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Located by the Mall at Barnes Crossing in Tupelo, MS

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General Eye Doctor or Contact Lens Specialist?—Specialty Contacts in Tupelo, Mississippi

"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.

Hard-To-Fit Contact Lenses Patients

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 Tupelo. 

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.

    Elderly Woman, Wearing Scleral Lenses

    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.

    Close up of woman's eye, ad for contact lens specialist

    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 our team of eye doctors. 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

    Dr Joseph Childs

    Joseph Childs, M.D. — In Memorium

    Dr. Childs is Tupelo’s only fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist and surgeon. He is a native of Texas, and his wife was born and raised in Mississippi. In turn, Dr. Childs fell in love with Mississippi and the people here. Dr. Childs worked at a busy practice in south Mississippi for five years before joining the doctors and Wesson and Mothershed Eye Center in 2020. He is excited to live and practice in Tupelo, serving the people of northeast Mississippi.

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    Dr. Matthew B. Wesson 400

    Matthew B. Wesson, M.D. — Emeritus

    Matthew Wesson, M.D. is pleased to announce his retirement from Wesson and Mothershed Eye Center as of June 1, 2021. Dr. Wesson, a Tupelo native and board-certified ophthalmologist, practiced for 44 years in Tupelo after practicing for two years in the U.S. Army at Ft. Campbell, KY. He began practice...
    Dr. Fred H. Mothershed 400

    Fred H. Mothershed, O.D.

    Dr. Fred Mothershed is from Tupelo, MS.  He graduated from North Panola High School, attended Northwest Junior College, and the University of Mississippi.  He received his Doctorate of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.  He has postgraduate pharmacology studies from Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Dr. Mothershed served...
    Dr. Dax M. Eckard 400

    Dax M. Eckard, O.D.

    Dr. Dax M. Eckard is a native of Tupelo, Mississippi and graduated from Tupelo High School.  Dr. Eckard finished his Doctorate of Optometry at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee in 1999.  He also completed externships in private practice and referral based surgical management of patients in Nashville and...
    Dr. Beth W. Eckard 400

    Beth W. Eckard, O.D.

    Dr. Beth Waters Eckard is a native of Tupelo, Mississippi and graduated from Tupelo High School.  After finishing her undergraduate studies at the University of Mississippi in 1993, she attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee.  Here she completed her Doctorate of Optometry in 1997.  During this time Dr....
    Dr. Sonya Mitchell Miles 266

    Sonya Mitchell Miles, M.D.

    Dr. Sonya Mitchell Miles is one of a handful of skilled surgeons in the country trained in her unique specialty of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery. Dr. Miles graduated Summa Cum Laude from Union University in Jackson, TN. She then received her medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. Her internship was completed at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, TN.

    Dr. Chelsea Mothershed McKnight 400

    Chelsea Mothershed McKnight, O.D.

    Dr. McKnight has trained in treatment and management of glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, dry eye, ocular trauma, and cataract post-operative care. She has worked extensively with patients for fitting of glasses and contact lenses, as well as low vision.

    Serving Patients From

    Tupelo | New Albany | Saltillo | Fulton | and the state of Mississippi

    If You’re Looking For A Contact Lens Specialist Near Tupelo, Mississippi, Of Is The Destination.

    Don’t let discomfort or a corneal condition prevent you from having clear, comfortable vision. Contact us to asses and fit you with the contact lens solution you need.

    Serving Patients From:

    Tupelo | New Albany | Saltillo | Fulton | and the state of Mississippi

    • Keratoconus describes a condition in which the corneal structure isn’t strong enough to maintain a healthy ball shape. As a result, the cornea bulges outward into more of a cone.