cornea injury or scarring.

At Carbon Valley Eye Care we have over a decade of experience with all kinds of lenses on all types of eyes. Our level of experience means that you will get the best lens for your eye. We will work with you and help you find the specialty lenses that will work best for your eyes and visual needs.

Having attended national conferences on specialty contact lenses, our office has cultivated relationships with the best lens labs in the country, and we use local labs whenever possible to expedite things.

Specialty lenses come in 4 global categories, all of which we provide:

Scleral lenses:

large diameter lenses that don’t touch the cornea. These lenses have exploded in popularity since 2010 because they are very comfortable and deliver excellent vision. They are versatile, with the ability to correct almost any vision problem and compensate for almost any type of corneal irregularity. Scleral lenses can also be used as a treatment for severe cases of dry eye.

RGP lenses (AKA “hard contacts”):

RGP lenses are hard contact lenses that rest on the cornea and can be used for a variety of conditions. They come in many designs, including for astigmatism and bifocals.

Hybrid lenses:

Contact lenses that have an RGP center, with a soft lens border. These lenses can offer the sharp vision delivered by RGP lenses combined with the comfort of a soft lens.

Custom soft lenses:

These are similar to “regular” soft contacts but have some very important differences so that they work for irregular corneas.

Specialty lenses are also available in different optical designs. They can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. For adult patients, they can be made as multifocal or bifocals so that the wearer will not need to use reading glasses.