Specialty Contact Lenses Q&A

If you experience vision problems and want to see more clearly, turn to Alamo Eye Care in San Antonio, Texas. Melanie Frogozo, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Swati Kumar, OD, FAAO, and the experienced team offer advanced, specialty contact lenses to maximize your comfort and perfect your vision. Call the office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.

What are specialty contact lenses?

Specialty lenses are contact lenses that serve a specific purpose for your eye health and vision. Alamo Eye Care offers advanced contact lens fittings and specialized options to help you see clearly at every distance, even if you have advanced corneal conditions.

What are the benefits of specialty contact lenses?

The primary benefit of specialty lenses is to correct vision problems. You may choose contact lenses if you have astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness to help you see better. Specialty lenses can even change the shape of your eye’s cornea, and because the lenses are custom-fitted to your eye’s unique shape, they feel comfortable.

Which specialty contact lenses are available?

Your Alamo Eye Care specialist offers a variety of specialty lenses, including those that correct keratoconus, other corneal issues, and post-surgery conditions. The Alamo Eye Care team tailors each contact lens treatment to fit your unique needs.

Common types of specialty lenses include:

Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, is a treatment for nearsightedness that uses gas-permeable contact lenses to improve your eye’s curvature and reshape your corneas for better vision.

Soft lenses

Soft lenses are flexible and conform to your eye’s shape. They allow oxygen to pass through the cornea and rest comfortably on the surface of your eyes.

Rigid lenses

Rigid, gas-permeable lenses are inflexible or rigid and offer you sharper vision. These lenses are usually smaller than soft lenses but last much longer.

Hybrid lenses

Hybrid contact lenses consist of rigid and soft lens materials. The center is rigid, and the outer edges are flexible, so hybrid lenses offer the benefits of rigid lenses with the comfort of soft contacts.

Scleral lenses

Scleral lenses are large lenses made of the same material as rigid lenses. They correct the shape of irregular corneas and improve your vision.

Which specialty contact lenses are right for me?

To determine which type of specialty lenses are best for you, your eye doctor reviews your medical history, symptoms, and previous vision problems. Then, they complete a comprehensive eye exam and vision tests to determine your vision prescription and assess the health of your eyes.

During vision testing, you look through different lenses and read letters and numbers from an eye chart. Your doctor may dilate your eyes using eye drops to get a more in-depth picture of your eye health. They may test the fluid pressure in your eyes to screen for glaucoma or recommend you undergo imaging procedures.

​​​​​​​To find out which specialty lenses are right for you, call the Alamo Eye Care office or schedule an appointment online today.