Common Issues That Make Contact Lenses Difficult to Fit

Your eye specialist may recommend wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses if you need vision correction. Many individuals prefer contacts because they can provide unobstructed central and peripheral vision. They come in different materials that deliver better comfort and colors that can change how your eyes look. 

However, some people find it difficult and uncomfortable to wear contact lenses. It’s usually because they have hard-to-fit eyes. Fortunately, it does not mean that contacts are no longer a suitable option for them. Keep reading to discover problems that could make fitting contact lenses a challenge. 

Dry Eyes

Your eyes produce tears for nourishment and lubrication. If they don’t generate enough or quality tears, dry eyes may occur. With insufficient tears, the eyes’ surface may develop damage and inflammation. You’re more likely to experience this eye condition if you stare at the computer screen uninterrupted for at least two hours. Dry eye can also occur if you are in an air-conditioned place or on an airplane. 

Light sensitivity, eye redness, a feeling of having a foreign object in the eyes and blurred vision are common symptoms of dry eye. The condition can also cause eye fatigue and make contact lens wear difficult. Many of today’s soft contact lenses can prevent or minimize dry eye-related discomfort. They are more comfortable to wear since they hold moisture better than other contact lens materials. 

Some eye specialists recommend gas-permeable contact lenses to people with dry eyes. It’s because these lenses are smaller in size and don’t take in as much moisture from the eyes as standard soft lenses. As a result, they are less likely to dry the eyes and cause discomfort. 

If you have dry eyes, your eye doctor might treat your condition before fitting contact lenses. The process could involve using medicated eye drops or artificial tears to encourage better tear production. You might also be prescribed dietary supplements to nourish your eyes. Punctual plugs are sometimes used to treat dry eyes. They are a device placed into tear drainage ducts near the eyelids’ margin to keep tears from escaping the eyes’ surface. 

Astigmatism

Imperfections in the surface of the cornea or the front surface of the eye can result in astigmatism. It causes you to experience blurred vision at all distances. A person can be born with astigmatism and also have nearsightedness or farsightedness. 

Usually, the eye condition isn’t severe enough for sufferers to need corrective lenses. Eye strain, blurred vision, headaches, night vision difficulties and squinting are among the most common symptoms of this eye condition. If these symptoms keep you from doing your daily activities, schedule an appointment with your local eye clinic immediately. Your eye doctor can advise if you require vision correction and present you with options. 

It could be difficult to fit contact lenses if you have an unconventional type or high degree of astigmatism. If this is the case, your eye care provider might recommend custom toric contact lenses. Toric lenses are designed to correct astigmatism, and you can get them both in soft and rigid gas-permeable materials. Another option is hybrid contact lenses, which are ideal for individuals who prefer the clarity of gas permeable lenses but want the comfort of soft lenses. 

Keratoconus

Keratoconus is an eye condition where the cornea thins and slowly bulges outward. Over time, the cornea will turn into a cone shape, resulting in blurred vision and light sensitivity. This eye condition typically affects both eyes, with one eye being more severe than the other. It often develops between the ages of 10 and 25, and progress for at least 10 years. 

Eyeglasses and soft contact lenses can address vision problems during the early stages of keratoconus. After some time, you might be prescribed scleral lenses or other types of contacts. Contact lenses designed for keratoconus provide a smooth surface that allows light to focus better on the retina. Eye care specialists often recommend gas-permeable contact lenses for patients with mild to moderate keratoconus. 

Some people experience discomfort from wearing gas-permeable lenses all day. For these individuals, eye doctors might suggest piggybacking contact lenses. It’s where you wear soft contact lenses beneath the gas-permeable lens, serving as a cushion to minimize or eliminate discomfort.

Moreover, a cornea transplant might be necessary for the later stages of the condition. Corneal collagen cross-linking is a new treatment that might help slow the progression of keratoconus and potentially prevent the need for a cornea transplant.

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis

Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is an allergic reaction triggered by the proteins found in your tears. It causes the eyelid glands to produce substances that form a filmy coating on the contact lenses. As a result, patients may find contact lens wear uncomfortable and suffer from vision problems. 

Some people get relief by wearing soft daily disposable lenses. Since you dispose of these lenses after use, protein deposits are less likely to build up. Individuals with GPC might also benefit from gas-permeable lenses since they don’t tend to attract proteins. It means they remain cleaner and are less likely to cause allergic reactions. Medicated eye drops for reducing allergies related to GPC might also be a treatment option. 

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is where you find it difficult to see nearby objects. This eye condition is a normal occurrence in aging individuals. You’ll start noticing its symptoms in your 40s, and they will continue to progress until you reach around 65. A common sign of presbyopia is when you need to start holding reading materials at a distance from your face to see the text. After an eye exam, your eye doctor can confirm if you have it and prescribe you glasses or contacts. 

Bifocal and multifocal contact lenses are often prescribed to presbyopia patients. However, fitting for these types of contacts can take longer. Fortunately, the outcome of these fittings is worth your time and money. Multifocal lens wearers often report satisfaction due to the reduced need to wear reading glasses. 

Post-LASIK

LASIK is the most common type of laser refractive surgery for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. It involves using a special cutting laser to alter the shape of a cornea, causing patients to see better after the procedure. Your eye doctor can determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. 

It may help to know that LASIK doesn’t always result in crystal clear vision. Mild astigmatism might still be present after surgery. If a second surgery to sharpen your vision isn’t an option, your eye doctor might prescribe toric, soft or specially designed gas-permeable contact lenses. 

LASIK is executed in a monovision technique if one eye is corrected for near and the other for distance vision. After surgery, you might consider wearing contacts on the “near eye” to see clearly at all distances. It’s helpful for doing things where you need the best vision possible, such as nighttime driving and sports. 

Gas-permeable or hybrid contact lenses can help with post-LASIK complications, like indistinct vision from higher-order aberrations. These lenses can also address glare sensitivity after surgery. They deliver sharper night vision than soft contacts following the procedure.