Who Should Consider Specialty Contact Lenses?

If you’ve been told that regular contact lenses aren’t a good fit for your eyes - or if you’ve struggled with blurry vision, discomfort, or dryness - specialty contact lenses may offer a life-changing solution. These advanced lenses are designed for people with eye conditions or vision needs that go beyond what standard soft contacts can correct.

Many patients who benefit from specialty contact lenses have underlying corneal conditions, high prescriptions, or dry eye disease. With today’s technology, customized lenses can provide clearer vision, improved comfort, and better long-term eye health.

Keratoconus and Irregular Corneas

Keratoconus causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone-like shape, leading to distorted and unstable vision. Traditional soft lenses often cannot correct this irregularity. Specialty lenses, particularly scleral lenses, vault over the uneven cornea and create a smooth optical surface, dramatically improving visual clarity and stability.

Severe Dry Eye Disease

For patients with chronic or severe dry eye, standard contact lenses can feel uncomfortable - or even impossible to wear. Scleral lenses are uniquely helpful because they hold a reservoir of fluid against the eye throughout the day. This constant hydration helps protect the cornea, reduce irritation, and significantly improve comfort for patients with dry eye conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome or ocular surface disease.

High Astigmatism or Complex Prescriptions

High or irregular astigmatism can be difficult to correct with traditional soft lenses, often resulting in fluctuating or blurry vision. Specialty lenses maintain their shape on the eye, providing more precise and consistent vision correction.

Post-Surgical or Post-Trauma Eyes

Eyes that have undergone surgery - such as LASIK, corneal transplants, or other refractive procedures - or have experienced trauma may develop irregular corneal surfaces. Specialty contact lenses can help restore visual clarity by compensating for these irregularities and improving overall comfort.

How Specialty Contact Lenses Help

Specialty contact lenses are custom-designed using advanced measurements to match the unique shape of your eyes. Rather than sitting directly on the cornea like standard soft lenses, many specialty designs create a more stable and protective environment for the eye.

The Benefits of Scleral Contact Lenses

Scleral lenses are one of the most effective specialty lens options for complex eye conditions. They:

• Vault over the cornea to correct irregular shapes
• Provide a smooth, stable surface for clearer vision
• Hold a fluid reservoir that continuously hydrates the eye
• Reduce sensitivity and irritation
• Improve comfort for all-day wear

Because scleral lenses rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera), they are often more comfortable than smaller rigid lenses and are well tolerated by patients who struggled with contact lenses in the past.
 

Other Specialty Lens Options

While scleral lenses are often the gold standard for many complex cases, other specialty lenses may also be recommended depending on your needs:

• Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses for crisp vision in milder irregularities
• Hybrid lenses for patients who want RGP-level clarity with a softer feel
• Limbal fit lenses for enhanced stability and customized coverage

Your optometrist will determine the best option based on your eye health, vision goals, and lifestyle.
 

Schedule a Specialty Contact Lens Consultation at Main Street Optometry Today

Specialty contact lenses are designed for patients whose eyes require more than standard vision correction. Conditions such as keratoconus, severe dry eye, high astigmatism, and post-surgical changes can often be managed successfully with advanced lens technology - especially scleral lenses. With the right fit and expertise, many patients achieve clearer vision and greater comfort than they ever thought possible.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a complex eye condition or have struggled with contact lenses in the past, schedule a specialty contact lens consultation at Main Street Optometry in Northport, New York, or call (631) 505-5944 today.