This new Specialty Contact Lenses resource by Daddi Fadel and Melissa Barnett is a comprehensive, paperback textbook that would be useful for any eyecare practitioner keen to broaden their knowledge in current specialty contact lens (CL) designs.

The introduction starts with basic anatomy and physiology of the ocular surface. An overview of the technologies used in specialty CL practices includes practical recommendations for documenting fitting and anterior-segment findings with digital photography and videography. Such practical tips are useful, even for a standard practice setting.

Hydrogel and silicone CLs make an appearance, though with a focus on planned extended wear and its associated complications. A chapter dedicated to customised soft CLs discusses optical designs, applications and aberrations in great detail.

As would be expected, rehabilitative CLs – covering irregular corneas and keratoconus, corneal lenses (ie. rigid gas permeable lenses), scleral lenses, hybrid lenses, multifocal or presbyopic lenses – captured my attention. I found the chapter on hybrid lenses particularly interesting, with its excellent design comparisons and illustrations. The chapters on prosthetic and cosmetic CLs, orthokeratology lenses, myopia control, paediatric lenses, keratoconus and the ageing process offered myriad practical applications.

There are 30 chapters of five to 10 pages each, offering current design descriptions, a strong evidence-based overview and references. The latter was particularly apparent in the eBook version, where references were well highlighted and easily identified. For the novice CL practitioner, detailed ‘how to fit’ perspectives were limited to a great overview.

CLs have advanced greatly in recent years and this textbook showcases current specialty designs that are relevant in today’s practice. Basic CL knowledge is required to fully comprehend some of the book’s concepts; however, it represents a remarkable record of how specialised CLs have become.

Dr Wanda Lam completed a cornea and contact lens residency at the Illinois College of Optometry and is currently an optometrist, professional teaching fellow and course director and coordinator at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Auckland.