our specialties
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Hard to fit Contact Lenses
Any patient with an irregular corneal curvature (the cornea is the clear tissue comprising the front surface of the eye) presents as a difficult contact lens fit. Specifically, patients with keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, those with poor refractive surgery outcomes (i.e. lasik, radial keratotomy) and those who have undergone a corneal transplant typically have irregular corneal curvatures. In most cases, these patients greatly benefit from gas permeable (GP) contact lenses because these lenses have the unique ability to restore a normal curvature to the eye. In a sense, GP contact lenses mask the corneal irregularities. |
But fitting GP contact lenses on irregular corneas is no easy task, especially if your eye care professional has little to no experience fitting them. Dr. H. Jeff Ward, Highlands Ranch Optical's optometrist, specializes in difficult GP contact lens fits. He has distinguished himself by completing a prestigious residency in Corneal Pathology and Contact Lenses at the New England College of Optometry. His residency included rotations at Harvard University's Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, The Scleral Lens Foundation of Boston, Cornea Consultants of Boston, and the New England Eye Institute. At each of these rotations, he routinely performed difficult contact lens fits. In addition, Dr. Ward is a certified Wave GP Contact Lens Fitter. Wave GP Contact Lenses are custom designed from a patient's "corneal fingerprint". In the fitting of such lenses, a special video camera (topographer) is used, in conjunction with sophisticated software to digitally map a patient's cornea. The data generated from this process is then used to create a GP contact lens that mirrors the actual shape of the eye. It is, hands down, the most sophisticated GP contact lens on the market, and is ideal for irregular corneas.
So if you are in need of a complicated contact lens fit, rest assured that Highlands Ranch Optical can meet your needs.
Corneal Reshaping
Imagine no glasses, no daytime contact lenses, and no surgery....just great vision all day long. Believe it or not, with an exciting new therapy called Corneal Reshaping (CR), you can have just that. The principles behind CR are very similar to those used in Lasik... the big difference being no need for surgery. In both cases, the goal is to flatten the eye's cornea (the cornea is the clear tissue comprising the front surface of the eye). In Lasik this is achieved by cutting a flap in the cornea, peeling the flap back, and then removing tissue under the flap. The flap is then laid back down and the patient waits to heal. In CR, patients simply wear contact lenses that flatten the cornea while they sleep. The lenses essentially mold the cornea so that when a patient wakes up and removes them, they see perfectly all day long.
Imagine no glasses, no daytime contact lenses, and no surgery....just great vision all day long. Believe it or not, with an exciting new therapy called Corneal Reshaping (CR), you can have just that. The principles behind CR are very similar to those used in Lasik... the big difference being no need for surgery. In both cases, the goal is to flatten the eye's cornea (the cornea is the clear tissue comprising the front surface of the eye). In Lasik this is achieved by cutting a flap in the cornea, peeling the flap back, and then removing tissue under the flap. The flap is then laid back down and the patient waits to heal. In CR, patients simply wear contact lenses that flatten the cornea while they sleep. The lenses essentially mold the cornea so that when a patient wakes up and removes them, they see perfectly all day long.
CR is extremely safe and entirely reversible. And it offers several advantages over conventional contacts: no end of day dryness no lenses to fall out when swimming and perfect vision at night while wearing the lenses (no more fumbling around for your glasses so you can read the alarm clock!). Another added benefit occurs in children. Recent research has demonstrated that CR may significantly slow down the progression of nearsightedness (myopia) in children.
Ask Dr. Ward if you are a candidate...he'll be happy to discuss this exciting new option with you.
Computer Vision Syndrome
According to the American Optometric Association, 175 million people use a computer every day. And we can expect that number to increase every year as more and more jobs will require the use of computers. While computers enable us to be more efficient and productive, this can come at a price. Researchers have recently identified a condition called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Typical symptoms include: eyestrain, headaches, slow focusing, tired eyes, neck and shoulder pain, and blurred vision at distance. CVS occurs because the human visual system is not designed for long hours of computer viewing. In addition, the letters on a computer screen are harder to focus than printed text as they are composed of pixels - tiny dots of light with blurry borders. Hence, eyes have to work extra hard to clear words and images on a computer screen.
According to the American Optometric Association, 175 million people use a computer every day. And we can expect that number to increase every year as more and more jobs will require the use of computers. While computers enable us to be more efficient and productive, this can come at a price. Researchers have recently identified a condition called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Typical symptoms include: eyestrain, headaches, slow focusing, tired eyes, neck and shoulder pain, and blurred vision at distance. CVS occurs because the human visual system is not designed for long hours of computer viewing. In addition, the letters on a computer screen are harder to focus than printed text as they are composed of pixels - tiny dots of light with blurry borders. Hence, eyes have to work extra hard to clear words and images on a computer screen.
To better identify patients susceptible to CVS, we use the PRIO Computer Vision Tester. This instrument allows the doctor of optometry to precisely determine if a patient would benefit from a computer spectacle prescription. When prescribed, computer glasses allow your eyes to relax and be more comfortable at the computer. Research has also shown that employees who use computer glasses make fewer mistakes!
With computer glasses, the ideal power for computer work is placed directly in front of the pupil, allowing patients to look straight-on at the monitor (as opposed to conventional progressive addition lenses where it is necessary to tilt the head back to find the optimal power for the computer monitor). Patients frequently comment the elimination of this head tilt eliminates their neck and shoulder pain.
So if you work more than two hours a day on a computer, make sure you ask Dr. Ward about this exciting new spectacle option.
Z- Wave Bifocal Contact Lenses
After the age of forty, everyone loses their ability to focus well at near, a condition commonly known as presbyopia. And while there are many options available for contact lens wearers once this happens, only one solution works well....Z-Wave Bifocal Contact Lenses. Z-Wave Bifocal Contact lenses are custom designed from a patient's "corneal fingerprint". In the fitting of such lenses, a special video camera (topographer) is used, in conjunction with sophisticated software to digitally map a patient's cornea. The data generated from this process is then used to create a contact lens that mirrors the actual shape of the eye. The result is an incredibly stable lens, essential for a successful bifocal fit. Patients experience simultaneous distance and near vision without reading glasses, often achieving 20/20 vision at both distance and near!
After the age of forty, everyone loses their ability to focus well at near, a condition commonly known as presbyopia. And while there are many options available for contact lens wearers once this happens, only one solution works well....Z-Wave Bifocal Contact Lenses. Z-Wave Bifocal Contact lenses are custom designed from a patient's "corneal fingerprint". In the fitting of such lenses, a special video camera (topographer) is used, in conjunction with sophisticated software to digitally map a patient's cornea. The data generated from this process is then used to create a contact lens that mirrors the actual shape of the eye. The result is an incredibly stable lens, essential for a successful bifocal fit. Patients experience simultaneous distance and near vision without reading glasses, often achieving 20/20 vision at both distance and near!
Ask Dr. Ward if you're a candidate, you'll return to glasses-free living again!
