Specialty Contact Lenses

Specialty contact lenses are designed for eyes that need more than a basic, one-size-fits-most soft lens. While many people see well in standard soft contacts, others struggle with blur, dryness, or irregular corneas that regular lenses cannot correct. Specialty contact lenses give your doctor more tools to customize your fit, protect your eye surface, and sharpen your vision.

At Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, our doctors use advanced imaging and careful fittings to decide when specialty contact lenses are appropriate and when standard soft lenses will still meet your needs. This guide walks through how these lens types compare, who may benefit from each, and what to expect if you are considering a change.

What Are Specialty Contact Lenses

Specialty contact lenses are custom-designed lenses for eyes that do not tolerate standard soft lenses. They can be made from rigid gas permeable materials, soft materials, or a hybrid of both. The main goal is to match the unique shape and needs of your cornea instead of forcing your eye to fit a limited set of stock options.

Common types include:

• Scleral lenses
  Large, rigid gas-permeable lenses that vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye. They create a fluid reservoir between the lens and the cornea, which can smooth out irregularities and help severe dry eye feel more comfortable.
• Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses
  Smaller, firm lenses that keep their shape on the eye. They often provide very crisp vision for high prescriptions, significant astigmatism, or irregular corneas, although they may take longer to get used to than soft lenses.
• Hybrid lenses
  Lenses with a rigid center and a soft outer “skirt.” This design aims to combine the sharp vision of an RGP lens with the initial comfort of a soft lens.
• Custom soft lenses
  Specially designed soft lenses for high prescriptions, large pupils, irregular corneal shapes, or eyes that fall outside the standard soft lens parameters.

Because these designs are tailored to complex situations, they usually require more detailed measurements, more chair time, and closer follow-up than a routine soft lens fitting.

What Are Standard Soft Contacts

Standard soft contacts are the lenses most people picture when they think of contact lenses. They are made from flexible plastics that absorb water and allow oxygen to reach the cornea. This combination helps many first-time wearers feel comfortable quickly.

Standard soft contacts are widely available in:

• Daily disposable lenses
• Two-week or monthly replacement lenses
• Soft toric lenses for regular astigmatism
• Soft multifocal lenses to help with near and distance vision

For many people with healthy, regularly shaped corneas and typical prescriptions, these lenses provide a reliable balance of comfort, convenience, and vision quality.

Specialty Contact Lenses vs Standard Soft Contacts: Key Differences

While both choices aim to help you see clearly without glasses, there are essential differences in how they work and what they are designed to handle.

Fit and customization

• Standard soft lenses come in a limited range of base curves, diameters, and materials. Your doctor selects the best match from these preset options.
• Specialty contact lenses are designed based on detailed measurements from corneal topography, tomography, and tear-film evaluation. The fit is customized to your eye rather than forcing it into a limited set of lens shapes.

Vision quality

• Standard soft lenses work well for many mild to moderate prescriptions.
• Specialty designs, especially scleral and RGP lenses, can create a smooth optical surface for irregular corneas and may provide sharper, more stable vision when standard lenses fall short. This is especially true for conditions like keratoconus, post-surgical irregularity, or very high astigmatism.

Comfort and surface protection

• Soft lenses tend to feel comfortable quickly, which is why they are often used for new wearers.
• Some specialty designs, such as traditional RGP lenses, require an adaptation period as the eyelids learn to blink over a firmer surface. Others, like scleral lenses, can feel very comfortable once they are correctly fit because they vault the cornea and rest on less sensitive tissue. The fluid reservoir in scleral lenses can also protect the eye surface in severe dry eye.

Care, replacement, and cost

• Standard soft contacts usually follow simple cleaning and replacement schedules, and they often have a lower initial cost.
• Specialty contact lenses require more specific care routines, and the upfront cost is higher. However, they often last longer, provide more precise correction for complex cases, and may reduce your dependence on glasses or the need for frequent lens changes over time.

Your doctor will help you weigh these trade-offs based on your prescription, your eye health, and your daily routine.

