For many people, standard contact lenses provide excellent vision correction and comfort. However, not everyone’s eyes are the same. Whether you have a complex prescription or a specific eye condition, specialty lenses can offer a tailored solution to support both your vision and comfort. At Raleigh Eye Center, we offer a range of specialty contact lenses designed to meet your unique needs.

Why a Contact Lens Exam and Fitting Matter

Unlike glasses, contact lenses sit directly on the eye, so a precise fit is essential - not just for comfort, but for eye health and effective vision correction. A contact lens exam evaluates your eye shape, tear film, and prescription needs to determine what lens type is most suitable for you.

At Raleigh Eye Center, our comprehensive contact lens fitting process ensures that your lenses match the curvature and size of your eyes. We also provide trial lenses and follow-ups to fine-tune your prescription and ensure long-term success.

Types of Specialty Contact Lenses

• Scleral Lenses: Scleral lenses are large-diameter lenses that rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera) and vault over the cornea. They’re often used for patients with keratoconus, corneal scars, or severe dry eyes, providing crisp vision and a comfortable fit.

• Gas Permeable (GP) Lenses: Also known as rigid gas-permeable lenses, these provide excellent clarity and are highly durable. They’re ideal for people with high prescriptions or irregular corneas. Though they take a bit more time to adapt to, many patients appreciate their precise vision.

• Hybrid Lenses: Combining the clarity of a GP lens with the comfort of a soft skirt, hybrid lenses offer a great option for those who need sharper vision but struggle with the comfort of traditional rigid lenses.

• Multifocal and Bifocal Lenses: For patients with presbyopia, these lenses provide clear vision at multiple distances without the need for reading glasses.

• Toric Lenses: Designed for patients with astigmatism, toric lenses come in both soft and specialty formats and help maintain stable, sharp vision throughout the day.

Managing Eye Conditions with Specialty Contact Lenses

One of the most impactful benefits of specialty contact lenses is their ability to manage and even improve certain eye conditions that can’t be effectively treated with traditional lenses or glasses. If you've been told in the past that you’re not a good candidate for contacts, you may benefit from the advancements in specialty lens technology.
 

Keratoconus causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone-like shape, which distorts vision and makes standard lenses ineffective. Scleral and rigid gas-permeable lenses are often the preferred solutions because they create a smooth optical surface over the irregular cornea, improving vision and comfort.
 

After procedures like LASIK, PRK, or corneal transplants, some patients may experience changes in their eye shape or surface. Specialty lenses like scleral or hybrid lenses can provide the clarity and stability that glasses or regular contacts can’t.

For those suffering from chronic dry eye, scleral lenses can act as a protective barrier that keeps the surface of the eye hydrated throughout the day. By creating a fluid reservoir between the lens and the eye, these lenses offer both relief and improved vision.

Ready to Find the Right Contact Lenses for Your Needs?

Specialty contact lenses can open the door to clearer vision and improved comfort for those who haven’t had success with standard lenses. Whether you're dealing with a specific condition or just seeking a better fit, there’s likely a specialty lens option that can help.

Schedule your contact lens exam at Raleigh Eye Center and experience the difference specialty contact lenses can make. Contact our office in Raleigh, Durham, Reidsville, Henderson, North Carolina, or South Hill, Virginia. Call (919) 899-2472, (919) 876-2427 or (252) 492-8021 to book an appointment today.