Dry eye disease can make standard contact lenses nearly unbearable. Soft lenses sit directly on the cornea and can absorb your natural tears, intensifying dryness, burning, and redness throughout the day. Scleral lenses work differently: they create a fluid-filled chamber between the lens and your corneal surface. This reservoir of sterile saline continuously hydrates the eye and never allows the lens to contact sensitive corneal tissue. For many dry eye patients, this means wearing lenses comfortably for the first time in years, with significantly reduced irritation and end-of-day dryness.

Keratoconus is a progressive condition where the cornea gradually thins and bulges into a cone-like shape. This irregular curvature makes it impossible to achieve clear, stable vision with soft lenses or glasses alone. Scleral lenses vault entirely over the misshapen cornea, creating a smooth, uniform optical surface in the fluid layer beneath. The result is dramatically improved visual clarity, stability, and comfort. Many patients with keratoconus find that scleral lenses provide the best quality of vision of any correction method available to them.

Irregular corneas can result from corneal scarring, trauma, refractive surgery complications, corneal transplants, or conditions like pellucid marginal degeneration. Standard lenses cannot bridge these irregularities effectively, leading to distorted or unstable vision. Because scleral lenses arch over the entire cornea and rest on the more stable scleral tissue, they are unaffected by corneal irregularity. The fluid reservoir underneath neutralizes surface irregularities optically, delivering clearer and more consistent vision than any lens resting directly on an irregular cornea could provide.

Specialty Contact Lenses in Alamosa, CO

Q: Vision That Is Not Fully Corrected with Standard Lenses

Some patients have prescriptions that cannot be fully corrected with conventional soft lenses or glasses, particularly those with high astigmatism, very high myopia or hyperopia, or complex refractive errors. Soft lenses flex and move with the eye, which can compromise visual precision in higher prescriptions. Scleral lenses are rigid and custom-designed to your exact measurements, maintaining their shape on the eye and delivering a highly precise, consistent optical correction. If you have never achieved sharp, satisfying vision with previous lenses, scleral lenses may offer a level of clarity you have not experienced before.

If contact lenses have been uncomfortable, unclear, or not an option for you, there may still be a solution. We use advanced, custom-fitted lenses to improve comfort and help you see clearly again.

Call (719) 992-2121

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Close-up view of a woman putting a contact lens in her eye.

Told You Cannot Wear Contacts? Take Another Look

If you have tried contact lenses before and they did not work, you are not alone.

Many patients stop wearing contacts because of dryness, discomfort, or blurry vision. Some are told their eyes are too sensitive or that contacts are not an option for them.

In many cases, the issue is not whether you can wear contact lenses. It is whether the right type of lens was used.

At San Luis Valley Eye Care, we take a closer look to find out what your eyes actually need.

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(719) 992-2121

A man is holding a contact lens with a smiling face

A Different Approach for Eyes That Need More Precision

Specialty contact lenses are designed for patients who need more than a standard fit.

These lenses are custom-designed based on the shape of your eye and your specific condition. Instead of forcing your eyes to adapt to a basic lens, the lens is designed to fit your eye properly.

This often leads to:

Better comfort throughout the day
More stable, clear vision
Less irritation and dryness

For many patients, this is the first time contact lenses truly feel right.

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Specialty Lenses for Complex and Sensitive Eyes

We offer advanced specialty contact lens options in Alamosa, including scleral lenses, hybrid lenses, and custom designs. Expand any condition below to learn how scleral lenses can help:

Dry Eyes

Keratoconus

Irregular Corneas

Vision That Is Not Fully Corrected with Standard Lenses

These lenses can improve both vision and comfort when traditional contact lenses are not effective.

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A close-up view of a person's eye with a contact lens and eyelashes, possibly a woman, has a white color on the cornea and a black color on the pupil, with a small tear drop in the corner of her eye.

A woman sitting on a couch with her arms behind her head and a smile on her face

Why Specialty Contact Lenses Work When Others Do Not

Specialty lenses are different because they are built around your eyes rather than a standard prescription.

We use detailed measurements and advanced imaging to evaluate the surface of your eye and guide the fitting process. This allows us to identify issues that may have been missed during previous fittings.

If you have struggled with contact lenses in the past, this level of precision can make a meaningful difference.

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You Do Not Have to Settle for Discomfort or Limited Options

It is common for patients to assume they are out of options after one or two failed attempts with contact lenses.

That is not always the case.

With the right eye evaluation and the right lens design, many patients are able to return to contact lenses with better comfort and clearer vision than they expected.

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A man with brown eyes is looking at his reflection in the mirror and trying to put a contact lens in his eye while holding his eye with his right hand.

A woman is smiling and looking at something in front of her, holding a small bottle and a small container in her hand. She is wearing a blue shirt and has a bracelet on her left wrist. She is also touching her face with her left hand. Behind her is a white wall and a blurry object on the right side.

What to Expect from a Specialty Contact Lens Fitting

Your visit will include a detailed evaluation of your eye shape, tear film, and overall eye health.

We will take the time to understand your past experience with contact lenses and identify what did not work. From there, we will guide you through the best options and ensure your lenses fit properly before you leave.

You will know what to expect and how your lenses should feel.

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Schedule Your Specialty Contact Lens Consultation

If contact lenses have not worked for you before, it may be worth taking another look.

Call (719) 992-2121 or request an appointment to schedule your specialty contact lens consultation in Alamosa. We will help you understand your options and determine whether a better solution is available.

(719) 992-2121

Book Appointment

Specialty Contact Lenses in Alamosa, CO

Told You Cannot Wear Contacts? Take Another Look

A Different Approach for Eyes That Need More Precision

Specialty Lenses for Complex and Sensitive Eyes

Dry Eyes

Keratoconus

Irregular Corneas

Vision That Is Not Fully Corrected with Standard Lenses

Why Specialty Contact Lenses Work When Others Do Not

You Do Not Have to Settle for Discomfort or Limited Options

What to Expect from a Specialty Contact Lens Fitting

Schedule Your Specialty Contact Lens Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions About Contact Lens Exams

What is a contact lens exam?

How much does a contact lens exam cost?

Does insurance cover a contact lens exam?

Does VSP cover contact lens exams?

Do I need a contact lens exam every year?

How long does a contact lens exam take?