If standard contact lenses aren’t providing the comfort or clarity you need, custom soft lenses may offer an improved fit tailored to your eyes through precise corneal mapping. Custom soft lenses can be beneficial for various vision needs, including some cases of high myopia, cosmetic concerns, myopia management, or pediatric aphakia. However, for conditions like keratoconus or severe astigmatism, rigid gas permeable (RGP) or scleral lenses are often the preferred choice to achieve optimal vision and comfort.

What Are Custom Soft Contact Lenses?

Custom soft contact lenses are specially designed contacts made just for your eyes. Unlike standard, “off-the-shelf” lenses, which come in a limited range of sizes and prescriptions, custom lenses are created to fit the unique shape, size, and vision needs of each individual.

Benefits of Custom Soft Contact Lenses

Despite their enhanced comfort and ability to manage moderate corneal issues, custom soft lenses drape over the eye’s surface and may not fully neutralize the visual distortion from severe corneal irregularities. For these individuals, custom rigid lenses, such as scleral lenses, offer a superior advantage by vaulting entirely over the cornea to create a perfectly smooth optical surface and a therapeutic reservoir of tears.

Corrects Complex Prescriptions

Precisely corrects high levels of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.

Expands Options Beyond Standard Lenses

Provides solutions for patients whose refractive needs, such as high myopic astigmatism, fall outside the limited parameters of mass-produced lenses.

Fits Challenging Eye Anatomy

Custom-made for anatomical variations like very large (megalocornea) or small (microcornea) eyes, as well as scleral irregularities such as pterygia.

Manages Irregular & Post-Surgical Corneas

Effectively fits eyes with mild to moderate ectasia and utilizes specialized reverse-geometry designs for corneas altered by surgeries like LASIK, RK, or PKP.

Enhances Comfort and Ocular Health

Achieves a precise fit that ensures proper movement and tear exchange, reducing dry eye sensation and avoiding physiological complications associated with ill-fitting lenses.

Allows for Advanced Optical Customization

The optical zone can be tailored for complex needs like presbyopia, and can even be offset to align with the patient’s unique visual axis for superior performance.

Masks Corneal Irregularities for Sharper Vision

Can be manufactured with increased thickness to create a smooth optical surface over an irregular cornea, improving visual stability and sharpness.

Better Multifocal Vision

The optical zone can be tailored for more precise options for correcting presbyopia, customized to the patient’s unique visual axis for superior performance.

Therapeutic & Cosmetic Uses

Can be tinted to manage light sensitivity or cosmetically cover an eye injury.

Prevent Eye Disease

Custom soft contacts for myopia management slow down the progression of nearsightedness in kids, dramatically reducing the risk of eye disease later in life.

At Insight Vision Center Optometry, we are the top-rated contact lens practice in Orange County, offering custom soft contact lenses to help patients enjoy clear, comfortable vision. Our world-class eye doctors, with advanced fellowship training in contact lenses, utilize cutting-edge technology to ensure that even patients who have been told in the past that contacts aren’t possible can achieve optimal vision.

Custom Soft Contact Lenses We Offer

Custom Soft Contact Lenses for High-Power Prescriptions
Custom Soft Contact Lenses for Keratoconus
- Specialized Options for Keratoconus
- Proven Benefits of Custom Soft Lenses for Keratoconus
Pediatric Custom Soft Contact Lenses
- Small Diameter Lenses for Children
- High-Power Pediatric Lenses
Tinted and Prosthetic Custom Soft Contact Lenses
Pinhole Custom Soft Contact Lenses
Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses for Myopia Control

Why Choose Insight Vision Center Optometry for Custom Soft Contact Lenses?

At Insight Vision Center Optometry, your care is in the hands of eye doctors who are respected worldwide for their leadership in contact lens design and complex vision solutions.

