Have you ever been told by an eye doctor that your eyes just aren’t shaped for contact lenses? Perhaps you have tried a few popular brands of contacts only to find that they won’t stay in place or they are too uncomfortable to wear all day. The good news is that modern optometry has come a long way, especially when it comes to people whose eye shape prevents them from wearing traditional soft contact lenses. If you believe you would benefit from hard to fit contacts, Dr. Regine Smet is ready to assist you.
What are Hard to Fit Contacts?
Just as the name suggests, hard to fit contacts refer to contact lenses that are specially designed for eyes with unique shapes and conditions that make conventional contact wear impossible. There are a wide variety of conditions that can be addressed with hard to fit contacts, including:
- Astigmatism: A unique eye shape in which the front of the eye curves outward, away from the rest of the eye.
- Hyperopia: Many cases of hyperopia, where the front of the eye curves inward and causes farsightedness, do just fine with regular contacts. However, hard to fit contacts are necessary for some extreme cases.
- Keratoconus: A condition where the cornea gradually thins out and starts bulging outward into a cone shape. This condition usually first displays symptoms during puberty in teens and can get worse over time.
- Dry Eyes: Eyes that are often uncomfortable and red because of excessive dryness. Regular contact lenses often worsen the condition.
- Presbyopia: A condition where the lens of the eye progressively becomes less elastic over time, resulting in farsightedness. This condition most typically affects middle-aged adults but can be found in all age groups.
- Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis: Also known as GPC, this condition involves the inside of the eyelid becoming red and inflamed. It is often the result of an allergic reaction and goes away, though in some cases it can linger and cause further issues.
Prescribing Hard to Fit Contacts
Our optometrist will assess your eye health to determine whether or not you will benefit from wearing hard to fit contacts. These specialty contacts can usually not be ordered from bulk contact lens websites. You may also be given a special solution to clean and store your contacts. Depending on your condition, you may also be prescribed eye drops to apply during the day for an even more comfortable experience wearing the lenses.