Speciality lenses are designed for people who have eye conditions or vision needs that cannot be corrected well with glasses or standard contact lenses. Our optometrists are experts in fitting speciality contact lenses. They can assess and provide advanced fitting services for patients with a wide range of needs.
We help patients with:
Irregular or damaged corneas
Severe dry eye or surface eye disease
Very high prescriptions
Cosmetic or medical eye concerns
Improving comfort and quality of vision where standard glasses or contact lenses have not worked
Speciality contact lenses can improve vision, comfort and eye health. In many cases, they also protect the front of the eye and help it heal.
Our optometrists work closely with Moorfields consultants and medical teams, so your care is joined up and carefully managed.
Some eye conditions change the shape or surface of the clear front layer of the eye, known as the cornea. This can make vision blurry or distorted, even when wearing glasses or soft contact lenses.
Speciality contact lenses may help if you have conditions such as:
Keratoconus
A corneal graft
Corneal scarring after infection or injury
Eye problems after laser or other eye surgery
Thinning of the cornea, in conditions such as pellucid marginal degeneration
These lenses create a smooth surface over the eye, which helps light focus properly. This can reduce problems like glare, halos around lights, and double or “ghost” images.
Speciality lenses can be used to protect the eye and reduce pain. They can keep the eye moist, ease irritation, and support healing.
One example of this is the use of scleral lenses. Scleral lenses sit over the eye and hold a layer of fluid against the surface. For many patients, these lenses can greatly improve comfort and vision when other treatments have not worked.
They may help people with:
Severe dry eye or dry eye disease
Sjögren’s syndrome
Stevens Johnson syndrome
Ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid
Limbal stem cell deficiency
Graft versus host disease
Exposure corneal disease: eyes that do not blink or close fully
People with very strong short sightedness (myopia) or long sightedness (hyperopia), or high astigmatism, may be able to see more clearly with speciality contact lenses rather than with glasses.
These lenses can give:
Clearer vision
A wider field of view
Less distortion around the edges
We fit lenses for all prescription levels, including very high prescriptions where standard lenses are not suitable or where laser surgery is not an option.
Custom made cosmetic lenses can improve how an eye looks after injury, illness, or if someone was born with an eye difference.
They can help with:
Corneal scarring
Pupil abnormalities
Missing or damaged iris (the coloured part of the eye)
These lenses can also reduce glare and light sensitivity. Each lens is individually designed to suit the person wearing it
We offer a range of custom lenses, chosen to match your eyes and your condition.
Scleral lenses are large, rigid lenses that rest on the white part of the eye. They do not touch the cornea. Instead, they sit over it and hold a cushion of fluid underneath.
They can:
Improve vision in irregular corneas
Protect the surface of the eye
Reduce pain and dryness
Help the cornea heal
At Moorfields Private, we offer advanced scleral lens fitting, including:
Scan based lenses, using detailed eye scans to create a very precise fit
Impression based lenses (e.g. EyePrintPro) where a mould of your eye is taken to make a lens that matches the contours of your eye exactly. This is used for very complex cases.
We offer a range of bespoke lens options depending on the condition being treated and the anatomy of the eye.
Smaller rigid lenses may still be the best option for some people, particularly patients with irregular corneas and a complex prescription. We offer modern custom made RGP lenses and scan based designs. This allows very precise and personalised fitting to give clear and stable vision.
Some patients benefit from special soft lenses, hybrid lenses (soft on the outside, rigid in the centre), or combined lens systems. These are used when comfort, eye shape, or vision needs make standard lenses unsuitable.
At your first appointment, we will:
Test your vision
Examine the surface and shape of your eyes
Carry out detailed scans or measurements if needed
This helps us decide which lens type is best for you.
Speciality lenses are custom made for each person, so they are not given on the same day. Once your lenses are ready, you will return for a fitting appointment. At this second appointment, we will check:
How the lenses fit
How well you can see
How comfortable they feel
We will also teach you how to put the lenses in, take them out, and look after them safely.
Regular follow up appointments are important to make sure the lenses continue to work well and your eyes stay healthy.
Moorfields Private is part of one of the world’s leading eye hospitals. This means you have access to expert contact lens care alongside specialist eye doctors and surgeons.
This is especially important for people with long term or complex eye conditions, who may need ongoing care or surgery in the future.
We offer some of the most advanced speciality contact lens technology available, fitted by highly experienced optometrists, for both straightforward and very complex cases.
This includes the full eye test with the optometrist.
If you need an further diagnostic tests, these would be charged at an additional rate. The most commonly requested is an OCT scan: this is charged at £273.
Any onward referral or treatment would incur an additional cost.
if applicable, this will be provided after the eye test, based on your personalised treatment plan.
Please contact one of our optometrists directly to book an appointment. Their contact details can be found in our consultant directory.