Dr. Nathan Schramm, OD, FSLS, FBCLA, is known internationally for his contributions to irregular cornea management and custom contact lens design. He has co-founded the International Congress of Scleral Contacts, led major clinical trials, and holds fellowships with both the Scleral Lens Education Society and the British Contact Lens Association. Dr. Schramm has been recognized with prestigious awards for his research, leadership, and patient care. His expertise covers everything from the most advanced scleral and wavefront-guided lens technologies to hands-on teaching and mentoring eye care professionals worldwide.

Dr. Thanh Mai, OD, FSLS, brings years of experience and a unique, patient-focused approach to every lens fitting. As a past President of the Orange County Optometric Society and Vice President of Clinical Innovation at Treehouse Eyes, Dr. Mai is a leader in myopia management and complex corneal care. He has published in top peer-reviewed journals, earned numerous scholarships, and is known for making the lens fitting process understandable and comfortable for every patient, including children and those with unique needs.

Custom Soft Contact Lenses for High-Power Prescriptions

Many people with strong nearsightedness, farsightedness, or severe astigmatism have been told that contact lenses are not an option for them. At our Insight Vision Center, we specialize in providing truly custom soft lens solutions that prove otherwise. By partnering with leading labs like SpecialEyes, we can design lenses that accommodate an exceptionally wide range of refractive errors, with sphere powers up to +/- 25.00 D and astigmatism correction up to –8.00 D. This allows us to successfully fit patients who have struggled to find freedom from glasses, providing a new level of visual possibility.

While custom soft lenses are a revolutionary option, we are committed to finding the best solution for your unique eyes. For certain prescriptions with very significant astigmatism, we may still recommend rigid gas permeable (RGP) or scleral lenses to achieve the absolute sharpest vision and optimal eye health.

Why our SpecialEyes lenses stand out

Extreme power range

Sphere: ± 25.00 D
Cylinder: up to –8.00 D (astigmatism > –3.00 D easily managed)

Tailored designs

Sphere, toric, and multifocal toric optics built around each patient’s exact corneal shape, pupil size, and visual axis.

Achieving Precision, Comfort, and Uncompromised Vision

Our custom lenses are designed from the ground up based on your eye’s specific anatomy, including corneal curvature (Ks) and diameter (HVID). We utilize advanced materials like Hioxifilcon, offering different water content options to maximize performance and address issues like lens-related dryness. This ensures a lens that is not only optically precise but also exceptionally comfortable for all-day wear.

These tailor-made lenses can dramatically reduce the distortion and “fishbowl effect” common with strong spectacle prescriptions and provide a much wider field of view. For our patients with presbyopia (the need for reading glasses), we can even incorporate innovative multifocal optics with OptiSync® Technology, which aligns the optics with your natural line of sight. While the fitting process involves precise measurements and may require a trial lens to perfect the design, we are supported by a Guaranteed Fit Policy to ensure the final result is life-changing, allowing you to enjoy clear, comfortable vision without compromise.

Custom Soft Contact Lenses for Keratoconus:
KeraSoft Thin

For years, people with early keratoconus could not wear soft lenses, now they do with KeraSoft IC (by Bausch + Lomb), custom soft lenses are engineered specifically for the keratoconic eye. They utilize advanced design features like variable thickness and precise stabilization zones to create a stable fit over the irregular corneal surface. While they conform to the general shape of the cornea rather than completely vaulting over it like a scleral lens, they significantly improve vision and comfort for many patients with mild keratoconus.

What Makes KeraSoft Thin Different?

It’s Ultra-Thin and Flexible
Compared to older designs, KeraSoft® Thin is significantly thinner. This increases flexibility, comfort, and the flow of oxygen to the cornea, which is vital for keeping your eyes healthy, a particularly important feature for those who have had corneal cross-linking or graft surgery.
It’s 100% Soft Material
Unlike hybrid lenses that have a hard, rigid center with a soft “skirt,” KeraSoft® Thin is made entirely from a soft, advanced silicone hydrogel material.

Who is an Ideal Candidate for Custom Soft Contact Lenses for Keratoconus?

