When Glasses Aren’t Enough: Specialty Contact Lens Options at Alameda Eyes Optometry

For many people, glasses or standard soft contact lenses provide clear, comfortable vision. But for others, traditional options simply aren’t enough. At Alameda Eyes Optometry, we offer advanced specialty contact lens solutions designed to improve vision, comfort, and overall quality of life when conventional eyewear falls short.

Why Glasses and Standard Contacts Sometimes Don’t Work

While glasses are an excellent vision correction tool, they have limitations. High prescriptions can cause image distortion, reduced peripheral vision, and heavy lenses. Similarly, standard soft contact lenses may not adequately correct irregular corneas or provide consistent vision for certain eye conditions. Patients who experience ongoing blurry vision, discomfort, glare, halos, or fluctuating clarity may be excellent candidates for specialty contact lenses.

What Are Specialty Contact Lenses?

Specialty contact lenses are custom-designed lenses created to address vision challenges that standard lenses cannot correct effectively. These lenses are tailored to the unique shape and needs of each patient’s eyes, offering sharper vision and improved comfort. At Alameda Eyes Optometry, specialty contact lenses are carefully selected and fitted using advanced diagnostic technology to ensure optimal results.

Scleral Contact Lenses

Scleral lenses are larger-diameter gas-permeable lenses that vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera). They create a smooth optical surface while maintaining a fluid reservoir between the lens and the eye.

Scleral lenses are often recommended for:

• Keratoconus

• Irregular corneas

• Severe dry eye

• Post-surgical corneas

• Corneal scarring

Patients often report significantly improved comfort and clarity compared to traditional lenses.

Gas Permeable (GP) Contact Lenses

GP lenses are smaller, rigid lenses that allow oxygen to pass through to the eye. They provide crisp, stable vision and are especially beneficial for patients with astigmatism or irregular corneal shapes.

GP lenses may be recommended for:

• Moderate to high astigmatism

• Keratoconus

• Vision that fluctuates with soft lenses

Custom Soft Contact Lenses

For patients with unique prescriptions, custom soft lenses can be designed with specific parameters not available in standard lenses. These lenses are ideal for individuals with high prescriptions or uncommon eye shapes who still prefer the feel of soft contacts.

Who Is a Candidate for Specialty Contact Lenses?

You may benefit from specialty contact lenses if you:

• Have been told glasses can’t fully correct your vision

• Experience discomfort with standard contact lenses

• Have keratoconus or an irregular cornea

• Have had previous eye surgery

• Struggle with severe dry eye

Even if you’ve been told in the past that contacts weren’t an option, advancements in specialty lens technology may provide new solutions.

Ready to Explore Your Options?

When glasses and traditional contact lenses no longer meet your vision needs, specialty contact lenses can offer life-changing clarity and comfort. With customized designs and expert fitting, these advanced lenses help patients see better and live more confidently. Alameda Eyes Optometry is proud to provide specialty contact lens options tailored to complex vision needs.

If you’re struggling with vision despite wearing glasses or contacts, it may be time to explore specialty contact lenses. Contact Alameda Eyes Optometry to schedule a consultation and find out which specialty lens solution is right for you. Visit our office in Alameda, California, or call (510) 769-2020 today.