Hybrid contact lenses combine a rigid gas-permeable centre with a soft outer skirt. They may help when keratoconus or an irregular cornea makes it difficult to see clearly with glasses or ordinary soft lenses. 1
If you like the clarity of a rigid lens but struggle with how it feels or stays in place, a hybrid lens may be worth considering. At Vision Camberwell Optometrists, we’ll assess your eyes, talk through your previous lens experience and help you decide which option best suits your day.
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How do hybrid contact lenses work?
The rigid centre provides a regular optical surface over the cornea, the clear front of your eye. The surrounding soft skirt helps keep the lens centred. Both parts are joined into a single lens, so you insert and remove it as one piece. 1
Materials and fitting characteristics vary between designs. Some use a hydrogel skirt and others use silicone hydrogel. The fit must allow clear vision while protecting the health of the cornea; a soft edge alone does not guarantee comfort or adequate oxygen supply. 2
Who might benefit from hybrid lenses?
Hybrid lenses may be considered for keratoconus, irregular astigmatism and selected irregular corneas after eye surgery. They are one option when glasses or soft lenses do not provide satisfactory vision, or when a smaller corneal rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lens is difficult to tolerate. 1
Your diagnosis alone does not determine the right lens. We also consider corneal shape, eye surface health, previous surgery, vision with a trial lens and how comfortably you can handle it.
Hybrid lenses are not limited to mild keratoconus. A 2023 study in moderate and advanced keratoconus found similar average improvements in vision with hybrid and corneal RGP lenses. That finding supports hybrids as an option, rather than showing that one design is best for everyone. 2
Hybrid, RGP or scleral lenses: what is the difference?
Hybrid compared with corneal RGP lenses
A corneal RGP lens is a smaller, entirely rigid lens that sits on the cornea. A hybrid adds a soft skirt around its rigid centre. Both can provide useful vision in keratoconus; the practical question is which gives you a healthy fit, reliable vision and manageable daily wear. 1,2
Comfort still needs to be tested. In a retrospective study published in 2021, hybrid lenses improved vision, but some people stopped wearing them because of discomfort or handling difficulties. We take those everyday concerns seriously when discussing your options. 3
Hybrid compared with scleral lenses
Scleral lenses are larger rigid lenses that vault over the cornea and rest on the tissue covering the white of the eye, with fluid beneath the lens. This is a different fitting approach from a hybrid lens. 1
Neither design is automatically easier to handle or better for your eyes. We’ll explain the trade offs relevant to your cornea and assess the result on your eye. You can also read about our scleral lenses. Our keratoconus contact lens comparison looks at all four lens types side by side.
What happens at a hybrid lens assessment?
Understanding your eyes and current vision
We start with your prescription, eye health and what you would like to improve. Corneal imaging helps us understand the shape we are fitting. Bring up the details that matter to you, such as ghosting, lens movement, dryness or difficulty getting through a working day.
Assessing the lens on your eye
A trial fitting allows us to assess vision, comfort and how the lens sits. The prescription or fit may need adjustment before we settle on the final lens. Hybrid fitting can involve refits, so we do not promise a fixed number of appointments. 3
Learning the routine and reviewing the result
We’ll show you how to insert, remove and care for the prescribed design, then arrange a follow up to check how it is working in everyday use. Your wearing schedule and review timing will be tailored to your eyes. Let us know if handling is difficult or comfortable wearing time is shorter than you need.
Caring for hybrid contact lenses
Use the care system recommended for your exact lens. Do not assume that a product suitable for your previous soft or RGP lenses is appropriate for a hybrid design. We’ll explain the cleaning routine and replacement schedule before you begin. Follow these daily precautions: 4
- Wash and dry your hands before handling lenses.
- Use fresh disinfecting solution we have recommended, each time; do not top up old solution.
- Keep lenses away from water, including during showering and swimming.
- Follow the prescribed wearing, lens-replacement and case-care schedule.
- Keep your glasses available for times when you need to remove your lenses.
When should you seek urgent advice?
