Everything Optometry Practices Need To Know About Specialty Contact Lenses

Is your optometry practice well versed in specialty contact lenses? These customized lenses address specific vision correction needs beyond the capabilities of standard lenses. The demand for specialty lens options is growing as patients become aware of the improved comfort, vision clarity, and treatment possibilities that come with them.

Whether you are an optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist, you should understand the different types of specialty contact lenses to better inform your patient base.

Understanding Specialty Contact Lenses

As an eye care professional, you are responsible for recommending the right treatments for patients. Special contact lenses often provide more effective vision correction than regular contact lenses.

Types of Specialty Contact Lenses

Several specialty contact lens types have entered the industry to provide clear vision for patients with certain eye diseases and challenges. Popular ones for treating eye diseases include:

• Scleral lenses: Scleral lenses are large-diameter rigid lenses designed to rest on the sclera and vault over the cornea. They are ideal for those with corneal irregularities or keratoconus.
• Orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses: These reshaping lenses are worn overnight to correct myopia over time.
• Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses: These long-lasting contacts allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea, helping the eye breathe. Rigid gas-permeable lenses offer sharper vision than traditional lenses and can last up to three years before needing to be replaced.
• Hybrid lenses: These specialty contact lenses combine the benefits of soft contact lenses and RGP lens types. Hybrid lenses are as comfortable as soft lenses while offering sharper vision than traditional soft contact lenses.

Benefits of Specialty Contact Lenses

Specialty contact lens types offer specific benefits that make them a popular alternative for certain patients.

Personalized Solutions for Complex Vision Needs

Patients with complex vision problems turn to specialty contact lenses for more precise vision correction. These contacts can provide treatment for patients with:

• Corneal conditions
• Eye disease
• Irregular corneas or eye shape
• Corneal transplants
• Eye conditions like keratoconus
• High refractive errors

Customized lenses can also improve comfort and reduce eye strain for patients who need to wear them all day. For example, hybrid lenses allow more oxygen to pass through than RGP lenses, making them more comfortable for patients used to soft lenses.

Long-Term Eye Health and Visual Outcomes

The design of specialty contact lenses supports eye health and prevents issues common with traditional contact lenses. Custom contact lens options can provide:

• Improved vision for certain eye conditions and vision problems
• Better hydration for patients with severe dry eye
• Enhanced comfort, as they are customized to each patient’s eye shape and size

These benefits may encourage patients to wear their contact lenses more often, preventing eye strain that can lead to poor vision.

The Fitting Process for Specialty Contact Lenses

Patients interested in specialty contact lenses must go through a custom contact lens fitting to find the right type and size of contact lens. Specialty contact lens fittings differ from the process for standard contact lenses.

Importance of a Precise Fitting Process

Eye doctors perform comprehensive eye exams, measuring all of the following:

• Eye curvature
• Diameter
• Surface of the cornea

After taking initial measurements, an eye doctor may make several adjustments to ensure absolute precision. This process ensures the most comfortable fit for patients and facilitates the best vision.

If your practice plans to offer specialty contact lenses, you may need to invest in corneal topography and scleral mapping equipment to take these measurements.

Follow-Up Care and Adjustments

Ensure that patients know how to wear and care for their contact lenses, such as by storing them in contact solution overnight.

Patients should schedule routine follow-up visits with eye care professionals to ensure their specialty contact lenses continue fitting comfortably and supporting their optical health. Specialty contact lenses often require more frequent adjustments than traditional contact lenses, necessitating regular eye exams.

Leveraging Technology To Improve Patient Satisfaction and Care

If you want your optometry practice to stay competitive, investing in the right technology can help. Weave’s solutions for optometry practices can help you keep up with the demands of managing specialty contact lens patients, helping to improve patient communication and outcomes.

Streamlining Scheduling and Reminders for Specialty Lens Fittings

With Weave’s online scheduling features, patients can schedule their eye exam appointments with their preferred eye doctor through your website. They can also receive recall reminders to schedule their next appointment, encouraging routine follow-ups and facilitating the best vision for patients with specialty lenses.

Supporting Patient Education and Engagement

You can also use many of Weave’s features for patient education, supporting compliance and outcomes for patients with specialty lenses. Weave’s two-way texting features, email marketing, and digital forms enhance patient engagement.

These tools can help you provide pre-appointment instructions, lens care tips, and other educational content — all without your manual intervention.

Simplifying Billing and Payment Options

Specialty contact lenses require a higher upfront investment for patients, but Weave’s billing solutions can help you streamline payments. This payment software lets patients pay through a method convenient to them and provides payment reminders to reduce late bills.

Final Thoughts

Specialty contact lenses, such as hybrid contact lenses, RGP lenses, scleral lenses, and ortho-k lenses, help address eye disease and improve vision for patients with specific conditions. With Weave’s solutions, you can seamlessly integrate specialty lenses into your practice offerings.

Get a Demo to see how Weave can support your practice in delivering optimal specialty lens care.