Have you had an eye surgery like RK, been diagnosed with a corneal disorder or had an injury that prevents you from seeing clearly through glasses or contacts? If so, Twenty Twenty Eyecare can help you achieve the stable, clear vision you’ve been missing. Dr. Morgans and Dr. Bigheart specialize in the treatment of reduced vision due to abnormal, irregular corneas or large amounts of astigmatism. The cornea is the front surface of the eye that can become distorted due to certain surgeries, eye injury, or eye diseases like keratoconus.
The doctors at Twenty Twenty Eyecare use a Corneal Vaulting Device (CVD) which compensates for the abnormal, distorted cornea and improves visual acuity. It is made of plastic that is clear and rigid, yet the material allows the cornea to breathe and remain healthy. A Corneal Vaulting Device is slightly larger than most soft contact lenses and is designed to rest on the white (less sensitive) part of the eye. This unique design makes the lens very comfortable.
The vision provided with a CVD is unparalleled because the CVD creates a smoother, more regular ocular surface. For your visual system to properly process images, the eye requires a smooth surface. The smoother the surface, the clearer your vision. Additionally, a scleral lens is designed to hold a reservoir of fluid against the eye. This provides constant moisture to the ocular surface, making the lens very comfortable to wear.
Moisture! A CVD holds fluid against the eye acting as a clear “liquid bandage.” This helps to keep the eye moist and can help to relieve extremely dry eyes. It is almost like applying an artificial tear or lubricating drop into the eye every minute of every day.
Comfort! Traditional gas permeable contact lenses are much smaller than a CVD. They sit directly on the highly sensitive cornea of the eye and interact with the eyelids during a blink. This can create a sensation when traditional contact lenses are worn, and it can take weeks to months to grow accustomed to these lenses. A CVD rests on the less sensitive sclera (white part) of the eye and vaults over the entire corneal surface. It is
held in place by the eyelids. This creates a more comfortable wearing experience and allows most people to adapt to them quickly. Because of their size, a CVD is more stable on the eye than traditional gas permeable contact lenses. Therefore, they are less likely to accidentally dislodge from the eye.
Vision! Because the CVD plastic is stiff, it provides a smooth, clear refracting surface for the eye. This can lead to a vision that is much improved, better than eyeglasses and traditional contact lenses.
CVDs will mask irregularities on the surface of the eye and may give you better vision than other forms of correction. However, it’s possible that you will still need to wear glasses over the lenses to see clearly at all distances, especially if you’re over the age of 40 and are now using reading glasses for near tasks.
In general, the doctors at Twenty Twenty Eyecare recommend that you remove your CVD before sleeping. Stagnation of the tear layer behind the lens could lead to a higher risk of eye infection.
CVDs are a useful addition to your current therapy but are not likely to completely replace other things that you’re doing to manage your condition. If you are using any medications prescribed to manage corneal inflammation, you should continue to do so when wearing a CVD. Furthermore, you should plan to remove a CVD before using prescription eye drops, and reapply the devices after instilling the drops.
Many patients who wear a CVD are able to wear their CVD for the entire day. Some patients may need to remove the lenses, clean them, and reapply them with fresh saline periodically throughout the course of the day in order to maintain the best possible vision and comfort.
Depending upon your tear film’s tendency to coat the lens and your care habits, a CVD should last approximately 2 years. However, some corneas can change shape in less time and require a new device in less than 2 years.