Custom lenses for eyes told regular contacts won't work.
Keratoconus, irregular corneas, severe dry eye, and hard-to-fit prescriptions call for lenses built around your eye, not pulled from a box.
- Physician-led care
- No upselling, ever
- Insurance checked in advance
- Second opinions welcome
The short answer
Specialty contact lenses, including scleral lenses, are custom-designed medical devices for eyes that ordinary contacts cannot fit or comfortably correct. At Riverdell Vision, Dr. Mina Han fits scleral and other specialty lenses for keratoconus, irregular or post-surgical corneas, severe dry eye, high prescriptions, and long-standing contact lens discomfort. Scleral lenses vault over the cornea and rest on the white of the eye, creating a smooth optical surface and a cushion of fluid that can dramatically improve both vision and comfort.
Reviewed by Dr. Mina Han, OD · Updated June 2026
Why this matters
Some eyes simply do not fit the standard lens catalog. A cornea shaped by keratoconus or refractive surgery, a very high or astigmatic prescription, or a severely dry ocular surface can make off-the-shelf contacts blurry, unstable, or painful. Patients are often told that contacts are not an option, when in reality they need a different kind of lens and a clinician who fits them.
Who this is for
- People diagnosed with keratoconus or an irregular cornea
- Patients after corneal surgery, transplant, or refractive surgery
- Anyone with severe dry eye who cannot tolerate normal contacts
- High or highly astigmatic prescriptions that never felt sharp
Is this you?
Check what sounds familiar.
A quick self-check, not a diagnosis. Tap the ones that apply to you or your child. Nothing you select is stored.
Select any that apply and we will suggest a sensible next step.
A careful, measured process.
No guesswork and no rushing. Here is how an evaluation actually goes.
- 01
Corneal mapping
We measure the precise shape of your eye so the lens is designed to your anatomy rather than approximated.
- 02
Diagnostic fitting
You try trial lenses in the office so we can assess fit, comfort, and vision before your custom lenses are ordered.
- 03
Teaching and follow-up
We make sure you can confidently handle the lenses and we adjust the design over follow-up visits until it is right.
Options matched to you, not a default.
Every plan is personalized. These are the approaches we most often use, with no exaggerated promises about outcomes.
- 01
Scleral lenses
Larger lenses that vault the cornea and hold a reservoir of fluid, ideal for irregular corneas and severe dryness where comfort and stable vision matter most.
- 02
Custom soft and rigid designs
For high prescriptions and astigmatism, made-to-order soft or rigid gas-permeable lenses that standard fits cannot match.
- 03
Keratoconus-specific fitting
Lens designs developed for the cone-shaped cornea of keratoconus to restore sharpness that glasses cannot provide.
The options at a glance
Lens type
Best for
How it helps
- Scleral lenses
- Best for:Keratoconus, irregular corneas, severe dry eye
- How it helps:Vault the cornea with a fluid cushion for comfort and sharp vision
- Custom soft lenses
- Best for:High or astigmatic prescriptions
- How it helps:Made to order beyond standard catalog parameters
- Rigid gas-permeable
- Best for:Irregular corneas needing sharp optics
- How it helps:Firm, breathable lenses that mask surface irregularity
Cost & insurance
What will this cost, and is it covered?
Some medically necessary specialty lenses, such as those for keratoconus, may have partial insurance coverage; many custom lenses are out-of-pocket. Benefits vary widely, so we verify your plan and provide clear pricing before ordering anything custom to your eyes.
- Insurance verified in advance
- Clear pricing before you commit
- No upselling, ever
Your doctor
Dr. Mina Han, OD
Dr. Han leads Riverdell Vision's medical eye-care and myopia-management programs, known by patients for thorough exams, updated technology, and a calm, unhurried chair-side manner.
What patients say about Specialty Lenses
I have an unusual and complicated vision situation caused by a retinal detachment and subsequent surgical repair. Dr Bruce Meyer was very knowledgeable, patient, caring and compassionate about finding a optical solution for me. After visiting several doctors, I feel the closest to a solution with his help.
Amazing doctors. Very thorough. I was on a contact prescription most of my life not knowing there was an alternative. She recommended another brand that was not only more comfortable, but also was most cost effective.
Great experience with Dr. Han and I am excited that we have a plan (and back-up) while trying a new lenses.
Dr. Han is really a pleasure to work with. She is very friendly, explains everything and answers questions thoroughly. Her staff is also great. The gentleman that helped me decide between new glasses or just getting new lenses put into my existing frames seems genuinely passionate about helping you find the right fit. Overall another great experience.
Excellent eyecare! Dr. Mina Han is amazing and was attentive to all the details during my eye checkup. She made sure my contact lens fit perfectly and that I got the right pair of glasses.
Dr Han is very attentive and caring. She is happy to work with you to find the perfect contact lens prescription, which in my case, takes a lot of tweaking. It's always a very pleasant experience.
In plain English
Specialty Lenses, in plain English
- Scleral lens
- A large rigid lens that vaults over the cornea and rests on the white of the eye, holding a cushion of fluid for comfort and crisp vision.
- Keratoconus
- A condition where the cornea thins and bulges into a cone shape, distorting vision in a way glasses often cannot fully correct.
- Cornea
- The clear front window of the eye that does most of its focusing.
- Rigid gas-permeable (RGP)
- A firm, breathable contact lens used for irregular corneas and high prescriptions.
Good questions, answered plainly.
Considering Specialty Lenses?
Request a consult and we will help you understand your options, with clear guidance and no pressure.