Contact Lenses

Contact Lens Expertise

At the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute, we are dedicated to providing advanced contact lens solutions tailored to your specific vision and ocular health needs. Each lens is prescribed based on a thorough evaluation with extensive progress follow ups and design revisions to ensure optimal outcomes. Our areas of expertise include:

Vision Correction

  • Replacement for Glasses: Contact lenses prescribed as an alternative to glasses, offering clear and comfortable vision.
  • Reading Glasses Replacement: Multifocal contact lenses provide a convenient solution for those requiring reading glasses, ensuring clear vision at all distances.

Therapeutic Contact Lenses

  • Dry Eye Treatment: Specialized lenses designed to alleviate symptoms of dry eye by providing continuous hydration and protection.
  • Keratoconus and Irregular Cornea: Custom lenses improve vision and comfort for patients with keratoconus or irregular corneal shapes.
  • PROSE Treatment: Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem (PROSE) devices restore vision and comfort for patients with severe ocular surface diseases.

Myopia Management

  • Myopia Control: Contact lenses developed to slow the progression of myopia in children and adolescents, reducing future eye health risks.

Non-Surgical Vision Correction

  • Orthokeratology: Lenses that reshape the cornea overnight, providing clear vision during the day without the need for contact lenses or glasses.

Specific Visual Issues

  • Prism Contact Lenses: Lenses with prisms to correct visual alignment issues, reducing or eliminating double vision.
  • Halo and Glare Reduction: Lenses designed to minimize halo and glare effects, improving night vision and overall clarity.
  • Overlapped Vision Correction: Lenses tailored to address overlapped vision, providing a clearer and more distinct visual experience.

Cosmetic Enhancements

  • Cosmetic Lenses: Lenses that enhance the aesthetic appearance of your eyes.
  • Eye Color-Changing Lenses: Contact lenses that alter the natural color of your eyes for a different look.
  • Tinted Lenses: Lenses with tints to enhance visual contrast, especially helpful in sports and activities requiring sharp visual acuity.

Types of Contact Lenses Utilized

  • Scleral Lenses: Large-diameter lenses that vault over the cornea, ideal for irregular corneas and dry eye conditions.
  • Hybrid Lenses: Lenses combining a gas permeable center with a soft lens skirt for improved comfort and clarity.
  • Corneal Gas Permeable Lenses: Durable lenses offering crisp vision for various conditions, including astigmatism and presbyopia.
  • Piggyback Lenses: A combination of a soft lens beneath a gas permeable lens for enhanced comfort and vision.
  • Prosthetic Lenses: Custom lenses for patients with eye injuries or congenital abnormalities, improving both vision and appearance. These lenses can mask damaged or disfigured eyes, providing a natural look.
  • Standard Soft Lenses: Comfortable lenses suitable for everyday wear, available in daily, bi-weekly, and monthly disposables.
  • Custom Soft Lenses: Lenses tailored to fit unique eye shapes for optimal comfort and vision.
  • Multifocal Contact Lenses: Lenses providing clear vision at all distances, reducing the need for reading glasses.
  • Theatrical Contact Lenses: Special lenses for costumes and performances, allowing for dramatic changes in eye appearance.
  • PROSE Devices: Custom-designed devices to restore vision and comfort for patients with severe ocular surface diseases. 

Contact Lens and Device Design and Fitting Process

At the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute, patients undergo an advanced comprehensive ocular examination using sophisticated technologies to optimize results. Using this evaluation, your individual needs can be matched to the proper specialty contact lens to achieve the best outcome. This advanced ocular examination will typically take a few hours to complete. Once this baseline information is gathered, the lens design and fitting process can begin.

During your initial evaluation, the lens design process will begin. Just like a fingerprint, each eye has its own unique contour. There is even a significant difference in the shape when comparing the 2 eyes of the same individual. Specialty contact lenses are tailored to your individual eyes’ anatomy, physiology,  and visual needs. From the lens materials, physical lens parameters, and optics, the process aims to determine and create lenses to achieve these three goals; improved vision, ample comfort, and optimum health. There are several techniques used in the process of designing your lenses.

Diagnostic Set Design

The classic way to fit and design specialty contact lenses is by using a diagnostic contact lens set. A series of lenses with varying curvatures are placed on the eye. The lens’s alignment is evaluated, and during the design process, modifications to the lenses are made based on the observations and eye performance. At the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute, our doctors have over 100 different diagnostic contact lens sets at their disposal. In contrast, the average practitioner may have 1 or 2 diagnostic sets.

