Vision Therapy in Maitland

Keratoconus and Contact Lenses: Finding the Perfect Fit

(407) 647-3937

Understanding Keratoconus: A Vision Disorder

Your cornea, the clear, round, front surface of your eye, is the first ocular tissue that light passes through on its way to the retina. Keratoconus causes the cornea to thin, steepen, and form an irregular cone-shape. This transformation causes light to focus on the retina incorrectly, which leads to distorted vision.

woman putting in contact


What Are the Symptoms of Keratoconus?

There are two primary ways keratoconus affects your vision, and it shows up as:

  • Irregular Astigmatism: The cornea, which typically has a smooth spherical shape, undergoes a transformation into a cone-like structure. This alteration results in a wavy and uneven corneal surface, known as irregular astigmatism.
  • Nearsightedness: As the front part of your eye expands, your vision becomes increasingly nearsighted. This means that you can only see objects clearly when they are up close (however in keratoconus, even objects at near may still appear distorted). Anything at a distance appears blurry.
  • Variable or quickly changing vision. The inability to achieve clear vision in glasses or soft contacts when it had been possible in the recent past.

Recognizing the signs of keratoconus is essential, as early detection can lead to more effective treatment. Keep an eye out for the following symptoms:

  • Double or triple vision when using just one eye
  • Blurriness of objects both near and far
  • Perception of bright lights with halos around them
  • Presence of light streaks
  • The presence of ghost images
  • Persistent blurry vision that affects your ability to drive safely

adding contact drops

Causes and Risk Factors: Can it Damage Your Vision?

The precise cause of keratoconus remains unknown. Researchers believe that some individuals may have a genetic predisposition to the condition.

However, several factors have been associated with the development of keratoconus:

Family History: If a family member has been diagnosed with keratoconus, there is an increased likelihood of inheriting the condition. If you have keratoconus, it is advisable to have your children's eyes examined for early signs, by the age of 10 at the latest. Early detection of keratoconus is crucial for successful management and prevention of severe disease.

Certain Medical Conditions: Research has indicated a correlation between keratoconus and systemic conditions such as Down syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, retinitis pigmentosa, sleep apnea, Lebers congenital amaurosis, Marfan’s, and other connective tissue disorders.Inflammation: Inflammatory conditions like allergies, asthma, or atopic eye disease have the potential to weaken the corneal tissue over time.

Eye Rubbing: Vigorous and persistent eye rubbing can lead to corneal damage. Excessive eye rubbing can accelerate its progression for individuals already diagnosed with keratoconus.


Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus: The Game-Changer

Keratoconus presents a unique challenge when it comes to vision correction. Traditional gas permeable? contact lenses often prove ineffective as they cannot conform to the irregular corneal shape. This is where scleral lenses step in as an innovative solution.

Here are four compelling reasons to consider scleral lenses for keratoconus:

  • Enhanced Comfort

    Scleral lenses are larger in diameter compared to traditional rigid gas permeable contact lenses, spreading their weight across a broader, less sensitive area, ensuring comfort during extended wear.

  • Improved Vision

    Unlike glasses, which often offer limited visual improvement for keratoconus patients, scleral lenses can significantly enhance vision clarity and stability.

  • Constant Moisture

    Scleral lenses provide a continuous reservoir of moisture between the lens and the eye's surface, ensuring a soothing and moisture-rich environment for the eyes.

  • No More Eye Rubbing

    The design of scleral lenses minimizes the need for eye rubbing by reducing inciting factors of ocular surface and lid inflammation due to allergy response, reducing the risk of further corneal damage and discomfort.


Meet our Scleral Lenses Specialist

Patient Reviews
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565 Reviews
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- Apr. 01, 2025
I Highly recommend Lake Howell Eye Associates. Always a pleasant experience when visiting for my app... ointments.
- Mar. 31, 2025
Staff is extremely patient, helpful, and accommodating!
- Mar. 25, 2025
Caring and compassionate staff who were able to help me with an emergency just before closing time. ... Other places were closed or would send you through a never ending voice prompt system, Lake Howell Eye Associates have an actual human to answer the phone and were able to see me right away which saved me from a night of agony or an expensive trip to the ER. THANK YOU!!
- Mar. 19, 2025
Amazing. Dr. Charnell is incredible. He takes his time and explains everything in detail. Our famil... y have been going to him for 10 years now and at Lake Howell Eye associates they treats us like family. Highly recommend.
- Mar. 16, 2025
I have already recommended them to several friends because of their friendliness, helpfulness, and s... election of glasses. I'm glad I switched!
- Mar. 15, 2025
Nice clean facility. Nice dr who took time with me to get my contact script right. Always been a cha... llenge for me. Nice selection of glasses and sunglasses.
- Mar. 10, 2025
I come all the way from North Carolina to see Dr Charnell . He has incredible skill.i am seeing almo... st 20/20 with kertaconus, something i never thought possible. No other Dr has been able to fit me so well in lenses.. Hettie at the front desk is the sweetest person. Very helpful, warm and friendly. won't go anywhere else!
- Feb. 06, 2025
Dr. Charnell is excellent. He's friendly, thorough, professional and always has a smile on his face.... Office wait is always less than 5 minutes if any. Staff is also very friendly and great
- Jan. 29, 2025
Totally friendly, ourteous, efficient. Explained every procedure. Made suggestions. Not pushy. W... ould recommend to everyone.
- Jan. 18, 2025
Great facility. Friendly and professional staff.
- Jan. 10, 2025
Staff were very professional, answered any question I had. Was in and out quickly
- Jan. 07, 2025
Great office and staff! ♥️
- Jan. 03, 2025
Great care! My new eye doctor and care team!
- Jan. 02, 2025
Cordial, professional and timely experience as always. Looking forward to getting my new glasses!
- Dec. 19, 2024
Highlyrecommend! The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, making me feel comfortable from th... e moment I walked in. The doctor was outstanding, demonstrating a deep knowledge of my concerns and taking the time to thoroughly explain each step of the process. I truly appreciated their attentiveness and the way they listened to my questions, ensuring I felt informed and cared for throughout my visit. Overall, it was a fantastic experience!
- Dec. 19, 2024
Caring, compassionate, thorough, and professional office and medical staff! Extremely pleased! Bl... ess you all!
- Dec. 16, 2024
In a world where personal touch and the concierge feel is becoming less and less common, it’s nice... to still find at LHEA. I highly recommend them to care deeply for your eyes! A+++
- Dec. 09, 2024
As always, a great experience. Everyone so efficient and friendly. Quality healthcare!
- Dec. 04, 2024
There is a reason for the trove of 5 Star Reviews! Stop looking this is the place!
- Nov. 26, 2024
Love ❤️ Lake Howell Eye Associates! I've been going here for what seems like 30 yrs, but really ... only 11 years! They are local, offer everything and are the BEST!

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Scleral Lenses in Maitland

Our optometry practice in Maitland

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Experience Clarity with Scleral Lenses from Lake Howell Eye Associates

Scleral lenses have the potential to provide life-changing improvement in vision clarity and comfort for those battling keratoconus.If you or a loved one has keratoconus and would like to explore the benefits of scleral lenses, schedule a consultation with Lake Howell Eye Associates today. Your journey to clear vision begins here.[b]

(407) 647-3937