Experience Unmatched Comfort with Scleral Lenses

Scleral lenses provide a customized fit that enhances comfort and clarity for those suffering from dry eyes and corneal irregularities. Discover the benefits of this innovative vision solution.

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Scleral Lenses: A Custom Fit for Unmatched Comfort and Clarity

Scleral contact lenses are a specialized form of contact lens designed to provide both improved vision and enhanced comfort, for even the most challenging eyes. These lenses are custom-designed to provide a uniquely comfortable and exceptional clarity for patients with irregular corneas, severe dry eye, and other eye challenges.

What Are Scleral Contact Lenses?

  • What are Scleral Contact Lenses?
    Scleral lenses are specialized hard contact lenses that rest on the sclera (the white part of the eye), creating a protective reservoir of saline solution over the cornea.

  • Design and Functionality
    Unlike traditional contact lenses, scleral lenses vault over the cornea, providing a layer of hydration and protection, which is particularly helpful for those with corneal irregularities.

  • Breathable and Oxygen-Permeable
    Scleral lenses are made from highly breathable, gas-permeable materials, ensuring that enough oxygen reaches the cornea, which is essential for ocular health.

  • Custom Fit for Maximum Comfort
    These lenses are custom-fit to each patient’s eye using advanced imaging techniques like corneal topography, ensuring a perfect match with the unique contours of the eye.

  • History and Evolution
    The concept of scleral lenses has evolved over more than a century, with modern designs offering improved comfort, superior visual acuity, and the feeling of "I can’t even feel them on my eyes.

Benefits and Advantages of Scleral Lenses

Unmatched Comfort

One of the major benefits of scleral contact lenses is the extraordinary comfort they offer. Since these lenses vault over the cornea, there is no direct contact with this sensitive area, reducing the likelihood of irritation and discomfort. The large diameter of scleral lenses also means that the pressure is evenly distributed over a broader area, minimizing the risk of the eyelid catching or dislodging the lens during blinking. This makes them an excellent option for people who struggle with discomfort from traditional contact lenses.

Superior Vision Stability

Another important benefit is the stable vision that scleral lenses provide. By creating a uniform optical surface, these lenses compensate for irregularities on the cornea, such as those caused by keratoconus, corneal ectasia, or post-surgical complications. Unlike soft lenses, which conform to the corneal shape and may fluctuate in effectiveness, scleral lenses offer crisp, reliable vision that remains stable throughout the day—no sudden blurring, no shifting, just clear sight from morning to night.

Continuous Hydration for Dry Eyes

The fluid reservoir maintained by the lens is not just a passive cushion—it plays an active role in keeping the eye hydrated. For those who struggle with chronic dry eyes, this reservoir constantly bathes the cornea in a preservative-free saline solution, offering long-lasting relief and even promoting healing in cases of severe dryness or corneal damage. This feature makes scleral lenses a game-changer for patients with conditions like Sjogren’s Syndrome, Graft vs. Host Disease, and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, where other treatments may fall short.

Oxygen-Rich and Eye-Healthy

 

Despite their large size, scleral lenses are made from highly oxygen-permeable materials, ensuring that the eye receives the oxygen it needs to stay healthy. Unlike traditional hard lenses, which can sometimes limit oxygen flow, modern scleral lenses allow for proper corneal respiration, reducing the risk of hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) that can lead to redness, irritation, or long-term corneal damage. This balance between protection and breathability ensures both comfort and eye health in the long run.

Take the first step towards improved vision and comfort. Find a top optometrist or ophthalmologist near you to learn more about scleral lenses.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Scleral Lenses?

Scleral lenses are a game-changer for people with a wide range of eye conditions that make traditional contact lenses or glasses ineffective or uncomfortable. 

Scleral Lenses for Medical and Surgical Eye Conditions

Scleral lenses are an essential tool for managing a wide range of medical and post-surgical eye conditions, offering both vision correction and therapeutic benefits.

  • Keratoconus and Corneal Ectasia – These conditions cause the cornea to thin and bulge, leading to distorted vision. Scleral lenses create a new, smooth optical surface that compensates for these irregularities, dramatically improving both vision and comfort.
  • Post-Corneal Transplant Patients – After a corneal transplant, the eye may develop irregularities that make traditional contact lenses ineffective. Scleral lenses protect the graft while providing sharp, stable vision.
  • Corneal Degenerations and Dystrophies – Conditions like Fuchs’ dystrophy can lead to corneal swelling and visual distortions. Scleral lenses act as a protective, hydrating layer while improving clarity.
  • Radial Keratotomy (RK) and Refractive Surgery Complications – RK, LASIK, and other surgeries can leave corneal irregularities that cause fluctuating vision. Scleral lenses mask these distortions, offering a stable and reliable solution.
  • Chemical and Burn Injury Recovery – When the cornea is healing from burns or chemical exposure, scleral lenses act as a protective barrier, shielding the delicate tissue while promoting healing.
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome & Graft vs. Host Disease – These conditions can cause severe dryness and inflammation that damage the cornea. The fluid reservoir in scleral lenses provides constant hydration and protection, reducing irritation and discomfort.
  • Eyelid Abnormalities (e.g., Lagophthalmos, Bell’s Palsy, or Ptosis) – Incomplete blinking or eyelid dysfunction can expose the cornea to excessive dryness. Scleral lenses offer continuous hydration and protection against irritation.

