Prosthetic Iris Colored Lenses
Colored lenses have an important role as prosthetics for diseased, disfigured, and traumatized eyes. Individuals can benefit from wearing colored contact lenses for a variety of medical and cosmetic reasons. The following will review a few of those reasons.
Achromatopsia and Albinism
Rod monochromacy or 
achromatopsia is an autosomal recessive congenital color defect. Those who have achromatopsia have abnormal or absent cone function that causes debilitating photophobia. Dark-tinted glasses can help with symptoms; however, spectacles may not always be cosmetically acceptable. A dark-tinted colored contact lens can reduce light exposure in a more cosmetically acceptable way.
Those who have albinism have a lack of ocular pigment and iris transillumination defects. Therefore, these patients are also very light sensitive. These children can benefit from heavily tinted or opaque-iris-ring contact lenses that help block light.
Above picture shows a patient who has light sensitivity from a transillumination iris defect from ocular albinism. This patient would benefit from a colored contact lens light sensitivity.
Colobomas
Iris colobomas can be corrected cosmetically using an iris-occluding prosthetic contact lens. Patients who have this condition are often photosensitive and can benefit from a black backing on the posterior surface of the lens to help block light. Those who have iris coloboma may also have lenticular and retinal involvement that will limit vision.
Above picture shows an iris coloboma (above). Patients with iris coloboma have light sensitivity and can be helped with a colored contact lens prosthetic (below).
Microcornea
Those who have unilateral microcornea have a pronounced difference in their visible iris diameters. This can be corrected cosmetically with a prosthetic contact lens that has a limbal ring to increase the appearance of the overall size of the cornea.
A Case for Fitting a Tinted Soft Contact Lens
A 12-year-old boy presented with complaints of severe migraines from bright outdoor lighting. Dark sunglasses helped relieve his symptoms; however, he wanted to be able to use his full peripheral vision while participating in sports and other extracurricular activities. A dark brown tinted soft contact lens completely resolved his symptoms.
A 12-year-old boy fitted into a brown tinted lens (right eye) to help with light sensitivity.
Summary
Colored lenses have both therapeutic and cosmetic applications for various eye conditions. Prosthetic contact lenses, in particular, can help with severe light sensitivity and cosmesis.
Doctor Frogozo and associates will help find the correct iris prosthetic contact lens for your needs. Doctor Frogozo and associates is accepting iris prosthetic patients in both her San Antonio and Austin Texas locations.
Prosthetic Iris Colored Lenses San Antonio
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