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General Eye Doctor or Contact Lens Specialist?—Specialty Contacts in San Leandro, Concord, and Castro City, California

In the realm of healthcare, there are many conditions that are treated by a specialist, rather than a general practitioner. Eye doctors are no exception. When it comes to certain ocular conditions and complications, the most effective care is delivered by a specialist. While a general practitioner will usually be familiar with the condition, it's still going to be the specialist who has much greater experience and focused training and can, therefore, provide treatments and solutions that stand at the cutting edge of medicine and technology.

Individuals, such as people with corneal irregularities or sensitivities, require a custom or specialty contact lens. These “hard-to-fit” contact lens patients, for instance, are not candidates for wearing standard contact lenses and struggle with standard prescription eyeglasses. Fitting these advanced contact lenses requires a contact lens specialist, with the latest corneal imaging and topographic technology At Scleral Contact Lens Center at Turner Eye Institute, our eye doctors are experts at fitting specialized and custom contact lenses in San Leandro.

General Eye Doctor or Contact Lens Specialist?—Specialty Contacts in San Leandro, Concord, and Castro City, California

"Hard-To-Fit" Contact Lenses

In the realm of healthcare, there are many conditions that are treated by a specialist, rather than a general practitioner. Eye doctors are no exception. When it comes to certain ocular conditions and complications, the most effective care is delivered by a specialist. While a general practitioner will usually be familiar with the condition, it's still going to be the specialist who has much greater experience and focused training and can, therefore, provide treatments and solutions that stand at the cutting edge of medicine and technology.

Individuals, such as people with corneal irregularities or sensitivities, require a custom or specialty contact lens. These “hard-to-fit” contact lens patients, for instance, are not candidates for wearing standard contact lenses and struggle with standard prescription eyeglasses. Fitting these advanced contact lenses requires a contact lens specialist, with the latest corneal imaging and topographic technology. At Scleral Contact Lens Center at Turner Eye Institute, our eye doctors are experts at fitting specialized and custom contact lenses in San Leandro.

Are Your Eyes Hard To Fit?

Are Your Eyes Hard-to-Fit with Contacts?

Do you find wearing contact lenses impossible, or been told that it's impossible? Are regular contacts painful or constantly uncomfortable? You aren't alone. There are many people who fall under that category of "hard-to-fit", whether due to corneal conditions, such as keratoconus, or other problems such as sensitivity or chronic dry eye. All too often, people in this category are incorrectly told that they can’t wear contact lenses. The truth is that most patients can be successfully fitted with specialized contact lenses, which deliver impressive visual clarity and unparalleled comfort.

    Conditions And Complications That Can Make Regular Contacts Unbearable
    • Astigmatism
    • Dry eyes
    • Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC)
    • Keratoconus
    • Post-refractive surgery like LASIK
    • Corneal irregularity or corneal dystrophy
    • Post-Corneal Transplant

    Any of these problems will typically require advanced eye care beyond the scope of general care optometry.

    Elderly Woman, Wearing Scleral Lenses

    What is a Contact Lens Specialist?

    What is a Contact Lens Specialist?

    A contact lens specialist is an eye doctor who has trained extensively in the techniques and technologies required to create and fit customized contact lenses. At , we provide hi-tech contact lens solutions to adults and children. Dr. Chirag R. Patel will assess your contact lens needs and recommend a contact lens solution that provides the comfort, stability, and clarity you need after a quick and comfortable fitting.

    When Should I See a Contact Lens Specialist?

    When Should I See a Contact Lens Specialist?

    If you have any corneal irregularity or visual disorder that prevents the use of regular contact lenses, or for effective non-surgical correction for myopia, schedule a consultation with Dr. Chirag R. Patel. The first step of any treatment is the assessment, which requires specialized diagnostic and digital imaging tools, including the ability to conduct corneal topography and to produce high-resolution corneal imagery. Getting a very detailed mapping of the contours of your eyes will allow us to create a custom-fit contact lens solution for you. The most common specialty contact lens used are Scleral lenses. Ortho-K lenses are typically worn by children for myopia control or adults who want a non-surgical alternative to LASIK.

    Scleral Lenses

    Scleral Lenses—sometimes referred to as ocular surface prostheses—are large-diameter gas-permeable contact lenses that rest on the sclera and create a tear-filled vault over the cornea. The lenses, therefore, sit over an irregular cornea and not on it. Sclerals provides a perfectly smooth optical surface to correct refractive errors with tremendous accuracy while retaining maximum comfort. Scleral lenses are also fixed in place to avoid discomfort and remain in place. These specialized Scleral Contact Lenses are often the ideal solution for patients suffering from:

    • keratoconus
    • chronic dry eyes
    • SjÖgren’s syndrome
    • sensitive eyes
    • corneal ectasia
    • Steven-Johnson syndrome
    • neurotrophic keratitis
    • aniridia
    • microphthalmia
    • higher aberration of the eye
    • pellucid degeneration
    • complications from eye surgery
    • sensitive eyes
    Ortho-K Lenses

    Your contact lens specialist may also recommend the use of Orthokeratology (Ortho-k) lenses for your vision. These are rigid gas permeable contact lenses that you wear overnight. They gently reshape the cornea so that you can enjoy corrected, accurate vision during the day.  Orthokeratology is a safe, effective, and non-surgical alternative to  LASIK or similar surgical procedures. The use of Ortho-k has also been demonstrated to effectively manage the progression of myopia in children.

    The corneal reshaping lenses quality of orthokeratology can be used to correct refractive problems such as near-sightedness, astigmatism, and hyperopia. In some cases, it can also be used to correct for presbyopia as well.

    Meet Our Contact Lens Specialist

    Meet Our Contact Lens Specialist
    christie GSP UID 94bc2205 971d 4968 a30c 78332c3a7b1f

    Christie Nguyen O. D.

    Dr. Nguyen received her Doctor of Optometry from University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry (UIWRSO). She received her Bachelor degree in Health Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is certified in the treatment and management of ocular disease and glaucoma. Dr. Nguyen completed her clinical...
    kathy GSP UID 94bc21a3 29c5 4094 82ab 87bed8a22d5b

    Kathy Alcid O. D.

    Dr. Alcid is an optometrist serving the Bay Area. She received her B.S. in Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles and earned her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of California, Berkeley. Additionally, Dr. Alcid completed a residency in low vision at the Center for the Partially Sighted, where...
    geoffrey GSP UID 94bc2112 63c9 4c7e b552 51520e8c4c9f

    Geoffrey Rodriguez M.D.

    Dr. Rodriguez is a fellowship-trained glaucoma and cataract surgeon. He specializes in the evaluation and management of glaucoma, including the latest medical, laser, and surgical therapies. He provides a full spectrum of cutting-edge Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgeries (MIGS) as well as traditional glaucoma surgeries. He also performs cataract and intraocular lens...
    chirag GSP UID 94bc208a 9a04 4348 bcf5 df7bbbf38bc1

    Chirag R. Patel M.D.

    Dr. Patel grew up in the Bay Area and received his undergraduate degree with High Honors from the University of California, Berkeley followed by a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of California, San Diego. He performed his residency in Ophthalmology at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee where...
    Serving Patients From

    San Leandro | Concord | Castro Valley | Alameda | and the state of California

    If You’re Looking For A Contact Lens Specialist Near San Leandro, Concord, and Castro City, California, Dr. Chirag R. Patel Of Scleral Contact Lens Center at Turner Eye Institute Is The Destination.

    Don’t let discomfort or a corneal condition prevent you from having clear, comfortable vision. Contact us to asses and fit you with the contact lens solution you need.