Scan-Based Design

An additional approach is scan-based specialty contact lens design. Using highly specialized devices to scan the ocular shape, this data is used to create a digital model of the eye. Our doctors have access to all the devices capable of capturing this data, while the average 

practitioner will not have access to these devices. Once this model is created, we will use specialized computer-aided design software to create a lens unique to your eye’s contour.

Corneal cross-sections from a tomographer, used to create a 3d model to build a custom scleral lens, ortho-k lens, or other specialty contact lens. 

Impression-Based Design

An impression of the cornea and ocular surface. This ocular impression will be 3D scanned and used to create a model of the eye and then create a custom scleral lens, corneal gp lens or other specialty contact lens. 

Another approach is the technique of ocular impressions. Using a specialized gel, an impression of your eye is obtained. This impression is then 3D scanned, creating a digital model of the eye. Using this model and highly specialized computer-aided design programs, completely bespoke lenses can be created. Our center has been a pioneer in this technique. The first to perform it in the northeastern United States and is the only doctor trained to do so in New Jersey. Less than 0.1% of practitioners worldwide are trained in this technique.  

Once the initial visit is complete, your individualized specialty contact lenses will be fabricated. The lenses will typically take 2-3 weeks before they arrive in the office for the final verification process before being dispensed.

Derived Specialty Contact Lenses

Both are custom made scleral lenses derived from diagnostic fitting, scan based, or impression based data. Both lenses lead to a successful result. Though the examples above are of scleral lenses, these scan and impression data derived lenses can be applied to other lens types such as custom soft lenses, hybrid lenses, and corneal GP lenses.

Once the lens parameters have been verified, the lenses can be dispensed at the application and removal training session. At this visit, patients are trained on safe methods for contact lens handling, application and removal of the lenses, and cleaning the lenses. Additionally, your prescribed specialty contact lens cleaning solutions routine will be reviewed. It is important only to use the prescribed solutions that have been selected for you based on your physiology and lens material properties. Other solutions may damage your eyes or lenses. Our doctors may change these solutions at subsequent visits to optimize physiology, comfort, and lens performance. 

Once adequate technique and understanding of lens care have been demonstrated, you can take your new specialty contact lenses home. 

A follow-up visit will take place in approximately 1-2 weeks. These visits are aimed at evaluating the performance of the lenses. If the lens design needs to be modified, another set of lenses will be fabricated, verified, and dispensed. Generally, more complex cases require more lens revisions.

Toward the end of the lens follow-up evaluations, highly customized optics may be utilized to improve your vision further. These optics may include blended optics to increase near reading capability or optics to correct for astigmatism to improve clarity. For those with irregular corneas or those with extraordinary vision requirements, the addition of wavefront guided higher order aberration correcting optics on scleral lenses can further improve your vision over traditional optics.

About Our Expert

Dr. John D. Gelles is the director of the specialty contact lens division at the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute, P.A. in Teaneck, NJ. He is globally recognized for his expertise in specialty contact lenses, attracting patients from around the world seeking the best in vision care. Dr. Gelles is dedicated to providing personalized treatment, using the latest advanced contact lens technologies to address a wide range of vision and ocular health issues, including keratoconus, corneal diseases, and severe dry eye. With his extensive experience and innovative approach, patients can trust that they are receiving the highest quality care. Dr. Gelles also holds academic positions and contributes to ongoing advancements in the field, ensuring his patients benefit from cutting-edge treatments. His compassionate, patient-centered care makes him a trusted provider for those with complex vision needs.

Specialty Contact Lenses for Keratoconus & Corneal Disease

Lead by Dr. John D. Gelles, the contact lens division of the CLEI Center for Keratoconus has unparalleled experience in specialty contact lens fitting for keratoconus and other corneal diseases. Specialty contact lenses are the mainstay of visual improvement for individuals suffering from vision loss associated with keratoconus and other irregular corneal conditions. Our center is exclusively devoted to addressing the needs of keratoconus patients.

Specialty contact lenses are only a part of the management for keratoconus and irregular corneal disease management. Keratoconus is progressive in nature and treatments such as corneal collagen crosslinking are vital to slowing progression. Additionally visual correction procedures for irregular corneas, such as topography guided PRK, may improve uncorrected vision and vision with glasses while improving the cornea symmetry. This shape improvement may make contact lenses simpler.

Find out more about Keratoconus Contact Lenses at The CLEI CENTER FOR KERATOCONUS

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

Lenses for Overnight Vision Improvement

woman sleeping in bed with white linens

For those seeking glasses and contact lens free vision, orthokeratology (ortho-k), also known as vision shaping treatment (VST) and corneal refractive therapy (CRT), offers an overnight treatment which allows for non-surgical, glasses and contact lens free, vision improvement.

