Special Contact Lens

When Standard Lenses Are Not Enough — We Have the Answer

For most people, standard soft contact lenses provide excellent vision correction. But for patients with irregular corneas, high prescriptions, conditions such as keratoconus, or dry eye disease that makes soft lens wear difficult, standard lenses simply cannot provide the vision or the comfort that is needed. Special contact lenses are a category of advanced lens designs that go far beyond the standard — and at RGC Eye Hospital, we have the expertise and the range to find the right solution for even the most challenging eyes.

What Are Special Contact Lenses?

Special contact lenses encompass a range of advanced lens designs and materials that are used when standard soft lenses cannot achieve adequate vision correction or acceptable comfort. They include rigid gas-permeable lenses, scleral lenses, hybrid lenses, orthokeratology lenses, and custom-designed soft lenses for irregular astigmatism. Each type has specific indications and advantages, and the right choice depends entirely on the individual patient’s corneal shape, prescription, tear film, and lifestyle.

Who Needs Special Contact Lenses?

• Patients with keratoconus who need a rigid or scleral lens to achieve acceptable vision
• Those with irregular astigmatism following corneal surgery, trauma, or transplantation
• Patients with very high prescriptions that cannot be fully corrected in standard soft lenses
• Those with dry eye disease who find soft lenses uncomfortable to wear
• Patients who need orthokeratology lenses for myopia control
• Those who require prosthetic or cosmetic lenses for disfigured or abnormal-appearing eyes

Types of Special Lenses We Fit

Rigid Gas-Permeable (RGP) Lenses

Hard lenses that create a smooth, regular refracting surface over an irregular cornea, providing significantly better vision than soft lenses for patients with keratoconus or irregular astigmatism. Highly oxygen-permeable and very durable.

Scleral Lenses

Large-diameter rigid lenses that vault completely over the cornea and rest on the white of the eye. They hold a reservoir of fluid between the lens and the cornea, providing excellent vision correction and extraordinary comfort — even for patients with severe corneal irregularity or dry eye disease.

Hybrid Lenses

A rigid centre combined with a soft skirt — offering the visual clarity of a rigid lens with the immediate comfort of a soft lens. A useful option for patients who struggle to adapt to fully rigid lenses.

Orthokeratology Lenses

Worn overnight to reshape the cornea gently, providing clear daytime vision without any lens wear and slowing the progression of myopia in children and young adults.

Our Fitting Process

Fitting special contact lenses requires skill, patience, and specialised equipment. We begin with a detailed corneal topography map to understand the exact shape of your cornea. Trial lenses are selected and assessed carefully on the eye, with adjustments made as needed to achieve the optimum fit and the best possible vision. Follow-up visits ensure the lenses are continuing to fit well and that your corneas and vision remain healthy.

Why Patients Trust RGC Eye Hospital

• Experienced contact lens specialists trained in fitting the full range of special lens types
• Advanced corneal topography to guide precise lens selection and fitting
• A patient and thorough approach — we do not stop until we find a lens that works for you
• Long-term follow-up to ensure your lenses continue to provide optimal vision and comfort