Scleral Lenses for Chronic Dry Eye Relief

For those struggling with persistent dry eye, traditional contact lenses can often make symptoms worse. Scleral lenses, however, provide a continuous hydrating cushion that protects the cornea and relieves discomfort.

  • Severe Dry Eye Syndrome – The built-in fluid reservoir keeps the eyes constantly hydrated, offering long-lasting relief from dryness, burning, and irritation.
  • Sjogren’s Syndrome – This autoimmune condition reduces tear production, making the eyes painfully dry. Scleral lenses act as a moisture chamber, keeping the eyes hydrated throughout the day.
  • Graft vs. Host Disease & Stevens-Johnson Syndrome – These conditions can cause extreme ocular dryness and damage. Scleral lenses provide much-needed hydration and protection, improving comfort and reducing corneal damage.
  • Post-LASIK and Corneal Ectasia Dryness – Some patients experience chronic dryness after LASIK or other refractive surgeries. Scleral lenses alleviate discomfort while maintaining sharp, stable vision.

Scleral Lenses for Everyday Vision Needs

Scleral lenses aren’t just for medical conditions they’re also an excellent choice for people looking for superior comfort, clarity, and performance in their daily lives.

  • Children with Irregular Corneas or Severe Dry Eye – Kids with challenging eye conditions often struggle with traditional glasses or contact lenses. Scleral lenses offer a safe, stable, and comfortable alternative.
  • Athletes Seeking Sharp, Stable Vision – Traditional lenses can shift during movement, causing blurred vision. Scleral lenses stay securely in place, providing clear, consistent vision with reduced glare.
  • People Unsatisfied with Their Current Contact Lenses – Many people struggle with irritation, discomfort, or unstable vision with soft or gas-permeable lenses. Scleral lenses provide a more comfortable, reliable alternative.
  • People with High Prescriptions or Extreme Astigmatism – Standard contact lenses may not provide crisp vision for those with strong prescriptions or severe astigmatism. Scleral lenses offer enhanced optical clarity and stability.
  • Severe Allergies or Sensitivities to Soft Contact Lens Materials – Some people experience irritation or allergic reactions to traditional lens materials. Scleral lenses provide a safe, comfortable option that doesn’t exacerbate sensitivities.

Keratoconus, Corneal Ectasia, and Irregular Corneas

Keratoconus affects over half a million Americans, causing discomfort and poor vision. Scleral lenses provide superior visual clarity for those with keratoconus, corneal ectasia, high astigmatism, or other irregular corneal conditions. Unlike traditional lenses that sit on the cornea, scleral lenses vault over it, creating a smooth optical surface and eliminating distortions. Resting on the sclera instead of the cornea, they offer unmatched stability and comfort, providing clear vision all day long. For those struggling with fluctuating vision or ill-fitting lenses, scleral lenses can be life-changing.

Severe Dry Eye

For individuals suffering from severe dry eye, scleral lenses are more than just a vision correction tool—they're a constant source of relief. Unlike traditional contact lenses that can exacerbate dryness by absorbing moisture from the eye, scleral lenses create a fluid-filled reservoir between the lens and the cornea. This trapped layer of saline provides continuous hydration, protecting the corneal surface from exposure and irritation. Patients with chronic dry eye conditions, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, Graft vs. Host Disease, or Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, often experience burning, redness, and a painful gritty sensation, making daily life miserable. Scleral lenses act like a moisture chamber, shielding the eye from environmental factors like wind and air conditioning while providing a cooling, soothing effect. For those who have exhausted eye drops, ointments, and medications with little success, scleral lenses can be a true breakthrough in comfort and quality of life.

The Fitting Process for Scleral Lenses

Keratoconus affects over half a million Americans, causing discomfort and poor vision. Scleral lenses provide superior visual clarity for those with keratoconus, corneal ectasia, high astigmatism, or other irregular corneal conditions. Unlike traditional lenses that sit on the cornea, scleral lenses vault over it, creating a smooth optical surface and eliminating distortions. Resting on the sclera instead of the cornea, they offer unmatched stability and comfort, providing clear vision all day long. For those struggling with fluctuating vision or ill-fitting lenses, scleral lenses can be life-changing.

Experience Unmatched Comfort with Scleral Lenses

Take the first step towards improved vision and comfort. Find a top optometrist or ophthalmologist near you to learn more about scleral lenses.

Common Questions

Scleral contact lenses are custom-designed lenses that vault over the cornea and rest on the sclera, providing improved vision and comfort.
Ideal candidates include individuals with irregular corneas, chronic dry eye syndrome, and those who have difficulty with traditional contact lenses.
The fitting process involves comprehensive eye examinations and precise mapping of the cornea to ensure a custom fit.
Proper care includes using preservative-free saline, regular cleaning, and following up with your eye doctor to maintain optimal health.
Insurance coverage for scleral lenses varies by provider; some may cover part of the cost if deemed medically necessary.
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Experience Unmatched Comfort with Scleral Lenses

Scleral lenses offer exceptional comfort and vision stability for those with dry eyes and irregular corneas. Find a solution near you today!

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