Keratoconus Severity The most suitable candidates typically have mild to moderate keratoconus. These lenses fill an important role for eyes with distortion that is too significant for standard soft lenses but may not yet require the more complex fitting process of a rigid lens.

Previous Treatment Challenges Ideal candidates are often those who:

Achieve decent vision with eyeglasses but have not been successful with properly prescribed rigid lenses, including scleral designs.

Are unable to tolerate the sensation of corneal rigid gas permeable (GP) lenses, even with a proper fit.

Find rigid lenses difficult to handle or uncomfortable to wear.

Experience limited daily wear time, discomfort, or significant glare with their traditional contact lenses.

Specific Clinical Indications

Corneal Conditions Custom soft lenses are designed to work well for patients with a variety of corneal shapes, including those with:

High regular or irregular astigmatism
Asymmetric keratoconus (where the cone is off-center)
Corneas that have undergone previous surgical procedures

Comfort and Lifestyle Factors These lenses are particularly beneficial for patients who:

Prioritize comfort over achieving the absolute sharpest level of vision.
Are new to contact lenses and find the idea of rigid lenses intimidating.
Need an easier handling and care routine compared to specialty rigid lenses.
Prefer lenses that do not require a long initial adaptation period.

Why Custom Soft Lenses May Not Be the Best Choice For Everyone

It’s important for candidates to have realistic expectations. Custom soft lenses may not provide the same pin-sharp visual clarity as rigid gas permeable or scleral lenses. Success often depends on a patient’s willingness to accept a potential trade-off: slightly reduced sharpness in exchange for a significant improvement in comfort, handling, and overall wearability.

Custom soft contact lenses are generally not recommended for patients with:

Advanced or severe keratoconus where corneal distortion is extreme.

Occupations or hobbies where achieving the absolute maximum visual acuity is critical.

A history of successful, comfortable wear with properly fitted rigid gas permeable or scleral lenses.

The Importance of Seeing an Eye Doctor that is focused on Keratoconus and advanced contact lenses

The decision to try custom soft lenses should always be made in consultation with an eye doctor that has extensive experience with fitting contact lenses for keratoconus. Our eye doctors are leaders in the field of contact lenses, with advanced fellowship training that enables them to help each patient find the best contact lens for their eyes.

Small-Diameter Contact Lenses for Kids

Why Size Matters

Children’s eyes are smaller than adults’, so standard 14 mm lenses can feel bulky and move around. Custom pediatric lenses, usually 13–13.6 mm, match a child’s corneal size and eyelid opening, making them far more comfortable from the very first blink.

Key Benefits

Better comfort: Snug fit means less lens awareness and fewer “blink-out” moments.

Easier handling: Smaller lenses are simpler for little fingers (and worried parents) to insert and remove.

Clear, steady vision: Proper centration keeps sight crisp all day, supporting learning, sports, and play.

Who Can Wear Them?

Ideal for children who:

Have small corneas or tight lids that reject regular lenses.

Struggle with glasses but need strong or custom prescriptions.

Are starting contact lenses for myopia control or other specialty needs.

Are very active or play sports.

Have high prescriptions.

Have medical conditions, eye issues after certain eye surgeries, or if they were born without a normal lens in the eye.

Infants, toddlers, and younger children.

Can Young Children Wear Contact Lenses Safely?

Studies show that young children can absolutely wear contact lenses, and for children with myopia, the earlier they start with myopia control, the better. But often parents are concerned about safety, while each child is unique, in six randomized trials with 581 children, there were no serious eye infections reported during a combined total of 816 patient years of wear.

Tinted and Prosthetic Custom Soft Contact Lenses

Cosmetic and Custom-Tinted Lenses for a Confident Look

Whether you have mismatched eye color from birth (heterochromia), have experienced a change in one eye’s appearance due to injury, or simply wish to enhance your natural eye color, cosmetic contact lenses can be a transformative solution. We offer two distinct types of cosmetic lenses to meet your specific needs.

