Specialty Contact Lenses

Lenses for eyes that need more.

Scleral lenses for keratoconus and irregular corneas. Custom-fit lenses for post-surgical eyes. Specialty fittings for patients whose vision can’t be corrected with off-the-shelf lenses — coordinated with our UVG cornea and dry eye specialists.

Book a Specialty Fitting

licensed
optometrists

Ontario
clinics

Free

OHIP-covered
annual exam to age 19

20+

years
UO clinical experience

Scleral Lenses

Vision when the cornea won’t cooperate.

Scleral contact lenses sit on the white of the eye (the sclera) instead of the cornea, vaulting over irregular surfaces and creating a smooth optical zone for clear vision. They restore vision in eyes that can’t be corrected with regular contacts or glasses.

Keratoconus

Progressive corneal thinning that distorts vision; scleral lenses provide stable, comfortable correction even as the cornea changes shape.

Post-Surgical Irregular Cornea

Patients who developed irregular vision after LASIK, RK, or corneal transplants can achieve clear vision again with a custom scleral lens designed for their unique corneal topology.

Severe Dry Eye

The fluid reservoir behind a scleral lens bathes the cornea, providing all-day relief — coordinated with our U Dry Eye Institute team for root-cause diagnosis and treatment.

Custom-Fit Lenses

Built for your eye, specifically.

Some prescriptions and corneal shapes require lenses designed precisely for one set of eyes. Our optometrists work with specialty laboratories to design lenses based on detailed corneal imaging, your refraction, and how you actually use your vision day to day.

Hybrid Lenses

Rigid centre + soft skirt; combines the optical clarity of rigid gas-permeable with the initial comfort of soft lenses.

Multifocal Specialty

Premium progressive contact lenses for patients with significant astigmatism or post-cataract irregular vision who can’t wear standard multifocals.

Prosthetic Lenses

Cosmetic correction for patients with eye trauma, asymmetry, or light sensitivity — combining vision improvement with cosmetic rehabilitation.

What to Expect

A fitting is a multi-visit relationship.

Specialty contact lens fittings aren’t a one-and-done appointment. We invest the time to map your corneal shape, design lenses that match your unique eye, and refine the fit through follow-up visits — because the difference between a comfortable, life-changing lens and one that doesn’t quite work is in the details.

Initial Consultation

Comprehensive eye exam, corneal topography mapping, dry eye assessment, and discussion of your vision goals and lifestyle needs.

Lens Design

Collaboration with specialty laboratory; trial lenses ordered to your exact specifications based on topography and refraction data.

Trial + Fine-Tuning

One to two follow-up visits to assess fit on your eye, dial in the prescription, and ensure comfort throughout your day.

Ongoing Care

Annual reviews, lens replacement cycles, and troubleshooting — we’re invested in your comfort and success long term.

UVG Network Care

Specialty fittings work better when the whole team is on board.

Many of our specialty contact lens patients have underlying conditions that need coordinated specialist care. We work directly with our UVG cornea ophthalmologists and dry eye specialists so your fitting plan accounts for what’s happening medically — not just what’s happening optically.

Cornea Specialists at Uptown Eye

When keratoconus is progressing, post-surgical complications need investigation, or corneal transplant care needs coordination, our UES cornea team (fellowship-trained) provides medical and surgical management. Learn more about cornea care →

Dry Eye Specialists at U Dry Eye Institute

When severe ocular surface disease makes contact lens wear difficult, UDEI’s specialist diagnosis and treatment (UltraView DEL™, LipiFlow, BlephEx, meibomian gland procedures) restores the surface so lenses can do their job. Explore dry eye care →

Your fitting is our priority. Let’s get it right.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

They’re different, not harder. Sclerals are larger and feel different on insertion, but most patients adapt within 1–2 weeks and report comfort that exceeds smaller rigid lenses. The fitting process is more involved (multiple visits to refine the fit), but daily wear is straightforward once the lens is dialed in.

Plan for 2–4 visits across 4–8 weeks. Initial assessment plus corneal mapping (60–90 minutes), trial lens delivery and first wear (about 45 minutes), one or two follow-ups to fine-tune fit and prescription (30 minutes each). The investment pays off in lenses that actually work for eyes that wouldn’t accept anything else.

Most private vision plans cover specialty contact lens fittings and the lenses themselves, often at a higher allowance than standard lenses (recognising the clinical complexity). OHIP doesn’t cover specialty fittings for adults 20–64 except in specific medical contexts. We verify coverage before any work begins.

No — scleral lenses are designed for daily wear only. Remove them before sleep, clean, store in fresh saline, and reinsert in the morning. Some patients ask about extended-wear specialty lenses; those exist but carry meaningfully higher infection risk and aren’t appropriate for most patients.

Yes. Keratoconus is one of the primary indications for scleral and specialty lens fitting. Our optometrists work with specialty laboratories and coordinate with our cornea ophthalmology partners at Uptown Eye Specialists when surgical intervention or cross-linking is also being considered.

Specialty fittings include detailed corneal topography, multiple trial lenses ordered to your specific corneal shape, deeper assessment of tear film and ocular surface health, and 2–4 follow-up visits to fine-tune. Standard fittings typically involve one trial pair and one quick follow-up.

Book a Specialty Fitting

Ready when you are.

Book a specialty fitting online or call (416) 292-0336. Your vision matters — let’s find the lenses that work for your unique eyes.

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