Who Might Need Specialty Contact Lenses

Specialty designs are not only for rare eye diseases; they are most often used when a challenge standard lenses cannot solve arises. You may be a candidate for specialty options if you have:

• Keratoconus or other irregular corneal conditions
  These conditions cause the cornea to thin and bulge, creating an irregular shape that standard soft lenses cannot entirely correct. Specialty options like scleral or custom RGP lenses can make a smoother surface for sharper vision.
• Post-surgical or post-trauma corneal changes
  After procedures such as corneal transplants, refractive surgery, or corneal injuries, the surface may be irregular. Specialty lenses can help restore clearer, more stable vision when glasses or soft contacts are not enough.
• High prescriptions or high astigmatism
  Powerful prescriptions or significant astigmatism may push past the comfortable limits of standard soft lenses. Specialty contact lenses can offer more precise correction and improved clarity.
• Severe dry eye or ocular surface disease
  In some advanced cases, scleral lenses can act like a protective moisture chamber, improving comfort and vision when other treatments have not been enough.

If your soft lenses are constantly uncomfortable, shift throughout the day, or never seem to provide crisp vision, these are also signs that it may be time to talk with your doctor about specialty options.

When Standard Soft Contacts Are Still the Right Choice

Not everyone needs a highly customized lens. Standard soft contacts remain an excellent option when:

• Your corneas are healthy and regularly shaped
• Your prescription falls within the range of standard lens designs
• You want lenses that are easy to adapt to and simple to replace
• You prefer the convenience of daily disposables or a familiar monthly schedule

In many cases, your doctor may first try different brands, materials, or replacement schedules within standard soft lenses before recommending specialty contact lenses. That way, you can see if small changes restore comfort and clarity without moving to a more complex design.

How Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center Evaluates Your Options

At Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, a contact lens evaluation includes more than a quick prescription check. Your doctor will:

• Review your medical and vision history, including any previous contact lens challenges
• Measure your prescription with precise refraction
• Evaluate your tear film and the surface of your eyes for signs of dryness or irritation
• Use tools such as corneal topography or tomography to map the shape of your cornea when needed
• Talk with you about your work, hobbies, and lifestyle to understand how you use your eyes each day

Based on these findings, your doctor will explain whether standard soft contacts are likely to work well or whether specialty contact lenses may give you a better balance of comfort and clarity. You will have time to ask questions and discuss what each path involves, including care routines, costs, and follow-up visits.

Visit any of our Arizona Optical centers to find what lens options are available for your vision.

For general information about contact lens types and safety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also provides patient guidance on soft, rigid, and specialty lenses, which can complement the discussion you have with your eye doctor.

FAQ: Specialty Contact Lenses and Soft Contacts

Are specialty designs only for people with eye diseases?

No. Many patients with conditions like keratoconus or corneal scarring need specialty designs. Still, some people choose them for better night vision, more stable clarity, or comfort when standard lenses cause problems. Your doctor will look at your entire situation before making a recommendation.

Will specialty lenses feel uncomfortable compared to my soft lenses?

Some designs, mainly traditional RGP lenses, do require a break-in period. Others, such as scleral and hybrid lenses, can feel quite comfortable once properly adjusted. Your doctor will explain what to expect and how long adaptation usually takes.

Can I switch back and forth between my soft contacts and specialty lenses?

Sometimes switching can change the way a specialty lens fits or the stability of your vision, especially if you have an irregular cornea. Your doctor will let you know whether alternating is safe in your situation or whether you should stick with one type for the best results.

Are specialty contact lenses more expensive?

The initial cost is higher due to the custom design, additional measurements, and follow-up visits. However, these lenses often last longer than standard soft lenses, reducing the need for frequent replacement. Your doctor’s office can review costs and help you understand how insurance and payment options may apply.

Will I still need glasses if I wear specialty contacts?

Yes. It is always wise to keep a pair of glasses up to date, even if you wear contacts most of the time. Glasses give your eyes a break when needed and serve as a backup if you are unable to wear your lenses.

Find Your Best Lens Option at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center

Your eyes and your lifestyle are unique, so your contact lenses should be too. For some people, standard soft lenses provide all the clarity and comfort they need. For others, specialty contact lenses open the door to sharper vision, better comfort, and more stable day-to-day performance when regular lenses fall short.

If your current contacts are not working as well as they used to, or if you have been told you might need a more advanced lens design, now is a good time to get answers. Schedule a contact lens evaluation with Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center today to explore both standard and specialty options and take the next step toward clearer, more comfortable vision.