Is There Hope For Severe Dry Eye Patients?

For patients living with severe dry eye, finding relief can feel like an uphill battle. When standard treatments such as prescription eye drops, gels, and anti-inflammatory medications are not enough, advanced specialty contact lenses may offer a solution. At Insight Vision Optometry, Las Vegas, our specialty contact lens team has helped patients with complex and severe dry eye regain both comfort and functional vision.

What Happens When Standard Dry Eye Treatments Are Not Enough?

Severe dry eye can result from a variety of causes, including autoimmune conditions, chronic inflammation, prior eye surgeries, and ocular surface disease. In mild to moderate cases, treatments such as artificial tears, prescription drops like Restasis or Xiidra, warm compresses, and in-office procedures may provide adequate relief.

However, some patients continue to experience debilitating symptoms despite trying multiple treatments. Constant eye pain, extreme light sensitivity, and poor vision can make everyday activities feel impossible. For these patients, the underlying problem is often that the exposed eye surface is simply not being protected and hydrated adequately by the tear film alone.

How Do Specialty Contact Lenses Help Severe Dry Eye?

Scleral lenses are large-diameter gas permeable contact lenses that vault over the entire cornea and rest on the white part of the eye, called the sclera. Unlike standard contact lenses, scleral lenses create a fluid-filled reservoir between the lens and the cornea. This reservoir continuously bathes the eye surface in moisture throughout the day, providing relief from dryness, pain, and light sensitivity.

For many severe dry eye patients, scleral lenses provide the first meaningful relief they have experienced after years of trying other treatments. In addition to comfort, these lenses often improve vision significantly because they create a smooth, stable optical surface over an irregular or damaged cornea.

What Is the EyePrintPro Custom Lens?

In cases where the eye surface is highly irregular due to surgery, scarring, or disease, standard scleral lenses may not achieve an ideal fit. The EyePrintPro is a custom prosthetic scleral device designed from a precise impression of the individual eye. This ensures the lens matches the exact contours of the eye surface, providing optimal comfort, protection, and visual correction even in the most complex cases.

Dr. Stephanie Woo, OD, FAAO, FSLS, is the only practitioner in Nevada certified to fit the EyePrintPro device. The fitting process involves taking a detailed impression of the eye in the office, from which a completely custom lens is fabricated. The result is a device tailored specifically to the patient, which is especially important for eyes with unique shapes due to prior surgeries, implants, or advanced disease.

What Results Can Patients Expect?

Patients fitted with EyePrintPro lenses and advanced scleral lenses at our practice have experienced dramatic improvements in both comfort and vision. In many cases, patients who could barely see or who were in constant pain have achieved functional vision and significant relief from their first day wearing the lens.

Because these lenses are custom-designed, the fitting process may involve multiple visits to fine-tune the lens for the best possible outcome. Our specialty contact lens team, including Dr. Woo and Dr. Nathan Schramm, OD, FSLS, FBCLA, works closely with each patient throughout the process to ensure the final lens provides lasting comfort and the clearest possible vision.

Who Is a Candidate for Specialty Dry Eye Lenses?

You may be a candidate for scleral lenses or the EyePrintPro if you experience:

• Severe dry eye that has not responded to drops, gels, or other standard treatments
• Chronic eye pain or light sensitivity related to ocular surface disease
• Poor vision due to corneal scarring, irregularity, or surface damage
• Dry eye related to autoimmune conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome or graft-versus-host disease
• Complications from prior eye surgery, including glaucoma surgery or corneal transplant

Schedule a Specialty Lens Consultation in Las Vegas

If you or someone you know is struggling with severe dry eye and has not found relief with standard treatments, a specialty contact lens evaluation may be the next step. Insight Vision Optometry draws patients from across the country for complex cases like these. Call 702-747-4070 or visit www.insightvisionlv.com to schedule a consultation.