Good Eye Dr. for high prescription/hard to fit contact lenses? (Raleigh) (health)

[texas_nightowl]

So, I am pretty highly nearsighted and have astigmatism. I have worn contact lenses before...up until about 2 yrs ago...when it was taking so long to find a pair that fit and worked right that I finally gave up and just wore glasses. (2 weeks waiting for special order contacts, couple days to a week of testing them, going back in to doctor...rinse and repeat.)

But, now that it has been almost 2 years, I've remembered what it was I hated about glasses and I'd like to try finding contacts again.

Can anyone recommend an optometrist in Raleigh that is really good with high prescriptions/hard to fit contacts? Before I just give in and pay the insanely high fitting fee at Duke Eye Center? I've just had a "wellness" exam with dilation, so don't specifically need that...just the contact lens stuff now.

FWIW, my current prescription for glasses goes like this:
R: -8.50 with -3.50 astigmatism
L: -10.00 with -3.00 astigmatism

[WeLuvNC]

That is significant astigmatism.

My DH sees Paul Hayes at Contact Lens Institute. Paul has been good for him - working with him to get a lenses that work. My DH has to wear hard lenses, not sure if that makes a difference in how well/not well things work -- I really know nothing about eyes. I'll DM you the information.

[CaryPrincess]

Any other recommendations for good opthalmologist/optometrist in the triangle area. I too fall into similar category as OP.

[theS5]

Dr. Bruce Baldwin at UNC Healthcare. You can find info on the UNC Healthcare website.