Contact Lenses
Dr. Donna Weiss |
It
is my pleasure to introduce myself and to welcome you to
our website.
We believe that incorporating contact lens therapy’s
to our current keratoconus treatments will continue to expand
our ability to provide you with the finest eye care possible.
I am dedicated to managing hard-to-fit contact lens cases
such as keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD),
post-transplant, and post-LASIK Ectasia.
We are committed to providing you with the finest visual rehabilitation
following keratoconus treatments.
Contact Lens Treatment:
 While
they are not a cure for keratoconus or pellucid marginaldegeneration,
specially designed rigid gas-permeable contact lenses available
at our office will give the eye a smooth surface to permit
more focused vision. Fitting hard contact lenses for keratoconus
patients requires a skilledpractitioner. The fit can require
more visits to achieve clear comfortable vision.
Since contact lenses come in many different designs, as specialists
we will create a custom design that offers the best combination
of vision, comfort, and eye health.
For patients with keratoconus, fitting a contact lens can
be difficult. Especially, in advanced cases of keratoconus
where the cornea continues to bulge outward. A contact lens
must be fit around this bulge and still maintain proper fit,
comfort, centration, and vision.
It is a common misconception that contact lenses halt the
progress of keratoconus. In fact, the lenses simply improve
vision while the condition is developing. Yet, if the lenses
are not fitted properly, the keratoconus may worsen by scar
tissue formation.
A specialist evaluates the cornea by using sophisticated computerized
video keratography to provide a color topographical map of
the eye's cornea surface. This allows us monitor the keratoconus
and select the best lens design possible for your unique characteristics
of your corneal surface.
You can expect to spend an average of 2 hours your first visit
in our office. Depending on the complexity of your case and
the lens design expect 1-2 hours for subsequent visits. Most
patients will have 3-6 visits over the first 6 months.
Out-of-Town Patients:
We have patients who fly in from around the world to have
contact lenses fit at our office. We recommend that you e-mail
Dr. Weiss your color topography maps and current prescription
so she can provide an idea of number of visits and whether
you will need to be in town 1 week for the initial visit and
dispensing visit. You will be seen on subsequent Mondays.
The first visit is to determine the lens parameters to be
ordered and the 2nd visit is for the dispensing of the lenses.
You will return in 1 month and then again in 5 months for
follow-up visits.
If you elect to be fit in the Synergeyes or HydraKone technology
you will need to come into the office for an initial visit.
It takes approximately 3-4 weeks for these lenses to be made,
so you will return in month to pick-up the lenses. Then you
will need to return in a month for a follow-up visit and then
again in 4 months.
Contact Lens Designs
Six designs for maximizing vision, comfort and eye health:
• HydraKone – Finally a soft lens
for keratoconus patients. These lenses provide great vision
and comfort. This lens is ideal for those with mild to moderate
keratoconus.
• Piggy Back Contact Lens System –
Although this does involve wearing two lenses on one eye,
most patients findthat this can be one of the most comfortable
fits for keratoconus when an RGP alone can not be tolerated.
Most patients learn to insert these lenses quicker than it
will take them to brush their teeth. The key with this system
is that the soft lens actually protects the sensitive cornea.
• Synergeyes - These lenses is the latest
breakthrough in contact lens technology. The center of the
lens is a high oxygen permeable rigid material, while the
outer skirt is a soft lens. You get the benefit of the comfort
of a Piggy Back System with only needing to insert a single
lens. Dr. Weiss is actively involved in improving this technology
and recent completed a beta study, successfully fitting over
90% of patients in the newer lens design.
• Rose K2 IC - Rose K lenses havebeen
one of the longest and most used keratoconus RGP design. The
K2 version has a larger diameters which improves comfort.
Also, it has a special design that helps address irregular
corneas with better quality of vision compared to the original
Rose K design.
• Intra-Limbal Dyna-Z - Individually designed lenses based on topography readings. The visual results
and comfort can be phenomenal – due to larger diameter. Before making
the jump to Scleral lenses this is the lens to try.
• Scleral Lenses – These
are RGP lenses that rest out on the white of the eye. Amazingly these lenses
are extremely comfortable because they do not rest on the cornea. It takes
some time to learn to put these lenses on due to the large diameter, but once
you get that down you will be amazed by the vision.
Cost:
This is the number
one concern for most patients. If you see a specialist you can expect to pay
between $1600 - $7000 a year for exams and supply of contacts. The average
fees in our office range from $1600 - $3500/per year depending on the lens
technology; with sclera lens designs averaging around $5000/per year.
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