As it is not a surgery it can be used on individuals of all ages. For young athletes, this can be an excellent option to eliminate the issues that come with wearing contact lenses or glasses during training and competition. For those with contact lens discomfort, this can eliminate the issues by eliminating day time contact lens wear.

Additionally, orthokeratology can be used until a patient is ready or of age to undergo a permanent vision correction procedure.  Orthokeratology utilizes a specialized contact lens, referred to as a ortho-k retainer, which gently reshapes the cornea. The retainer is applied prior to bedtime and worn overnight. In the morning the retainer is removed and vision is improved.

Visual Conditions Ortho-K can Correct:

Nearsightedness: Myopia with or without astigmatism  

Farsightedness: Hyperopia with or without astigmatism  

Presbyopia: Age-related farsightedness

Anisometropia: Disparity between eyes 

How Does Ortho-K work? Understanding Vision, The Cornea and Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Treatment

The eye is similar to a camera – a series of lenses (cornea and internal lens in the eye) are in place to help focus light on the film or camera sensor (retina in the eye). The cornea is analogous to the front lens on a camera. The curvature of the camera lens determines the focusing power, and similarly the curvature of the cornea determines it focusing ability.  Normal corneas have a smooth dome shape, just like a camera lens, and this allows light to focus to a single, sharp focal point.

In a perfect eye this focal point lands on the retina. When this focal point is in front or behind the retina, vision is blurred. Changes to the curvature of a cornea result in movement of the focal point position and when the focal  point is moved to the retina, vision is clear.

The cornea is the most important anatomic contributor to focusing light on the retina. It is made of multiple clear tissue layers to allow light to pass through it. The two main layers are a thin epithelium, which is a surface cell layer and a thicker layer called the stroma, which is made of a collagen matrix.

The curvature of the cornea is variable from person to person. This curvature is what determines the focusing ability of the eye.  When an individual is nearsighted (myopia or myopic) or farsighted (hyperopia or hyperopic), additional lenses, such a glasses or contact lenses, can be used to move the focal point of the eye to improve vision. Another way to move the focal point of the eye is to change the curvature of the cornea. The corneal curvature can be mapped with sophisticated devices called corneal topographers. Changes to this curvature is analogous to changing the power of a lens. This moves the focal point to the retina and improves vision. Corneal curvature change can be accomplished by corneal surgeries, such as LASIK, which alters the stromal layer to create the corneal curvature change. Corneal curvature change can also be created non-surgically with orthokeratology. This overnight treatment simply reshapes the epithelial layer.

Before Ortho-K Retainer Wear

Prior to treatment with ortho-k, a corneal topography map is made. Using these maps, lenses are custom-designed for optimal fit and vision correction. Patients will wear an ortho-k retainer overnight to reshape the corneal contour.

After Ortho-K Retainer Wear

In the morning, after removal of the ortho-k retainer, the corneal shape will have changed. This shape change alters the focusing power of the cornea, improving vision. This effect is temporary so the retainer will need to be worn nightly. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) gently and non-surgically reshapes the top layer most layer of the cornea.

Orthokeratology treatment gently changes the epithelial layer shape. After the retainer is removed the epithelium retains the altered shape. This layer thickness change is temporarily maintained, and this effect may last 1 to 3 days. If treatment is stopped, the cornea will return to is natural shape.

Myopia Management

Myopia management will keep the level of myopia at a much lower level. The benefit is vision correction procedures are easier to perform and have better outcomes when the level of myopia is low.

Individuals seeking glasses and contact lens free vision correction offered by orthokeratology should also consider vision correction procedures. Orthokeratology, though great at correcting vision, still requires daily maintenance as well as nightly application and removal.

Our philosophy, for those with normal corneas, is to provide glasses free vision correction for life. We offer every type of specialty contact lens and every vision correction procedure. Our doctors are among the nation’s foremost experts in vision correction procedures and were instrumental in the development of procedures such as LASIK. If you are interested in eliminating the use of glasses or contact lenses, please visit The Cornea and Laser Eye Institute for a consultation.

Contact Lenses

Routine Soft Contact Lenses

Most patients are familiar with standard soft lenses. These lenses are mass-manufactured in a process called cast molding. The lens materials and parameters are generally limited to fit the average shape, size, and refractive power needs of a normal eye.  Due to these limitations standard soft lenses must be carefully selected based on the curvature, size, and physiology the individual’s eye. Though these lenses are highly successful for most individuals with normal corneas, some patients will experience issues with inadequate vision or discomfort due to the limited parameters. This is where custom contact lens option become necessary.