Cosmetic Enhancement Tints

For those looking to subtly or dramatically boost their eye color, we offer a range of Cosmetic Enhancement Tints. Please note that for patients who wear modern Silicone Hydrogel lenses, enhancement tints are currently available in the Aqua color only.

Available Colors

Choose from beautiful shades including Royal Blue, Aqua, and Evergreen. (Many patients are happy to learn these are similar to the popular, discontinued colors from CibaSoft and Acuvue.)

Customizable Intensity

You can control the vibrancy of the tint with four available levels:

Visi-Tint (5%): An almost unnoticeable hint of color.
Subtle (7-8%): A delicate enhancement.
Standard (10-12%): A clear, noticeable change.
Dramatic (15-20%): A vivid and striking look.

Who Needs a Prosthetic or Custom-Tinted Lens?

You might be a candidate if you have:

IndividuFunctional Needsals with Corneal Irregularities

Many eye conditions cause severe glare and light sensitivity (photophobia). A prosthetic lens with a custom, smaller pupil can act like sunglasses for your eye, dramatically reducing discomfort. This is essential for conditions like aniridia (missing iris), iris coloboma, albinism, or a fixed, dilated pupil after trauma. These lenses can also be made to block vision completely, which can eliminate intractable double vision (diplopia).

Cosmetic Needs

If an eye has been disfigured by a scar, a white corneal opacity (leukoma), or has an irregular iris, a prosthetic lens can mask the disfigurement. By matching the appearance of your healthy eye, it can restore confidence and help you feel more comfortable in social settings.

Tinted Lenses for Color Vision Deficiency

Some people with color blindness, usually red-green color deficiency, can benefit from special tinted contact lenses. These lenses are typically worn in one eye and use a subtle tint to help you tell certain colors apart more easily, such as on traffic lights, wiring, or charts. While these lenses don’t “fix” color blindness, many people find daily life and certain work tasks easier with them. Our eye doctors will talk you through the options, check your color vision, and make sure the tint works for your needs before you try them out.

Prosthetic Lenses for Scarred or Unusual Eyes

Prosthetic contact lenses are a highly specialized solution for eyes that have been disfigured by injury, disease, or congenital conditions. These lenses serve a dual purpose: they can dramatically improve the cosmetic appearance of the eye while also fulfilling critical functional needs. For patients with corneal scars, opacities, or iris irregularities, a prosthetic lens with dense, life-like pigments can mask the disfigurement and restore a natural appearance, matching the patient’s healthy eye. Functionally, these lenses can be designed with an artificial pupil to control the amount of light entering the eye, significantly reducing debilitating glare and photophobia.

Who Can Benefit?

Corneal scars or white opacities (leukoma)
Absence of the iris (aniridia) or an incomplete iris (iris coloboma)
A fixed, dilated pupil from trauma or disease
Ocular albinism
Unmanageable double vision (diplopia) that can be solved by occluding one eye

Key Functional Goals

Cosmetic Masking: To conceal a disfigurement and create a symmetrical, natural appearance between both eyes.
Light & Glare Control: Lenses can be made with a black, opaque backing and a clear, custom-sized artificial pupil. This design, called an “iris occlusion” lens, blocks stray light and reduces symptoms of photophobia.
Vision Occlusion: For patients with intractable double vision or to hide a white pupil (leukocoria), a lens can be designed with a black, opaque pupil to completely block vision in that eye.

Custom Tints for Sports and Performance

Beyond correcting vision, custom-tinted contact lenses can provide a significant competitive advantage for athletes. Similar to how high-end sports sunglasses use specific colors to enhance performance, these specialized soft lenses act as a built-in filter to optimize your vision for your specific sport. By managing difficult lighting conditions and reducing visual distractions, performance tints allow you to focus on the game with superior comfort and clarity. These lenses are not just for cosmetic effect; they are a functional tool designed to manage glare, heighten contrast, and provide a stable, unobstructed field of view that glasses or standard contacts cannot match.

