Contact
lenses are a great alternative to eyeglasses. When you are wearing
contacts, you don't need to worry about your vision obscured by your
eyeglass frame or dirty lenses. Also, contacts provide a more natural
appearance. Finally, contacts are an excellent alternative for
athletes and active people.
During your contact lens exam, our optometrist at EYECARE For You will fit you with either traditional contacts, or hard to fit contacts.
Q: What Does the Term “Hard To Fit” Mean?
A: If you have a visual disturbance or a condition of the eye that makes it impossible for you to wear traditional contact lenses, you would be considered, “hard to fit” for contacts.
Q: What Conditions Make a Person Hard To Fit For Contacts?
A: There are several conditions that you make your eyes hard to fit for traditional contacts. These include:
- Keratoconus, which causes your eye to bulge into a cone-shape.
- Dry eye symptoms can worsen when wearing traditional soft lenses.
- Traditional soft contacts tend to accumulate protein and other debris. This makes them a poor option if you have giant papillary conjunctivitis.
- Presbyopia makes it difficult to see objects close up. If you need a prescription for distance as well, a special lens is required.
- Astigmatism cannot be corrected with traditional contacts; therefore, a hard to fit lens is necessary.
Q: What Are the Most Common Types Of Hard To Fit Contacts?
A: There are a few types of hard to fit contacts. The type that your eye doctor fits you with would depend on the condition that makes you hard to fit for contacts.
- Gas-permeable lenses: Gas-permeable lenses are more rigid than traditional soft lenses. Also, protein and other debris don't adhere to these lenses the way that they do on conventional lenses. Gas-permeable contacts are often prescribed for keratoconus and giant papillary conjunctivitis.
- Piggybacking contacts: If you are prescribed gas-permeable lenses and cannot get used to them, a soft lens can be used underneath to act as a cushion.
- Bifocal contacts: Bifocal contacts contain two different prescriptions, one for distance, one to see closeup. They are used most commonly to treat presbyopia.
- Monovision: If you cannot get used to bifocal contacts, your optometrist can prescribe a contact for closeup for one eye, and a contact for distance in the other.
- Toric lenses: Toric contact lenses treat astigmatism.
- Scleral lenses: Scleral lenses do not to sit on your cornea the way that traditional lenses do. Instead, they sit on the white of your eye, and they vault over the cornea. These lenses are used for dry eye, giant papillary conjunctivitis, and keratoconus.
If you are thinking about getting contacts, schedule an appointment with EYECARE For You. We treat patients in Richboro, Newtown, Langhorne, Southampton, Northampton, Holland, and Yardley. To schedule an appointment, give us a call today.