Keratoconus is an eye disease that’s characterized by the continued and progressive thinning of the cornea. When this happens, the cornea develops a cone-shaped bulge that extends outwards from the center of the cornea. Since the cornea is instrumental in refracting light as it enters the eye to ensure clear vision, most people who develop keratoconus go on to develop a range of visual issues. As a result, they may need to wear prescription lenses in order to see clearly at all distances.

Unsurprisingly, wearing standard contact lenses is difficult or even impossible for most keratoconus patients. The bulge means that the contacts will not sit flat against the surface of the cornea, and this leads to visual instability, discomfort, and the risk that they will fall out. However, this doesn’t mean that you can only wear glasses to correct your vision. Contact lenses give the wearer the freedom to be able to participate in certain activities that would be difficult in glasses. They also don’t affect the appearance of your face. Fortunately, there are specialty contact lenses designed specifically for patients who can’t wear conventional contacts – such as those with keratoconus.
 

What are speciality contact lenses?

Speciality contact lenses have slightly different features to conventional contacts, and this enables them to be able to be worn by patients who have eye conditions that mean that standard contacts won’t fit properly. There are various different types of speciality contact lenses available, with several being particularly effective for patients with keratoconus. These are:
 

Large-diameter soft contact lenses

These contacts are exactly what their name suggests – larger than standard contact lenses and made from soft material. Their enlarged size makes them more stable on the surface of the eyes and their softness keeps them comfortable and enables them to mold around the bulge.

Gas-permeable contact lenses

These lenses allow oxygen to pass through them and reach the surface of the eyes, which helps to keep them properly hydrated with the tear film. They are more rigid than soft contacts, and this helps the lens to retain its shape and gives greater stability to the patient’s vision. However, many patients do find them fairly uncomfortable if they need to be worn for prolonged periods.

Scleral lenses

Scleral lenses are one of the most popular contact lenses for keratoconus. This is because they are designed to vault over the surface of the cornea rather than touching it, and this leaves space for the bulge without placing pressure on it. There are several different sizes available, but all are larger diameter than standard contact lenses. In fact, they get their name from the fact that even the smallest size of the scleral lens rests on the sclera – the name for the white part of the eye. Again, their larger sizes help to ensure that they are stable on the eyes and this gives the patient a clearer and more concise vision.

If you have been diagnosed with keratoconus and would like to know more about which contact lenses are suitable, please speak to our expert eyecare team.