The key to performance-tinted lenses is customization. When you visit our Costa Mesa contact lens center, our eye doctors will determine the ideal tint color and density to give you a visual edge in your specific environment. A custom lens can be designed to make a golf ball pop against the green, a tennis ball stand out against the court, or reduce harsh glare reflecting off the water or pavement.

Glare Reduction

A precisely controlled tint can significantly reduce sun glare and light sensitivity (photophobia), minimizing squinting and eye fatigue during long hours of outdoor play.

Enhanced Contrast

Specific tints can be used to filter distracting light waves, making certain colors appear more vivid. This helps improve reaction time by making it easier to track balls, targets, or other players against their background.

Stable, Unobstructed Vision

Unlike sunglasses that can slip, fog up, or create blind spots, tinted contacts move with your eye, offering a seamless and complete field of view that is essential for high-speed sports.

Environment-Specific Tints

We can tailor the lens color to your primary playing conditions. Amber and brown tints are excellent for bright, sunny days on the field, while lighter tints can improve contrast on overcast days or in shaded areas.

Pinhole Custom Soft Contact Lenses

If you’ve experienced trauma or surgery that left you with an irregular pupil, glare and double vision can be frustrating. Pinhole custom lenses simulate an artificial iris by producing a smaller central aperture that improves depth of focus, but the opening may not remain perfectly round or centered with every blink. This improves sharpness, reduces glare, and restores a more normal appearance. Each lens is custom-made and adjusted for your individual needs, offering a non-invasive solution to complex iris problems.

Clinical Benefits of Pinhole Soft Contact Lenses

In a study of 29 people with presbyopia, pinhole soft lenses improved near vision from 0.34 to 0.15 on the logMAR scale, which means better reading vision. Another study found significant improvements in near and intermediate vision after two weeks of pinhole lens wear, though some decrease in contrast sensitivity was noted.

The Highest Rated Eye Care Center In Orange County

What Our Patients are Saying

“Insight vision has great customer service staff n the best optometrist Ive ever seen
Dr Nathan Schramm spends as much time as needed n has the highest advanced technology. I highly recommend this practice for anyone with any vision problem.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nancy B.

“Best optometrist I have ever visited. They are experts with my eye condition (keratoconus) all staff super friendly. And dr Schramm is very professional and passionate to get you the best vision possible. I absolutely recommend insight vision center optometry.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Emmanuel B.

Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses for Myopia Control

Myopia, or nearsightedness, progresses during childhood. Slowing that progression is critical, as we now know that the higher it progresses the higher the risk of vision threatening eye disease later in life. Myopia management or control is not about correcting vision alone, but about preventing permanent vision loss.

MiSight 1 Day

MiSight 1 Day represents a breakthrough in pediatric myopia management as the first and only FDA-approved soft contact lens specifically designed to slow myopia progression in children aged 8-12 at the initiation of treatment. Utilizing innovative ActivControl Technology with a dual focus design, these daily disposable lenses feature alternating treatment and correction zones that provide +2D of defocus to create peripheral myopic blur. Clinical studies demonstrate that MiSight 1 Day lenses slow myopia progression by an impressive 59% on average over a 6-year period, with children achieving better than 20/20 vision across all visits. While technically not a traditional multifocal lens, MiSight’s unique dual focus optical design effectively addresses the peripheral hyperopic defocus that contributes to myopia progression, making it an ideal first-line treatment for young myopes who can confidently handle daily disposable lenses.

NaturalVue Multifocal 1 Day

NaturalVue Multifocal 1 Day contact lenses feature patented Neurofocus Optics Technology with an extended depth of focus (EDOF) center distance design that provides exceptional myopia control results. These innovative lenses incorporate up to 20 diopters of relative peripheral plus power at their edges, building in 5-micron steps from the center to create significant peripheral myopic defocus that reduces the signal for axial elongation. Clinical studies have shown remarkable effectiveness, with 98.4% of children demonstrating reduced myopia progression and 91% showing a decrease of 70% or greater, while more than 80% experienced complete halting of myopic progression. Available in powers ranging from +4.00D to -12.25D with a 14.5mm diameter and 8.3mm base curve, NaturalVue lenses allow wearers to perform 92% of daily activities without reading glasses while providing the peripheral optical signals necessary for effective myopia control.

