Hybrid Contact Lenses in Beverly Hills
Hybrid contact lenses combine two materials in one lens. The center is made of rigid gas permeable material for sharp vision, and the outer edge is a soft skirt for comfort. Hybrid lenses help patients who need the vision of a rigid lens but find rigid lenses uncomfortable. Visioncare Associates has been a specialty contact lens practice since 1964, and Dr. Shily fits hybrid lenses at the Beverly Hills office.
What Are Hybrid Contact Lenses?
The rigid center of a hybrid lens keeps its shape on the eye. The tear layer between the lens and the cornea fills in uneven areas, which gives clearer vision for patients with irregular corneas or astigmatism. The soft skirt rests on the eye like a soft lens. It helps keep the lens centered and makes it more comfortable to wear.
Who Hybrid Lenses Can Help
Hybrid lenses may help patients with:
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Keratoconus
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High or irregular astigmatism
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Irregular corneas after refractive surgery or a corneal transplant
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Presbyopia, with multifocal hybrid designs
Hybrid lenses can also help patients who:
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See well in gas permeable lenses but find them uncomfortable
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Have trouble with gas permeable lenses moving or falling out
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Do not get clear vision from soft toric lenses
Benefits of Hybrid Lenses
Clear Vision
The rigid center corrects astigmatism and irregular corneas in a way that soft lenses often cannot.
Comfort
The soft skirt helps the lens feel more like a soft contact lens, which helps many patients adjust.
Stable Fit
Hybrid lenses stay centered on the eye and are less likely to move or pop out than corneal gas permeable lenses.
Hybrid Lenses Compared With Other Specialty Lenses
Dr. Shily may recommend a hybrid lens, a gas permeable lens or a scleral lens depending on the shape of the cornea and the patient’s needs. Hybrid lenses are smaller than scleral lenses and rest on the cornea. Patients with very irregular corneas or severe dry eye may do better with scleral lenses.
The Hybrid Lens Fitting Process
1. Eye Exam and Measurements
Dr. Shily checks eye health and reviews the patient’s experience with past lenses.
2. Corneal Mapping
The office uses Zeiss Atlas corneal topography to map the shape of the cornea. These measurements guide the hybrid lens design.
3. Trial Lens Fitting
The patient wears a trial hybrid lens in the office. Dr. Shily checks the fit, centering and vision with a Haag-Streit biomicroscope.
4. Lens Care and Follow-Up
Patients learn how to insert, remove and clean hybrid lenses. Follow-up visits allow Dr. Shily to adjust the lens as needed.