Contact lenses are placed on the surface of the eye to help provide clear vision. Clear vision is achieved when an eye doctor properly evaluates the eye and optimally fits a contact lens.
When a patient has irregularities of the cornea from injury, surgery, or certain eye conditions such as keratoconus or keratoglobus, specialty contact lenses are commonly the best option for treatment.
Understanding Corneal Irregularities
The cornea is the clear dome at the front of the eye. When the shape of the cornea becomes irregular, vision can become blurred and more difficult to correct with standard contact lenses.
Conditions such as keratoconus change the shape of the cornea over time, making specialized contact lens designs an important part of improving vision.
Detecting Keratoconus
Irregular corneas are often detected by eye doctors during routine eye examinations. Additional testing is often helpful in confirming the diagnosis.
Corneal topography is a specialized mapping of the cornea that allows doctors to evaluate the shape of the eye in detail. Keratoconus often shows a characteristic pattern on corneal topography that helps doctors identify the condition.
At River Lake Eye Clinic, corneal topography can be performed during your eye examination to help diagnose corneal irregularities such as keratoconus.
Specialty Contact Lenses for Treatment
Several types of specialty contact lenses may be used to improve vision when the cornea is irregular. These may include smaller diameter rigid gas permeable lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses worn with a soft contact lens using a piggyback technique, or scleral contact lenses.
Scleral contact lenses vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye. Because they create a smooth optical surface, they are often an excellent option for patients with irregular corneas.
Once keratoconus is diagnosed, eye doctors can help provide optimal vision with scleral lenses or other specialized contact lenses.
If you have been diagnosed with keratoconus or are experiencing blurred vision related to a corneal condition, contact River Lake Clinic to schedule an eye examination and learn whether specialty contact lenses may be right for you.