Do you suffer from vision problems alongside another eye condition? Do you currently wear glasses out of worry contacts that will interfere? Are you curious about your options? Certain eye conditions make wearing traditional contact lenses difficult. Fortunately, our eye doctor offers a solution. It's time to talk about hard-to-fit contacts.
Reasons for Hard to Fit Contacts
Eye exams might reveal an issue that makes wearing regular contact lenses challenging. Those conditions include:
- GPC, or Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis
- Dry eyes
- Keratoconus
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia
All of these conditions affect the shape of your eye. Astigmatism, for example, results in an oval shape at the front of the eye. Dry eyes and GPC cause inflammation that makes the contacts irritating. Keratoconus stems from a thinning cornea and bulging the eye in a certain way so contacts don't fit. Finally, presbyopia yields a loss of eye elasticity that makes it hard to focus. Fortunately, it can be treated by temporarily altering your eye shape.
Eye Care Solutions
Orthokeratology, often called ortho-k, for short, uses specially-designed lenses to reshape your cornea and reduce vision problems. Known as gas-permeable (GP) lenses, these contacts work best for GPC, keratoconus, and presbyopia.
Scleral lenses, in particular, are a large diameter version of GP contact lenses that work well with dry eyes and severe keratoconus. These help limit corneal bulging and provide relief from pressure and advanced irritation.
Toric lenses are custom-made for your specific case, usually involving astigmatism or post-cataract surgery. Although they might take longer to make, their premium price offers a solution individually designed for your eyes. By combining two lens shapes and functions, toric lenses have emerged as the go-to solution for correcting astigmatism. Other solutions include monovision, bifocal, or multifocal lenses. These hard-to-fit contacts are great options for presbyopia, as they allow the wearer to see at a distance and focus up close.
Finally, dry eyes and GPC can be treated with medicated eye drops. Alongside hard-to-fit contacts, eye lubrication helps ensure comfort. Extreme cases might warrant a punctual occlusion to plug the ducts, but only regular eye exams with an eye doctor can determine the necessary steps.
Are You Ready to Try out Hard-To-Fit Contacts?
If you suffer from one of the above conditions and are curious about ortho-k, scleral lenses, or other solutions, get in touch today. Our optometrist in Kirkland is here to help!