Hard to Fit Contacts

Reasons for Hard to Fit Contacts

Finding contact lenses that fit and wearing contact lenses in general can be made more challenging when these conditions affect your eyes:

• Astigmatism

• Dry eyes

• Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC)

• Keratoconus

• Presbyopia
  
  

Astigmatism: Astigmatism develops when the front of the eye curves into a bulge or oval shape. It causes blurred vision and can be difficult to correct because regular contacts cannot account for the bulging.

Dry Eyes: When eyes become excessively dry, it leads to irritation, burning, redness and blurred vision. Contact lenses can exacerbate these conditions by making it feel like a foreign object is stuck in your eye.

GPC: This form of conjunctivitis is caused by inflammation on the inner surface of the eyelid. Protein buildup on contact lenses can make this condition worse.

Keratoconus: This is an uncommon condition that causes major discomfort when wearing contacts. Keratoconus happens when the cornea becomes thinner and allows the eye to bulge forward. The bulge forms into a cone shape.

Presbyopia: Eyes tend to have a tougher time focusing on close objects as they age. This condition is known as presbyopia. It typically affects people aged 40 or older.

Solutions for Hard-to-Fit Contacts

Wearing contacts is not impossible if you suffer from one of the above conditions. You do need to meet with an eye care professional, however, and get prescribed contact lenses that are tailored to deal with your specific vision condition.

• Gas Permeable Lenses: Gas permeable (GP) lenses are a good solution for patients who suffer from GPC or keratoconus. A GP lens will limit protein deposits from accumulating, reducing GPC symptoms. For keratoconus, GP lenses help contain corneal bulging and relieve pressure on the tissue.

• Toric Lenses: Toric lenses are useful for correcting astigmatism. Since the lens needs to align with the bulge it is correcting, toric lenses must not rotate in order to fit on the eye. These lenses are typically custom-made to correct a specific astigmatism, requiring more time and a higher cost than traditional contact lenses.

• Bifocal and Multifocal Lenses: These lenses can help remedy presbyopia. Another option for presbyopia is monovision lenses, which involve one lens fitted for distance vision and the other for seeing close objects.

• Medicated Eye Drops: For patients with dry eyes, medicated eye drops can lubricate the eyes enough to make contact lenses more bearable. In severe cases, punctal occlusion (plugging the tear ducts) may be necessary. Medicated drops can also alleviate GPC symptoms by flushing out protein deposits and reducing inflammation.

• Scleral Lenses: Scleral lenses are an excellent option for patients with conditions like keratoconus, severe dry eyes, or irregular corneas. These lenses are larger than traditional contacts and rest on the sclera (the white part of the eye) instead of the cornea. This design creates a tear-filled reservoir between the lens and the cornea, which helps keep the eyes hydrated and comfortable while providing clear vision. Scleral lenses also provide a stable fit, making them ideal for irregularly shaped corneas.