Vision Therapy in Providence

Keratoconus and Contact Lenses: Finding the Perfect Fit

(401) 331-2020

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.

Patient Reviews
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- Sep. 12, 2025
A remarkable place with a 5 star customer service and patients care, an outsatnding service!!
- Sep. 07, 2025
Dr. Wann is caring, friendly and explains everything in terms you can understand. He takes you step ... by step through his exam. The techs are all friendly, and knowledgeable and take you step by step. the office administrative staff , are likewise friendly , knowledgeable and work hard to help you. I had problems with my medical insurance.... they jumped on my problem fast and resolved it (even though, the fault lie with my insurance.) Advanced Eye Care Associates is the best. go there with confidence of a great eye health experience ! I've been going for 13 years.
- Sep. 02, 2025
Such a fantastic office! The staff and doctors are so nice, you can really tell they enjoy working w... ith each other. It was a great visit and I highly recommend this office.
- Aug. 30, 2025
Staff was explainative polite and helpful i was recommended for there and it was worth it Thanks e... veryone
- Aug. 30, 2025
Dr. Wan is young, intelligent, and professional. He is knowledgeable and makes you feel at ease. I�... �ve asked him questions and feel comfortable doing so.
- Aug. 07, 2025
My youngest son needed glasses and he was unsure about them until he met the girls at my local Advan... ce Eye Care and they made us both feel very comfortable and welcomed.
- Jul. 21, 2025
At Advanced Eye Care Associates, she was incredibly professional and polite. Her charisma and warm d... emeanor truly enhanced my experience, making me feel genuinely valued as a customer. I deeply appreciated her outstanding service.
- Jul. 17, 2025
I would like to state that I have a great experience at this place, like always. The technician AMBE... R is the best, polite, knowledgeable, patient and answer all my questions, I hope I have her again next time. Also Dr. Cox is the best eye dr I ever had. I’m very happy with the service, I highly recommend it.
- Jul. 13, 2025
I was very happy with the prompt, courteous care I received from walking in door thru the end of my ... appointment.
- Jul. 10, 2025
Everyone is friendly and knowledgeable. They were happy to answer my questions. The exam was thoro... ugh. The wait time before the appointment was minimal.
- Jun. 27, 2025
Professional, friendly, charming, timely and welcoming
- Jun. 07, 2025
They were amazing. Loved the Drs who helped me get my new glasses and also answered my questions abo... ut contacts. Look forward to keeping them for all my future eye appointments.
- May. 29, 2025
Everyone here is so nice. Amber and Dr. Wann are thorough and great!
- May. 13, 2025
Took my sister to drop off paperwork to get certified for ride program. We didn't know she'd need an... exam. Staff worked her in but we had to wait 2 hours. In the meantime .... we were dealing with other family issues. Tanya stepped up, offering part of her own lunch to my sister in a gesture that eased part of a difficult day. She was kind without being intrusive and showed gentle compassion. Stellar customer service from Tanya. Thank you.
- May. 06, 2025
Dr. Wann is wonderful! The team is courteous, professional, knowledgeable, and friendly.
- May. 01, 2025
I would like to call out and state that I have had great experiences with Advanced Eye Care and part... icularly with an expert employee named Dex. She walked me through my purchases twice and when I needed service she went above and beyond and solved an issue in under 12 hours. She is skilled and a valuable employee. I'd recommend this business because of the overall experience, but particularly because of the exceptional service.
- Apr. 30, 2025
(Translated by Google) Very good service, the place is very nice, very attentive (Original) Muy bue... na atención el lugar es muy agradable muy atentos
- Apr. 28, 2025
The best eye care around
- Apr. 10, 2025
I've gone here for the last several years. It's always a good experience. I saw Dr. Chad this time a... nd he was great!
- Apr. 01, 2025
I was very impressed everyone at advanced eye care. I had a thorough examination even before the d... octor came in. Dr. Cox answered all my questions and I was able to order my glasses right there. Highly recommend.

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Scleral Lenses in Providence

Our optometry practice in Providence

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Experience Clarity with Scleral Lenses from Advanced Eye Care 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 Advanced Eye Care Associates today. Your journey to clear vision begins here.[b]

(401) 331-2020