GP and Custom Soft Annual Report 2025

The info for this annual report is derived from the most recent literature and from Contact Lens Spectrum reader surveys as well as from prominent leaders in the contact lens industry.

By
JENNIFER SWINGLE FOGT, OD, MS
October 1, 2025
18 min

Contact Lens Spectrum

At a Glance

Category	Detail
Condition	Corneal irregularity and other ocular surface conditions requiring specialty contact lenses
Key Mechanisms	Use of gas permeable (GP) lenses including scleral, corneal, hybrid, and orthokeratology lenses with advancements in oxygen permeability and custom fitting technologies
Target Population	Patients with corneal irregularity, presbyopia, myopia management needs, and those requiring specialty contact lenses
Care Setting	Optometry and ophthalmology practices fitting specialty contact lenses

Key Highlights

Scleral lenses are increasingly preferred, comprising over 50% of GP lens fits for 27% of practitioners in 2025, up from 13% in 2023.
Diagnostic fitting with various haptic designs (spherical, toric, quadrant-specific) is used by 86% of practitioners to customize scleral lenses.
Technological advances such as profilometry and wavefront-guided lens design are enhancing fitting precision and correction of higher-order aberrations.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

Assess corneal shape and irregularity using diagnostic lens fitting and ocular contour mapping technologies.
Utilize profilometry to aid in scleral lens fitting and customize lens haptics to match scleral shape.

Management

Fit scleral lenses preferentially for corneal irregularity, with an average of 53% of such patients receiving scleral lenses.
Employ diagnostic lens sets with spherical, toric, or quadrant-specific haptics to optimize fit.
Educate patients about the likelihood of midday fogging and the need for periodic lens removal and refilling during wear.

Monitoring & Follow-up

Monitor for midday fogging, which occurs in up to 58% of scleral lens wearers, and adjust fitting or care regimens accordingly.
Evaluate visual quality improvements, including correction of higher-order aberrations using wavefront-guided lenses.

Risks

Midday fogging remains a common challenge without a universal solution; patients should be counseled on management strategies.
No single lens or solution property eliminates fogging for all patients.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients with corneal irregularity and other specialty lens needs

Scleral lenses are increasingly prescribed, with 27% of practitioners fitting them in over half of their GP lens cases; nonscleral GP lenses and hybrid lenses remain in use, and 20% of practitioners prescribe custom soft lenses for irregular corneas.

Clinical Best Practices

Use diagnostic lens fitting rather than empirical fitting for scleral lenses to achieve better customization.
Incorporate advanced technologies such as profilometry and wavefront aberrometry to improve lens fit and visual outcomes.
Prepare patients for potential midday fogging and instruct on lens care and management during the day.
Select lens haptics (spherical, toric, quadrant-specific) based on individual scleral shape for optimal comfort and fit.