Contact Lens Service
Contact lenses are medical devices that are used to improve both vision and the health of the ocular surface. Thanks to advances in technology, almost everyone can wear contact lenses, regardless of the type or extent of their vision problems. At Illinois Eye at Millennium Park, we offer a comprehensive array of contact lenses to suit individual needs, including soft, rigid gas permeable, hybrid, scleral lenses, and EyePrintPRO™. The physicians at Millennium Park Eye Center are specially trained and have decades of experience managing difficult cases. Whether interested in contact lenses for cosmetic purposes or medical necessity, our providers use the most up-to-date technology and materials to meet your needs.
We fit soft and specialty contact lenses for refractive purposes, including myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. Bifocal lenses are also available for patients suffering from presbyopia, a natural change to the eyes that occurs around the age of 40 and affects near vision. These provide clear, customized vision at all distances without surgery, eliminating the need for glasses. The best lens choice can vary depending on the preference and specific needs of the patient. In addition to soft contact lenses, we offer the following lens options:
Gas Permeable Lenses
Rigid, gas-permeable contacts lenses offer some benefits over soft lenses, including:
• Correcting a wider range of vision problems, including a high degree of astigmatism
• Providing sharper vision
• Allowing more oxygen to pass through to the eye, reducing the risk of corneal irritation
• Gas permeable lenses allow the best visual optics for patients and can help improve vision in patients with corneal irregularities, such as high astigmatism, keratoconus, corneal scarring, or post-surgical corneas.
Hybrid Contact Lenses
Hybrid lenses are an alternative to rigid gas permeable lenses. The central portion of the lens is rigid, offering superior optics. A soft lens skirt surrounds the central rigid portion contributing to better comfort and lens stability. There are different designs to address a wide variety of patient needs.
Scleral Lenses
Scleral lenses are large gas permeable lenses. These lenses are made of the same material as the smaller gas permeable lens, providing superior optics; however, these lenses are made to sit entirely on the white of the eye, the sclera, and the lens edge sits under the eyelids, making them more comfortable to wear. The tear reservoir under the lens provides nutrients to the ocular surface, making them a preferred lens option for patients with ocular surface disease. All lenses are custom designed for the patient.
Scleral lens indications:
• Severe dry eye disease: ocular graft-versus-host-disease, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Stevens Johnson Syndrome, limbal stem cell deficiency, exposure keratopathy
• Persistent epithelial defects
• Neurotrophic keratitis
• Trauma (post-open globe repair, chemical burn)
• Neuropathic pain
• Corneal dystrophies
• Failed gas permeable or hybrid fit
--- Keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration
--- Corneal scarring
--- Post-surgical (post-LASIK ectasia, post-corneal transplant)
EyePrintPRO™
The EyePrintPRO™ is an impression based scleral device typically used in difficult to fit eyes where other lens options have failed. In addition to the above indications for scleral lens use, EyePrintPRO™ is indicated for pinguecuela, pterygium, scleral patch grafts, and post-glaucoma surgery.
Schedule a Consultation Today!
Drs. McMahon and Scanzera have extensive experience in the fitting of medically necessary contact lenses. If you're interested in learning more about contact lens services, please contact us for a consultation at 312-996-2020 or fill out our contact us form. We look forward to discussing your needs and will help to determine the lens option that is best for you.
Contact lens resources:
GP Contact Lenses
Scleral Lens Education Society
EyePrint Prosthetics