Close-up of a SynergEyes hybrid contact lens showing its rigid centre and soft outer skirt
Specialty Contact Lenses

Hard Lens Clarity, Soft Lens Comfort

A SynergEyes hybrid lens fuses a rigid optical centre to a soft silicone-hydrogel outer skirt in a single lens, genuinely the best of both worlds for wearers who want sharp vision without giving up all-day comfort.

2-IN-1
RIGID CENTRE, SOFT SKIRT
REDUCED
GLARE & HALOS AT NIGHT

One Lens, Two Materials, Bonded Together

Rigid lenses give sharper vision than soft lenses, but they can take longer to adapt to and don't always stay centred as comfortably. Soft lenses are comfortable from day one, but their vision quality drops on higher astigmatism or an irregular cornea, since the lens simply flexes to whatever shape sits underneath it.

A SynergEyes hybrid lens is manufactured as a single piece: a rigid gas-permeable centre bonded to a soft silicone-hydrogel skirt around the outside. The rigid centre does the optical work, correcting the cornea's shape the way a hard lens does, while the soft skirt keeps it centred and comfortable against the eyelid with every blink.

Diagram-style close-up showing the rigid centre and soft skirt of a hybrid contact lens
FIG. 01 — HYBRID LENS CONSTRUCTION
The SynergEyes Range

Three Designs For Three Different Needs

EVERYDAY

Duette

Corrects myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism for most regular corneas, suited to wearers wanting rigid-lens clarity with soft-lens comfort.

PRESBYOPIA

Duette Progressive

Multiple optical zones for near, intermediate and distance vision, giving hard-lens sharpness at every distance without reading glasses.

IRREGULAR CORNEAS

UltraHealth

Purpose-built for keratoconus and post-refractive surgery corneas, an alternative to standard RGP or scleral lenses.

NIGHT VISION

Reduced Glare Design

The stabilised, centred fit reduces the halos and glare around lights that soft toric lenses can cause when they rotate.

Who Hybrid Lenses Suit

A Genuine Middle Ground

Astigmatism

Corrects corneal astigmatism without the rotation issues that can affect soft toric lenses.

Higher Prescriptions

Suits higher myopia or hyperopia where rigid optics genuinely outperform soft lens correction.

Irregular Corneas

Including keratoconus and post-refractive surgery corneas, via the dedicated UltraHealth design.

Optometrist fitting a SynergEyes hybrid contact lens at Eyecare Concepts
EYECARE CONCEPTS — SYNERGEYES HYBRID LENS FITTING
Common Questions

Hybrid Lens Questions We're Asked Often

How is a hybrid lens different from a rigid lens with a soft lens over the top?
They're not two separate lenses, a SynergEyes hybrid is manufactured as a single lens with a rigid optical centre bonded to a soft silicone-hydrogel outer skirt. That bonded construction is what keeps it centred and stable in a way that layering two separate lenses never could.
Will a hybrid lens feel like a hard lens or a soft lens?
Closer to a soft lens for comfort, since the soft outer skirt is what you actually feel around the edge of the lens against your eyelid. The rigid centre delivers the vision quality, but most wearers describe the day-to-day feel as far more comfortable than a standard RGP.
Are hybrid lenses suitable for keratoconus?
Yes. The UltraHealth design within the SynergEyes range is built specifically for keratoconus and post-refractive surgery corneas, and is often considered before moving to a scleral lens for these cases.
Can hybrid lenses correct presbyopia as well?
Yes, the Duette Progressive design includes multiple optical zones for near, intermediate and distance vision, giving presbyopic wearers hard-lens clarity without needing reading glasses over the top.
How much do SynergEyes hybrid lenses cost?
Hybrid lenses involve custom fitting and manufacturing, so they're priced above standard soft lenses, broadly in line with other specialty lens categories like rigid gas permeable or scleral lenses. We give you an exact, itemised quote once we've completed your fitting.
Why would I choose a hybrid lens over a scleral lens for keratoconus?
Both are excellent options for irregular corneas, and the right choice depends on your specific corneal shape, tear film and comfort with handling. Hybrid lenses can offer a soft-lens-like wearing sensation with rigid-lens optical clarity, while scleral lenses vault the cornea entirely and suit more advanced or highly irregular cases. We'll compare both directly at your fitting.
Are SynergEyes hybrid lenses harder to look after than soft lenses?
The care routine is a little more involved than a standard soft lens, combining rigid-lens and soft-lens cleaning steps, but it's straightforward once shown. We walk you through the exact solution and handling routine as part of your fitting.
How long does it take to get used to wearing hybrid contact lenses?
Most patients adapt within one to two weeks. Because the rigid centre is surrounded by a soft skirt, hybrid lenses tend to be more comfortable from the outset than a standard rigid lens, though there's still a settling-in period as your eyes adjust.
Can hybrid lenses be an alternative if I've been told I can't wear contact lenses?
Often yes, particularly if the issue was corneal irregularity rather than a fundamental intolerance to contact lens wear. Hybrid lenses are one of several specialty options, alongside rigid, scleral and custom soft designs, that we consider for patients who've been told standard contacts won't work for them.
Where can I get fitted for SynergEyes hybrid lenses in Melbourne?
We fit SynergEyes hybrid lenses at our Kew East practice, often for keratoconus and irregular corneal cases that other practices have found difficult to fit. We see patients from across Melbourne's inner east and further afield specifically for hybrid lens fittings.

Want Sharp Vision Without The Rigid Lens Trade-Off?

Book a fitting and we'll assess whether a SynergEyes hybrid lens is the right middle ground for your eyes.

Book an Appointment