Some eye conditions may make contact lenses more difficult for someone with vision problems. In order to find out if contact lenses are right for you, you will need to discuss options with your doctor and obtain specialized hard-to-fit contacts for your specific vision problem.
Reasons for Hard-to-Fit Contacts
The following are some eye disorders that may make find and wearing contact lenses more difficult:
- Astigmatism
- Dry eyes
- Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC)
- Keratoconus
- Presbyopia
Astigmatism: Astigmatism develops when the front of the eye curves into a bulge or oval shape. It causes blurred vision and can be difficult to correct because regular contacts cannot account for the bulging.
Dry Eyes: When eyes become excessively dry, the eye becomes irritated, causing burning, redness, and blurred vision. Contact lenses can make these conditions worse by causing the contact to feel like a foreign object is stuck in the eye.
GPC: This form of conjunctivitis is caused by inflammation on the inner surface of the eyelid. Protein buildup on contact lenses can make this condition worse.
Keratoconus: This is an uncommon condition that causes major discomfort when wearing contacts. Keratoconus happens when the cornea becomes thinner and allows the eye to bulge forward in a cone shape.
Presbyopia: As eyes age, they may develop presbyopia, in which eyes tend to have a tougher time focusing on close objects. This condition typically affects people aged 40 or older.
Solutions for Hard-to-Fit Contacts
Wearing contacts is not impossible if you suffer from one of the above conditions; however, you will need to have contact lenses that are tailored to your specific vision condition.
Gas permeable lenses are a good solution for patients who suffer from GPC or Keratoconus. A GP lens will limit protein deposits from accumulating, reducing GPC symptoms. It is also effective in containing corneal bulging and relieving pressure on the tissue for a Keratoconus sufferer.
Toric lenses are useful for correcting astigmatism. Since the lens needs to align with the bulge it is correcting, toric lenses must not rotate in order to fit on the eye. They are typically custom made to correct a specific astigmatism. For that reason, this type of lens takes longer to make and costs more than a traditional contact lens.
Bifocal and multifocal lenses can help remedy presbyopia. Monovision lenses are another option for presbyopia. This type of lenses can have one fitted for distance vision and the other for seeing close objects.
Medicated eye drops can be an effective solution for dealing with dry eyes. They will lubricate eyes enough to make contact lenses more bearable, although a punctal occlusion also must be done to plug the ducts in some extreme cases. GPC symptoms can also be lessened through medicated eye drops. They flush out protein deposits and reduce inflammation.