Remove the lens and seek urgent eye-care advice if you develop pain, unusual redness, light sensitivity, discharge or a sudden change in vision. Do not put the lens back in until you have been advised it is safe. These symptoms should not be treated as normal adaptation. If you cannot reach us promptly, seek urgent eye care elsewhere. 5
Before your appointment
Before your appointment:
- Bring your current glasses, contact lenses, lens case and care products.
- Bring previous corneal scans, prescriptions or specialist letters if available.
- Note how long you can comfortably wear your current lenses and when problems occur.
- Tell us about previous crosslinking, a corneal graft, LASIK, radial keratotomy or other eye surgery.
- Ask us before the visit whether to wear your current lenses or leave them out for assessment.
Vision Camberwell Optometrists is at 784 Burke Road, Camberwell, in Melbourne’s inner east, serving Camberwell, Hawthorn, Balwyn, Kew and across Australia. Consultations with Jue Wang are available in English and Mandarin.
If your current lenses are uncomfortable or your vision is not meeting your needs, book a contact lens assessment or call 03 9882 5666. We’ll help you understand whether a hybrid lens is worth trying and how it compares with your other contact lens options.
Questions about hybrid contact lenses
Will hybrid lenses feel like ordinary soft lenses?
Not necessarily. The soft skirt changes how the lens sits, but the centre remains rigid. Some people find hybrids a useful alternative to corneal RGP lenses; others experience discomfort or difficulty handling them. A fitting and follow-up help establish whether they work for you. 3
Do hybrid lenses stop keratoconus getting worse?
Hybrid lenses correct vision; they are not a treatment proven to stop keratoconus progressing. You still need monitoring. If your cornea is changing, we may recommend assessment by a corneal ophthalmologist for treatment such as corneal cross-linking, which aims to stabilise the condition. 6
Can I sleep in hybrid contact lenses?
Remove them before sleep unless your eye-care professional has specifically prescribed overnight wear for the exact lens. Sleeping in contact lenses increases infection risk, and good daytime comfort does not make overnight wear safe. 4
How often will I need replacement lenses?
The interval depends on the prescribed design and its condition. We’ll give you a specific schedule and review lenses earlier if there are problems with fit, vision or comfort. Follow the recommended interval rather than waiting for a lens to feel uncomfortable. 4
References
- Lim L, Lim EWL. Current perspectives in the management of keratoconus with contact lenses. Eye. 2020;34(12):2175–2196. doi:10.1038/s41433-020-1065-z.
- Taşcı YY, Saraç Ö, Çağıl N, Yeşilırmak N. Comparison of Hybrid Contact Lenses and Rigid Gas-Permeable Contact Lenses in Moderate and Advanced Keratoconus. Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology. 2023;53(3):142–148. doi:10.4274/tjo.galenos.2022.82754.
- Kloeck D, Koppen C, Kreps EO. Clinical Outcome of Hybrid Contact Lenses in Keratoconus. Eye & Contact Lens. 2021;47(5):283–287. doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000000738.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Eye Infections When Wearing Contacts. Updated 27 May 2025. Accessed 9 September 2026.
- United States Food and Drug Administration. Contact Lens Risks. Accessed 9 September 2026.
- Deshmukh R, et al. Management of keratoconus: an updated review. Frontiers in Medicine. 2023;10:1212314. doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1212314.
Reviewed by Dr Shonit Jagmohan, B.Optom (Hons), FIAOMC, IACMM, Ophthalmic Medicines Prescriber, Fellowship Chair for the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (Oceania). Last reviewed October 2026.
Visit us in Camberwell
T. (03) 9882 5666
E. vision@visioncamberwell.com.au
Find Us at:
784 Burke Rd, Camberwell
Victoria 3124, Australia
Opening Hours:
Monday, Tuesday and Friday. 9am – 6pm
Wednesday. 9am – 5pm
Thursday. 10.30am – 7.30pm
Saturday. CLOSED
Book your appointment with one of our friendly team members today
T: (03) 9882 5666
Serving Camberwell and the Surrounding South Eastern Suburbs
An independent practice in Camberwell since 1951, we are experts in specialty contact lenses, including hybrid lens fittings for keratoconus and irregular corneas. We welcome patients from Hawthorn, Deepdene, Surrey Hills, Balwyn, Kew, Canterbury, Box Hill, Glen Iris, and across greater Melbourne.
