SynergEyes® Hybrid Contact Lenses

Standard soft contact lenses are made entirely of flexible hydrogel or silicone hydrogel. While comfortable, soft lenses drape over corneal irregularities and astigmatism, and soft toric lenses frequently rotate with each blink, causing intermittent blur and ghosting. SynergEyes hybrid lenses feature a rigid gas-permeable (GP) center fused to a soft silicone hydrogel skirt. The rigid center maintains an optical tear lens that neutralizes astigmatism without rotational blur, while the soft outer skirt delivers the familiar, gentle comfort and stability of a soft lens.

Yes. In fact, initial comfort with a modern SynergEyes hybrid lens is comparable to a soft contact lens. Unlike traditional corneal GP lenses whose edges interact noticeably with the sensitive upper eyelid margins, the soft silicone hydrogel skirt of a hybrid lens drapes smoothly over the peripheral cornea and rests gently on the anterior sclera. This completely eliminates eyelid edge sensation, centers the lens naturally, and provides exceptional all-day wearing comfort.

Absolutely. SynergEyes iD Multifocal and Duette Progressive lenses are specifically engineered for patients with corneal astigmatism who also require reading magnification for presbyopia. The rigid GP center provides crisp, non-rotating distance and astigmatism correction, while state-of-the-art center-near and extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) multifocal optics allow seamless vision from distance to computer screen to smartphone without reading glasses.

Tangible® Hydra-PEG is an advanced, 90% water polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer coating that is permanently bonded to the entire surface of the hybrid lens. It creates a continuous, ultra-wettable hydrophilic cushion that prevents the tear film from drying out, resists protein and lipid deposits, dramatically reduces friction with the eyelids, and resolves lens fogging. All SynergEyes lenses fitted at our Charlotte practice can be customized with Tangible Hydra-PEG.

Hybrid lenses are simple to handle once proper technique is learned. For insertion, the lens is balanced on a clean dry fingertip or tripod inserter with a drop of preservative-free artificial tears or saline in the bowl, and placed gently onto the cornea while looking down. For removal, ensure fingertips are completely dry, place your index fingertip at 5 o'clock and thumb at 7 o'clock on the soft skirt (just outside the rigid center), and gently pinch inward to break the suction seal and lift the lens away. During your fitting at our Charlotte clinic, our doctors provide comprehensive 1-on-1 insertion and removal training.

Both hybrid lenses and scleral lenses are highly effective specialty options. SynergEyes UltraHealth hybrid lenses feature a specialized variable vault that clears the conical apex while using a soft skirt to center the lens, making them ideal for emerging or mild-to-moderate keratoconus in patients who prefer a lens diameter similar to standard soft contacts (14.5 mm). For advanced keratoconus, severe corneal thinning, post-corneal transplant grafts, or extreme ocular dryness, large-diameter custom scleral lenses (16.0–18.5 mm) or EyePrintPRO impression shells are typically preferred because they vault entirely over the cornea and maintain a deep, continuous therapeutic saline reservoir.