“Hard-To-Fit” Contact Lenses


General Eye Doctor or Contact Lens Specialist?—Specialty Contacts in Tulsa, Oklahoma


“Hard-To-Fit” Contact Lenses

In the realm of healthcare, there are many conditions that are treated by a specialist, rather than a general practitioner. Eye doctors are no exception. When it comes to certain ocular conditions and complications, the most effective care is delivered by a specialist. While a general practitioner will usually be familiar with the condition, it’s still going to be the specialist who has much greater experience and focused training and can, therefore, provide treatments and solutions that stand at the cutting edge of medicine and technology.
Individuals, such as people with corneal irregularities or sensitivities, require a custom or specialty contact lens. These “hard-to-fit” contact lens patients, for instance, are not candidates for wearing standard contact lenses and struggle with standard prescription eyeglasses. Fitting these advanced contact lenses requires a contact lens specialist, with the latest corneal imaging and topographic technology. At , our eye doctors are experts at fitting specialized and custom contact lenses in Tulsa. 

Are Your Eyes Hard-to-Fit With Contacts?

Do you find wearing contact lenses impossible, or been told that it’s impossible? Are regular contacts painful or constantly uncomfortable? You aren’t alone. There are many people who fall under that category of “hard-to-fit”, whether due to corneal conditions, such as keratoconus, or other problems such as sensitivity or chronic dry eye. All too often, people in this category are incorrectly told that they can’t wear contact lenses. The truth is that most patients can be successfully fitted with specialized contact lenses, which deliver impressive visual clarity and unparalleled comfort.
Conditions And Complications That Can Make Regular Contacts Unbearable

  • Astigmatism
  • Dry eyes
  • Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC)
  • Keratoconus
  • Post-refractive surgery like LASIK
  • Corneal irregularity or corneal dystrophy
  • Post-Corneal Transplant

Any of these problems will typically require advanced eye care beyond the scope of general care optometry.

What is a Contact Lens Specialist?

A contact lens specialist is an eye doctor who has trained extensively in the techniques and technologies required to create and fit customized contact lenses. At , we provide hi-tech contact lens solutions to adults and children. will assess your contact lens needs and recommend a contact lens solution that provides the comfort, stability, and clarity you need after a quick and comfortable fitting.
Call Us in Midtown Tulsa 918-302-2880
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When Should I See A Contact Lens Specialist?

If you have any corneal irregularity or visual disorder that prevents the use of regular contact lenses, or for effective non-surgical correction for myopia, schedule a consultation with Dr. Monte Harrel. The first step of any treatment is the assessment, which requires specialized
diagnostic and digital imaging tools, including the ability to conduct corneal topography and to produce high-resolution corneal imagery. Getting a very detailed mapping of the contours of your eyes will allow us to create a custom-fit contact lens solution for you. The most common specialty contact lens used are Scleral lenses. Ortho-K lenses are typically worn by children for myopia control or adults who want a non-surgical alternative to LASIK.
Scleral Lenses
Scleral Lenses—sometimes referred to as ocular surface prostheses—are large-diameter gas-permeable contact lenses that rest on the sclera and create a tear-filled vault over the cornea. The lenses, therefore, sit over an irregular cornea and not on it. Sclerals provides a perfectly smooth optical surface to correct refractive errors with tremendous accuracy while retaining maximum comfort. Scleral lenses are also fixed in place to avoid discomfort and remain in place. These specialized Scleral Contact Lenses are often the ideal solution for patients suffering from:

  • keratoconus
  • chronic dry eyes
  • SjÖgren’s syndrome
  • sensitive eyes
  • corneal ectasia
  • Steven-Johnson syndrome
  • neurotrophic keratitis
  • aniridia
  • microphthalmia
  • higher aberration of the eye
  • pellucid degeneration
  • complications from eye surgery
  • sensitive eyes

Ortho-K Lenses
Your contact lens specialist may also recommend the use of Orthokeratology (Ortho-k) lenses for your vision. These are rigid gas permeable contact lenses that you wear overnight. They gently reshape the cornea so that you can enjoy corrected, accurate vision during the day.  Orthokeratology is a safe, effective, and non-surgical alternative to  LASIK or similar surgical procedures. The use of Ortho-k has also been demonstrated to effectively manage the progression of myopia in children.
The corneal reshaping lenses quality of orthokeratology can be used to correct refractive problems such as near-sightedness, astigmatism, and hyperopia. In some cases, it can also be used to correct for presbyopia as well.

Meet Our Contact Lens Specialist

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Dr. Kristin Vandervoort

Dr. Kristin Vandervoort is a Tulsa native. She received her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin and her Doctorate from Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry.   While in Optometry school, Dr. Vandervoort received many awards including the Excellence in Contact Lens award and the Clinical…

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Dr. Katherine Horn

Dr. Katherine Horn is from Muskogee, OK. She attended Oklahoma State University where she received her Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry and Zoology. Dr. Horn then moved to San Antonio, TX where she graduated cum laude from the University of the Incarnate Word…

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Dr. Mitch Anderson

Dr. Mitchell Anderson graduated from Broken Arrow High School in 1972 with his undergraduate and graduate education degrees coming to fruition at Tulsa Community College, Dallas Baptist University, University of Oklahoma, and Northeastern State University. He received his Bachelor of Science in Vision Sciences and attended Northeastern State University College…

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Dr. Glenn Baggs

Dr. Baggs joined Harrel Eyecare in 2019 after owning and operating a private practice in Muskogee, Oklahoma for 21 years. He sees patients at the Downtown and South Tulsa locations. He was a military kid and finally settled in Southeast Oklahoma when his father retired from the Air Force. Dr….

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Dr. Denise Burns

Dr. Denise Burns began working at HEC in 2005. Although she has spent time at all 4 locations, she sees patients mainly at 45th and Harvard. Previous experience includes clinics in Bartlesville, OK, Temple, TX, and Fort Hood Military Base in Killeen, Texas. Dr. Burns is from Ada, Oklahoma and…

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Dr. David Kolker

Dr. David Kolker received his undergraduate education from the University of Tulsa and his Doctor of Optometry degree from Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry in 1985.  The son of an optometrist from Sand Springs, Dr. Kolker has worked in the eye care field his entire life.   He merged his private…

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Dr. Savanah Sayler

Dr. Savanah Sayler joined Harrel Eyecare in the Spring of 2012. She graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry with her Doctorate of Optometry. While completing her educational requirements at NSUOCO, she received the Clinical Excellence Award, Heart of America Excellence in Contact Lens Award, and she is…

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Dr. Monte Harrel O.D., FCOVD

Dr. Monte Harrel is the CEO and founder of Harrel Eyecare Centers.   He and his partners operate 3 locations in the Tulsa metro area: Downtown/TU, Midtown, and South geographically.  Dr. Harrel began his practice because of a passion for excellence in children and family eyecare.  He is a graduate of Oklahoma State…

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