What Can Make Contact Lens Fitting Harder?

Ill-fitting contacts can cause a host of problems, including sensitivity to light, dry eyes, and contact lens intolerance (a condition that causes pain whenever contacts are worn). That’s why it’s important that your contacts fit your eyes properly. 

The problem is that some diseases and conditions can make contact lens fitting harder. Lumen Optometric, your trusted scleral optometrist, gives an overview below:        

• Dry eye – The surface of your eye needs to stay moist. Without sufficient lubrication and moisture, the surface of your eye becomes more vulnerable to inflammation. Wearing contacts can also exacerbate issues related to dry eyes. That’s because the lack of lubrication increases the friction between the eyes and contacts, increasing discomfort for lens wearers. Using artificial tears can help alleviate symptoms of dry eye. However, certain formulations work better than others. That’s why if you need dry eye treatment, it’s best to consult your local eye doctor.
• Keratoconus – This is a progressive disease that causes corneas (the outer layer at the front of your eye that’s responsible for focusing light) to become thinner and bulge outward into a cone shape. The cornea’s irregular shape distorts a patient’s vision and makes fitting contacts harder.

Does This Mean Patients with Keratoconus and Dry Eyes Still Wear Contacts?

Patients with Keratoconus and Dry Eyes need to wear custom-molded scleral lenses, which are larger than gas permeable contact lenses. Thanks to their large size, they can cover the entire corneal surface. Since scleral lenses rest on the less sensitive part of the sclera or the white outer layer of the eye, patients with  Keratoconus don’t usually experience discomfort when using them. 

Lumen Optometric offers a wide range of professional eye care services, including scleral lens fitting and neurolens treatment services. Our proprietor Dr. Eric To is the only practice-owning optometrist in Los Angeles County that is recognized as a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Society. As such, you can rest easy knowing that our team has undergone advanced training to provide the clearest and healthiest vision for our patients. To schedule an appointment, call us at (626) 921-0199 or fill out this form.