SpecialEyes Custom Multifocal

SpecialEyes custom multifocal contact lenses offer a personalized solution for myopia control in children with challenging prescriptions or irregular corneal shapes that cannot be adequately addressed with standard lens designs. These custom-manufactured lenses are available in both toric and spherical designs with add powers up to +4.00 diopters, allowing for precise customization to each child’s unique ocular characteristics. SpecialEyes lenses are particularly valuable for hard-to-fit eyes and cases involving irregular corneas, providing myopia control benefits through their distance-center multifocal design that creates peripheral myopic defocus. While used off-label for myopia management, clinical case studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in slowing myopia progression, especially in complex cases where standard multifocal options may not provide adequate fit or comfort. The custom nature of these lenses ensures optimal centration and vision quality while delivering the peripheral optical signals necessary for effective myopia control.

Book Your Contact Lens Exam At Orange County’s Top Rated Contact Lens Center

As Orange County’s leading referral center for advanced contact lens care, we bring extensive experience to every custom lens fitting. Our eye doctors are nationally recognized leaders with prestigious fellowships and decades of success helping patients with custom contact lenses for complex vision needs. Our state of the art contact lens center boasts the very latest in diagnostic and fitting technologies, and an incredibly large offering of specialty lenses. With over 650 patient reviews on Google and Yelp and a 4.9 star average rating, you can rest assured that your vision and comfort are in the right hands.

Ready to see clearly and comfortably?
Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive contact lens evaluation. We’re committed to helping you and your family achieve healthy, comfortable vision with the option that suits you best.

Insight Vision Center Optometry is a proud member of Vision Source, the premier network of private practice optometrists.

Our Testimonials

Real experiences from clients who’ve seen our expertise—discover what our patients have to say.

Dr. Chen and the staff are very friendly and professional and can provide patients with sincere service and advice.

Elise Fu

Insight Vision Center Optometry has truly transformed my eyecare experience over the past year. Under the expert care of Dr. Chen, Dr. Schramm, Dr. Lam, and Dr. Mai, I've received unparalleled attention and personalized service. Their commitment to excellence extends beyond the doctors to the outstanding admin and tech team who ensure a seamless and efficient visit every time.

The level of expertise, professionalism, and genuine care exhibited by the entire staff sets Insight Vision Center Optometry apart. From thorough examinations to comprehensive explanations of my eye health, they have created an atmosphere of trust and confidence. It's not just about eye care; it's about an extraordinary commitment to the well-being of their patients.

I wholeheartedly recommend Insight Vision Center Optometry to everyone seeking top-notch optometric services. It's more than an eye clinic; it's a place where your vision is valued, and your experience is exceptional. This team has undoubtedly set the standard for excellence in eyecare.

Nathaniel Choi

Dr. Mai and the entire personnel are amazing! Extremely polite, kind and professional. In addition, I can now see 20/20!!! Thank you, thank you all

Franchezka 777

Dr. Schramm is stellar. He really cares about his patients. Great staff. Scleral lenses are life changing.

Kevin W

My first eye exam in fifteen years. I am so thankful that I found Insight Vision Center. Dr. Lam and staff made me feel like a welcome guest. My eye exam revealed very minor blurriness and Dr. Lam did not pressure me into purchasing eyewear for a condition not necessitating glasses… yet. Maybe next year? I am getting older. They took my VSP insurance. Yay!

Scott H.

Dr. Lam and staff are amazing. Every phone call or interaction is friendly. You can feel the smiles and joy over whatever mode of communication you are interacting with them. Dr. Lam is very knowledgeable and helps you to better understand everything that is going on with your eyes. She made me aware of potential problems I may have with my eyes and walked me through every step of the process. She helped me understand the various factors that could be causing my vision to be a little impaired and followed up with me as I had to see an ophthalmologist. Great team, great office.

Virgilio S.