When you grow tired of wearing prescription glasses, contact lenses are often a viable alternative. When used properly, contacts are safe and effective for correcting vision problems while allowing you to enjoy a natural appearance. Hard-to-fit contacts are specialty contacts for people who cannot use standard lenses due to their prescription or a pre-existing eye condition. Here are some frequently asked questions we receive at H. Arnold Papernick OD in Mt. Pleasant.
What are hard-to-fit contact lenses?
If you have an eye condition such as dry eye, giant papillary conjunctivitis, keratoconus, astigmatism, or presbyopia, you can’t use standard contacts to correct your vision. You need specialty contacts specifically designed for your eye condition. Patients with severe myopia or farsightedness may also require hard-to-fit specialty contacts as well as those recovering from LASIK surgery.
How do I know if I need hard-to-fit contacts?
Before getting contacts, our Mt. Pleasant optometrist will conduct a contact lens exam to determine your prescription and assess your cornea size and overall eye health. If we discover an issue that will make it difficult for you to use standard contacts, our optometrist will recommend hard-to-fit contact lenses.
What are some examples of hard-to-fit contacts?
Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contacts are one of the most commonly used hard-to-fit contacts. This hard lens is good for people with keratoconus as it holds the shape of the cornea of your eye. If you have keratoconus, you can also use scleral contacts to improve your sight. For presbyopia, a condition that affects both near and far vision, our eye doctor in Mt. Pleasant may recommend multifocal or monovision contact lenses. Toric lenses are beneficial for correcting problems caused by astigmatism.
What happens at a contact lens exam?
Since contacts are worn directly on the eye, our eye doctor has to measure the diameter and curvature of the cornea as well as the pupil and iris to ensure you get a good fit. We will also conduct a tear film evaluation to ensure your eyes are producing sufficient tears to keep the lens moist. If you’ve never worn contacts before, our team will take time to explain how to properly insert and remove the lenses, answer any questions you may have, and help you choose the best contacts for you.
Visit Us for a Contact Lens Exam from Our Eye Doctor in Mt. Pleasant
To learn more about hard-to-fit contacts or to schedule a contact lens exam, contact our team at H. Arnold Papernick OD. Our optometrist is dedicated to providing our patients the care they need to maintain their vision and eye health. Call us at (724) 547-5711 to schedule your next eye exam or to learn more about how our optometry team can help you.
