Hard to fit Contact Lenses
Diagram showing an irregular "cone" shaped keratoconic cornea
Map of the corneal surface showing a patient with irregular astigmatism.
Any patient with an irregular corneal curvature (the cornea is the clear tissue comprising the front surface of the eye) presents as a difficult contact lens fit. Specifically, patients with keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, those with poor refractive surgery outcomes (i.e. lasik, radial keratotomy) and those who have undergone a corneal transplant typically have irregular corneal curvatures. In most cases, these patients greatly benefit from gas permeable (GP) contact lenses because these lenses have the unique ability to restore a normal curvature to the eye. In a sense, GP contact lenses mask the corneal irregularities.
But fitting GP contact lenses on irregular corneas is no easy task, especailly if your eye care practitioner has little to no experience fitting such patients. Dr. H. Jeff Ward, Highlands Ranch Optical's optometrist, specializes in difficult GP contact lens fits. He has distinguished himself by completing a prestigious residency in Corneal Pathology and Contact Lenses at the New England College of Optometry. His residency included rotations at Harvard University's Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, The Scleral Lens Foundation of Boston, Cornea Consultants of Boston, and the New England Eye Institute. At each of these rotations, he routinely performed difficult contact lens fits.
In addition, Dr. Ward regularly fits scleral lenses, specialty lenses ideal for keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, high-astigmatism, post-corneal transplant, and post-refractive surgery patients. Scleral lenses are very large GP lenses which offer superior comfort and vision. Unlike conventional GP lenses, there is no adaptation phase to scleral lenses as they are amazingly comfortable immediately following insertion. Because they are large GP lenses, however, they still provide the superior optical quality of a standard or specialty GP contact lens.
Further, Dr. Ward is both a Certified Wave RGP and Synergeyes Contact Lens Fitter. So if you are in need of a complicated contact lens fit, rest assured that Highlands Ranch Optical can meet your needs.