There is hope for better and stable vision! What do you mean you ask? This topic will apply to my patients who have the following listed below
- High astigmatism patients who suffer from fluctuating vision in soft contact lenses
- Keratoconus
- Penetrating keratoplasty or corneal transplant surgery
In these conditions, vision is not usually correctable with glasses or soft contact lenses. The use of specialized scleral contact lenses and hybrid contact lenses will improve vision immensely, and allow patients to perform daily tasks. I will summarize the conditions that will benefit from specialized scleral contact lenses and hybrid contact lenses and also talk about what is a scleral contact lens and hybrid contact lens.
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a slow, progressive, degenerative, corneal disease. The condition causes the cornea, the clear layer in front of the colored part of the eyes to thin and bulge. Despite the condition being widely studied, the causes are still not fully understood. A gene in the family line along with environmental factors is a strong risk factor for developing keratoconus. Environmental factors include allergies, eye rubbing, and contact lens wear which is believed to elicit keratoconus. As the condition progresses, it causes a reduction in vision that is uncorrectable with glasses and soft contact lenses. There is no cure; however, there are many treatment options to slow down the progression. Specialty contact lenses such as scleral and hybrid contact lenses are used to help restore vision.
Penetrating keratoplasty (Corneal Transplant)
Penetrating keratoplasty is a surgery where the cornea is removed and replaced with a graft. After surgery, the cornea is not quite perfect and does not have a robust refracting surface resulting in blurred vision that is uncorrectable with glasses. Scleral and hybrid lenses provide the means to correct vision where glasses cannot.
High amounts of astigmatism
In some cases of astigmatism, the front part of the eyes is shaped like a football. Glasses will correct this condition. Soft contact lenses will also correct this condition; however, with higher amounts of astigmatism, fluctuating vision may occur. Specialized hybrid contact lenses will eliminate fluctuating vision problems for those wearing regular soft contact lenses. Soft lenses will bend and mold to the shape of the eye. The hybrid lenses work by creating a hard surface to correct the astigmatism.
Scleral contact lenses
Scleral contact lenses are large diameter contact lenses that vault the entire cornea. It is made of a gas permeable material and is rigid in nature. The scleral contact lens is filled with a saline solution and then inserted into the eye. The saline solution is entrapped between the scleral contact lens and the front surface of the eye, which acts to correct any corneal irregularity. Scleral contact lenses are replaced yearly, that is, you will be using the same contact lens for one year. Scleral contact lenses are not approved to sleep in.
Hybrid contact lenses
Hybrid contact lenses are lenses that have features of both soft contact and rigid gas permeable lenses. The center of a hybrid contact lens is made of a rigid gas permeable material and the edge is a soft contact lens material. Hybrid lenses provide the comfort of soft contact lenses and the clarity of a rigid gas permeable contact lens. Hybrid contact lenses are inserted into the eyes like regular soft contact lenses. Hybrid contact lenses are replaced every 6 months, that is, you will be using the same lens for 6 months. Hybrid contact lenses are not approved to sleep in.
Scleral contact lens and Hybrid contact lens Training
Both scleral contact lenses and hybrid contact lenses do require a little extra training to become proficient in insertion and removal. Either myself, or our staff at Two C Eye Care in Manvel, TX will train you how to properly handle these specialized contact lenses.
Conclusion
To conclude, scleral contact lenses and hybrid contact lenses are used to restore or improve vision of patients who have kerataconus or who’ve had a corneal transplant surgery. These contact lenses are also beneficial for patients who want to be free from fluctuating vision due to regular soft contact lenses.
If you suffer from any of these conditions and would like a consultation, schedule an appointment at Two C Eye Care.
Click here to schedule online or call 346-978-0713.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us online by following the link: Contact Us
Thanks for reading!
Dr. Cao