Many people stop using contact lenses because of: poor unstable vision, fluctuating vision, dry eyes, red eyes, allergies, and or uncomfortable contact lenses. Custom made Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Scleral contact lenses work for many patients!
ASTIGMATISM & POOR UNSTABLE, FLUCTUATING VISION
Individuals who have poor unstable or fluctuating vision have irregular distortion of the cornea (astigmatism). This limits the quality of vision possible with glasses or traditional soft and RGP contact lenses.
Stages of Keratoconus
SCLERAL RIGID GAS PERMEABLE CONTACT LENSES
Wearing a smooth, scleral rigid contact lens over the cornea allows tears to fill in the space between the rigid lens surface and the corneal irregularity, which neutralizes most of the corneal distortion. Neutralising corneal distortion gives wearers better definition and contrast with improved vision and decreased ghosting. Scleral contact lenses provide excellent vision and comfort because they are designed to not touch the cornea versus Traditional soft and RGP contact lenses, which are designed to sit on the cornea and thus, are always limited in terms of the comfort they can maximally provide.HIGH PRESCRIPTIONS
Patients with high refractive errors such as astigmatism, myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) or presbyopia may not always achieve functional & satisfactory vision with glasses or traditional soft and RGP contact lenses. Custom Contact Lenses (including Sclerals) can provide greater vision and clarity.COMFORT & SAFETY
Like traditional soft and RGP contact lenses, it takes some on average 1 to 2 weeks for the lids and corneal surface to adapt to the Scleral contact lens, after the initial adaptation period, wear is quite comfortable. Most of our rigid corneal lens patients wear their lenses for long periods during the day due to the comfort and excellent vision they provide. Lens complications, though minimal when instructions are followed, include:- Mild redness and irritation initially during wear.
- Risk of corneal damage due to ill-fitting or dirty lenses (it is important to maintain proper cleaning and regular consultation).
- Reaction to lens solutions, requiring a change to a different type of solution.
ONGOING FOLLOW UP
As Custom designed contact lenses are part of our Vision Rehabilitation Service, follow up appointments will be scheduled. These are vital to the monitoring and success of your contact lenses. Some ocular health complications may be present without any discomfort or vision trouble. A typical follow up is as follows:- Comprehensive eye exam
- Initial visit (lens design) – same day or return visit
- Follow-up visit #1 – Custom lens #1
- Follow-up visit #2 – Custom lens #2
- Progress visit – 1 month after #4
- Progress visit – 5 months after #5
COST
The cost of the Custom Scleral RGP contact lens and the examinations with follow ups, start at $1400 (and may go up to $3500) and varies based on complexity of fit, presence or absence of eye disease, type of eye disease and other. The cost may be paid with CareCredit. In addition, most Vision Insurances will help greatly with the cost and insured patients will only have a minimal copay (most plans have copays from $0 to $50).DR ANTHONY HUYNH
Anthony Huynh, OD, FAAO