Custom Soft Contact Lenses

Custom soft lenses can solve these issues. Unlike standard contact lenses which could be described as “one size fits most”, custom soft lenses are not limited to the typical parameter constraints of the average normal corneal population. Custom soft lenses are lathe-cut one at a time and can be produced in a nearly unlimited range of curvatures, diameters, materials, and virtually any refractive powers allowing for success where standard soft lenses are inadequate.

Custom Corneal Gas Permeable (GP) Lenses

Corneal GP lenses are the classic method of vision correction with a contact lens. These lenses are lathe-cut one at a time and can be produced in a nearly unlimited range of curvatures, diameters, materials, and virtually any refractive power for fit the individual. Additionally, because of the rigid material, these lenses allow for a higher quality of vision compared to soft lenses.  Additionally, specialized optics can be included to reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses.

Custom Hybrid Lenses

Hybrid lenses utilize a GP center with a soft lens skirt, so they have characteristics of both GP and soft lenses. Various hybrid lens designs exist, with multiple geometries to accommodate a variety of corneal shapes. The newest generation of hybrid lenses are entirely custom. They are lathe-cut one at a time and can be produced in a nearly unlimited range of curvatures and virtually any refractive powers allowing for success where soft lens vision is inadequate. Optically, these lenses offer GP lens levels of clarity and these lenses can offer specialized optics to reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses.

Custom Scleral Lenses

Scleral lenses are typically used for corneal irregularity and ocular surface disease but these lens can be used for those with normal corneas. These lenses are available with an abundance of unique modifications to accommodate the ocular shape. Scleral lenses are lathe-cut one at a time and can be produced in a nearly limitless range of curvatures, diameters, and materials. Scleral lens optics can incorporate any refractive power correction.

Cosmetic Contact Lenses

A significant number of contact lenses are worn for the purpose of changing eye color and appearance. These contact lenses are called colored contact lenses or cosmetic contact lenses. After manufacturing a traditional or custom soft contact lens, these lenses undergo as second step to tint, dye, print or hand paint the lens to create nearly any appearance from a natural eye color to imaginative eye colors.

Typical color and cosmetic contact lenses use color palettes made to mimic natural iris colors. There are 2 main color types; opaque colors for a dramatic color change effect or translucent colors for a subtle color enhancement.

Schedule a Custom Contact Lens appointment

Contact Lenses & Glasses Free Vision Correction

young woman inserting a contact lens

Individuals seeking glasses free vision correction should consider all of the following options: contact lenses, orthokeratology and vision correction procedures.

Over 96% of individuals with refractive errors choose to wear contact lenses for the purpose of glasses free vision improvement. Even with contact lens wear, many still wear glasses at home. Additionally, contact lenses, though great at correcting vision, still require daily maintenance as well as daily application and removal.

For those who are looking to eliminate the use of any vision correcting aids, such as glasses or contact lenses, they should consider a  vision correction procedure. Additionally if you have discontinued contact lens and returned to glasses you may still achieve successful glasses and contact lens free vision with a vision correction procedure.

At the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute, our philosophy, for those with normal corneas, is to provide glasses free vision correction for life. We offer every type of contact lens and every vision correction procedure. Our doctors are among the nation’s foremost experts in vision correction procedures and were instrumental in the development of procedures such as LASIK. Dr. John D. Gelles is renown for his expertise in contact lenses. Whichever glasses free correction you choose, you are working with an expert in the field.

Find out more about Vision Correction Procedures Including LASIK, PRK, EVO ICL and RLE

Understanding Vision and Refractive Errors

Blurry vision is the result of a misaligned focus of the eye, referred to as a refractive error. This can present as nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatism.  For those with normal eyes, this refractive error can be adequately corrected with spectacles, traditional soft contact lenses, specialty contact lenses, orthokeratology, or refractive surgery. For those who choose contact lens options, there are a variety of contact lenses to improve vision for the following refractive errors:

Nearsightedness: Myopia with or without astigmatism

Farsightedness: Hyperopia with or without astigmatism

Age-related farsightedness: Presbyopia (difficulty reading)

Disparity between eyes: Anisometropia

No intraocular lens: Aphakia

Contact Lenses and Reading Glasses

Everyone at some point in their life will require reading glasses. For those looking to reduce or even eliminate dependency of reading glasses there are a variety of contact lens options. These may be referred to as multifocal contact lenses, progressive contact lenses, monovision contact lenses, extended depth of focus contact lenses or bifocal contact lenses. Each technology has its place but the most important thing to know is there are contact lens options to reduce or even eliminate the need for reading glasses.

request a free consultation
request appointment
contact us