How Specialty Contact Lenses Can Help Manage Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a degenerative eye condition characterized by a thinning and bulging cornea. The cornea becomes cone-shaped, which affects the individual’s vision. Contact lenses can provide vision correction. Various types of specialized lenses can benefit patients. They can help to reduce symptoms and can even delay disease progression.
 

Managing Keratoconus

Keratoconus causes the eye cornea to bulge. It can lead to light sensitivity and vision problems. Eye specialists believe the condition may be due to genetics and environmental factors. It usually manifests in adolescence and can continue through adulthood.
 

If you have keratoconus, an eye specialist can recommend contact lenses to manage your condition. The doctor will consider the severity and condition of the corneal surface when prescribing lenses. Consider your comfort level when choosing lenses.
 

Lenses for Keratoconus

There are various management options for keratoconus. Eyeglasses can help with mild keratoconus, but the doctor will recommend other options for severe cases. Corneal transplantation, corneal collagen cross-linking, and intracorneal ring segments can help to treat severe keratoconus. Specialized contact lenses are an effective treatment option for keratoconus. Several lens options can improve visual acuity while enhancing comfort.
 

Types of Specialty Lenses

Choosing the best specialty contact lenses will help to manage your eye condition. The best options for managing keratoconus, include:
 

·      Rigid gas-permeable lenses (RGP). The hard lenses maintain their shape and cover the cornea surface, providing clear vision.

·      Scleral contacts. The lenses are large and rest on the white part of the eye (sclera). They are comfortable and provide clear vision. They are ideal for irregular astigmatism.

·      Hybrid contact lenses. They are a combination of soft and RGP lenses. The center part is hard, while the surrounding surface is soft. They provide both clear vision and comfort.

·      Custom soft contacts. Custom soft lenses fit the eye measurements. They are ideal for those who have difficulty wearing rigid lenses.

·      Toric lenses. Soft lenses are often prescribed for people with astigmatism but also help with mild or moderate keratoconus.

·      Piggyback contacts. Placing a rigid lens over a soft one can help to combine the benefits of RGPs and soft lenses.
 

Benefits of Specialty Contacts

There are reasons why eye doctors recommend specialty contact lenses for managing keratoconus. Benefits include:
 

·      Better fit and comfort.

·      Improved visual acuity.

·      Versatile lens options.
 

Contact lenses can help to improve your eyesight and overall well-being. Creating a new refractive surface helps to correct vision distortions caused by keratoconus.
 

Choosing the Right Contact Lenses

Several factors will help you choose the right lenses. Your optometrist will help you choose based on the lens fitting, comfort, and optimal vision. Consider your lifestyle and tolerance when making the decision.
 

Choose lenses that will provide optimal vision correction while being comfortable. For best results, ensure you take care of your contact lenses. Clean and store them according to instructions. Schedule regular eye exams to check the fitting and monitor your eye health.

 

For more on how specialty contact lenses can help manage keratoconus, visit Ridgeview Eye Care at our offices in Olathe or Lenexa, Kansas. Call (913) 270-8598 to schedule an appointment today.
 

https://www.reviewofcontactlenses.com/article/specialty-contact-lenses-treat-your-keratoconus-patients-right

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7784906/