Specialty Contact Lenses
Custom lenses for complex vision needs, designed when glasses or standard contacts cannot provide the clarity, comfort, or stability your eyes need.
Most insurance plans accepted
When Standard Correction Isn’t Enough
Some eyes need more than a standard soft contact lens.
Specialty contact lenses can help when vision feels unstable, glasses are not giving enough clarity, or the shape of the cornea makes traditional lenses difficult to wear. Instead of simply resting on the surface of the eye like a standard lens, these lenses are designed around the eye’s shape to create a smoother, more stable surface for vision.
For the right patient, that can mean clearer sight, better comfort, and a lens that feels more reliable throughout the day.
A Fit Built Around Your Eye
Specialty lenses require more than choosing a lens and ordering a prescription. We begin with a thorough eye exam to understand your vision, prescription, and overall eye health. From there, we map the shape of your cornea and use those measurements to help design a lens made for the way your eye is actually shaped.
Once the lens arrives, we evaluate how it fits on the eye, how it moves, how it feels, and how clearly you see through it. Those details matter. They help us fine-tune the lens so it performs as well as it can in real life, not just on paper.
Custom Fit, Ongoing Care
Specialty lenses are not a one-and-done prescription. Your doctor stays involved through the fitting process, from the first evaluation to the lens check after it arrives.
We look at how the lens sits, how it moves, how your vision responds, and whether any refinements are needed. That level of attention helps the lens feel more natural and perform more reliably in real life.
When to Consider Specialty Lenses
Glasses Fall Short
If glasses or soft contacts still leave your vision blurry, distorted, unstable, or inconsistent, your eyes may need a more customized way to focus light.
Irregular Corneal Shape
Conditions like keratoconus, corneal scarring, or post-surgical changes can make traditional lenses harder to fit well.
Severe Dry Eye
For certain patients with significant dry eye disease, specialty lenses may be considered when other treatments have not provided enough relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between RGP and scleral lenses?
RGP lenses are smaller rigid lenses that sit on the cornea. Scleral lenses are larger lenses that vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye.
Both can provide sharper, more stable vision than standard soft contacts for the right patient. Your doctor will recommend the lens design that best matches your eye shape, prescription, and comfort needs.
Are specialty contacts comfortable?
It depends on the lens. RGP lenses sit directly on the cornea, so they can take some time to get used to. Scleral lenses are larger and rest on the white part of the eye, which often makes them surprisingly comfortable from the start. During your fitting, your doctor will help choose the lens design that gives you the best balance of vision, comfort, and long-term eye health.
How long do specialty contact lenses last?
Specialty lenses are designed to last much longer than standard soft contact lenses. The exact lifespan depends on the lens type, your prescription, your tear chemistry, and how well the lenses are cared for. Your doctor will let you know what to expect based on your specific lenses.
Do you accept vision insurance?
Yes. Solaire Vision is in network with most major vision insurance plans. Before your exam begins, our team reviews your expected copays and benefits with you, so you have a clearer understanding of how your plan may apply to your eye exam, glasses, contact lenses, or lens upgrades.
Which locations offer specialty contact lens evaluations?
Yes. Solaire Vision sees patients at our Herndon and Oakton locations, and we regularly care for patients from Reston, Fairfax, Vienna, Tysons, Chantilly, and surrounding Northern Virginia communities.
When Standard Lenses Aren't Enough
If glasses or standard contacts have not provided the clarity, comfort, or stability you need, a specialty contact lens evaluation may help us find a better fit.
Most insurance plans accepted