Scleral lenses offer a unique and effective solution for managing severe dry eye symptoms related to Sjogren’s disease. These specialized lenses provide continuous moisture and comfort, improving both eye health and vision clarity.
Scleral lenses are a special type of contact lens designed to help people with Sjogren’s disease who suffer from severe dry eye. These lenses keep the surface of the eye moist, improving comfort and vision throughout the day.
Sjogren’s disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects tear production and leads to ongoing dryness in the eyes. Learning how this disease impacts the eyes helps explain why scleral lenses can be so helpful.
Sjogren’s disease is a condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the glands that create moisture, including the tear and saliva glands. This causes chronic dryness in the eyes and mouth.
The disease damages the lacrimal glands, which are responsible for producing tears. This damage leads to fewer tears being made and causes the tear film to become unstable, so the eye surface dries out faster.
People with Sjogren’s often experience:
The condition affects about 1 to 4 million people in the United States and is much more common in women than in men. While it can start at any age, it most often appears in middle age.
Doctors use a combination of eye exams, blood tests, and sometimes imaging to check gland function. Special dye tests can be used to measure tear production and look for damage on the eye’s surface.
Scleral lenses are large, specially designed gas-permeable lenses that rest on the white part of the eye, called the sclera. They are designed to trap a layer of fluid between the lens and the cornea to keep the eye moist all day long.
Unlike regular contact lenses, scleral lenses are larger in diameter and do not touch the cornea directly. Instead, they vault over it, creating a space that holds a reservoir of preservative-free saline solution to keep the cornea smooth and hydrated.
By continuously bathing the cornea in fluid, scleral lenses protect the eye surface from drying out and reduce irritation caused by blinking. This helps relieve dryness more effectively and for longer periods than other treatments.
Soft lenses sit directly on the cornea and can sometimes absorb moisture from the eye, making dryness worse. Scleral lenses avoid contact with the sensitive cornea and create a stable, hydrating fluid environment.
Common scleral lens options include:
Scleral lenses provide many advantages for people with Sjogren’s-related dry eye, improving comfort, protecting the eyes from damage, and enhancing vision.
The fluid layer inside the lenses keeps the cornea moist and soothes the eye surface. Many patients notice a significant reduction in eye pain, burning, and grittiness when wearing scleral lenses.
Scleral lenses create a perfectly smooth optical surface on the eye, which can correct vision problems caused by dryness or an irregularly shaped cornea. This often results in sharper, more stable vision than glasses or soft lenses can provide.
The fluid-filled space acts as a liquid bandage and a shield against wind, dust, and other environmental irritants. This protective barrier helps heal and protect the cornea from further damage caused by chronic dryness.
Because the lenses provide constant moisture to the eye, many people find they need to use fewer eye drops throughout the day. This lowers their dependence on artificial tears, some of which may contain preservatives.
By keeping the cornea consistently hydrated and protected, scleral lenses can help prevent the long-term complications of severe dry eye, such as corneal scarring and ulcers, thereby helping to maintain overall eye health.
Not everyone with dry eye is a candidate for scleral lenses. An eye care provider will look at several factors to determine if scleral lenses are the best choice for your specific needs.
Patients with very low tear production and ongoing, significant discomfort despite using eye drops or other treatments often benefit the most from scleral lenses.
Some people cannot wear soft or smaller rigid lenses because of discomfort. Since scleral lenses rest on the less-sensitive sclera and avoid the cornea, they are often a more comfortable option for these patients.
Conditions like keratoconus, corneal scars, or complications from surgery can cause an uneven corneal surface that soft lenses cannot correct well. Scleral lenses vault over these irregularities, creating a smooth surface that improves vision.
Wearing scleral lenses successfully requires a commitment to a daily cleaning routine, careful handling, and regular follow-up appointments. Patients who are willing and able to follow these steps tend to have the best long-term results.
Fitting scleral lenses is a detailed process that involves precise measurements and trial lenses to find the best possible fit and comfort. Knowing the steps involved can help prepare patients for the experience.
During the first visit, your eye care provider will perform a comprehensive eye exam, use special technology to map the shape of your eye, and discuss your medical history. This helps determine the initial lens size and design.
You will wear sample lenses filled with saline to check for comfort, vision, and how the lens fits on your eye. The provider will evaluate the lens position and make adjustments to the design until the best match is found.
After a successful trial fitting, the custom lenses are ordered from a specialized laboratory. It can take one to several weeks for the final lenses to be made and delivered to your doctor's office.
Your doctor and their staff will provide hands-on training to teach you how to properly insert, remove, and care for your new lenses. Proper handling is essential for safety, comfort, and the longevity of the lenses.
After you receive your custom lenses, you will return for follow-up appointments to check the lens fit, your vision, and your overall eye health. Minor changes to the lens or prescription may be needed to ensure a comfortable and effective fit.
If you're struggling with severe dry eye due to Sjogren's disease, reach out to an eye care provider listed with Specialty Vision. They can guide you through the benefits of scleral lenses and help you discover a solution for your eye comfort and clarity.
Proper care is essential to keep your scleral lenses safe, comfortable, and effective. Following a consistent cleaning routine helps your lenses last longer and protects your eyes from complications.
After removing your lenses, gently rub them with an approved gas-permeable lens cleaner to remove debris and protein buildup. Then, rinse them thoroughly with fresh saline before storing.
Always use sterile, preservative-free saline to fill the bowl of the lenses before you put them in your eyes and to rinse them after cleaning. This prevents irritation from cleaning solutions and preservatives.
Store your lenses overnight in a clean lens case filled with fresh conditioning solution or saline. Never reuse old solution, as this can lead to bacterial growth.
To reduce the risk of contamination, you should replace your lens storage case at least every three months. A clean case is a critical part of preventing eye infections.
If your lenses cause pain, your vision becomes blurry, or your eyes look red, remove the lenses and contact your eye care provider immediately. Early attention can prevent more serious complications.
While scleral lenses provide many benefits and are safe for most users, it is important to be aware of the possible risks. Following your doctor’s care instructions is the best way to minimize these risks.
Failing to clean your lenses properly, using contaminated solutions, or wearing lenses in water can lead to serious eye infections. Always follow your prescribed hygiene routines to reduce this risk.
Debris can sometimes get trapped under the lens, which may cause discomfort or a foggy or cloudy appearance to your vision. Removing, cleaning, and re-filling the lens with fresh saline usually resolves this issue.
Scleral lenses are custom-made medical devices and cost more than regular contact lenses. Insurance coverage varies widely, so it is important to check your plan’s benefits before beginning the fitting process.
It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to get fully accustomed to inserting, removing, and wearing scleral lenses. Patience and regular follow-up visits are important for long-term success.
Because scleral lenses are thicker than soft lenses, they can slightly reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the cornea. Your eye doctor will monitor your eye health during follow-up visits to ensure there are no issues.
If you have Sjogren’s disease and continue to struggle with severe dry eye, scleral lenses may be a life-changing solution. Schedule an evaluation with an eye care provider who specializes in fitting these advanced lenses to find out if they are right for you.
If you're struggling with severe dry eye due to Sjogren's disease, reach out to an eye care provider listed with Specialty Vision. They can guide you through the benefits of scleral lenses and help you discover a solution for your eye comfort and clarity.
Scleral lenses can significantly improve comfort and vision for patients with Sjogren's disease. Find a top eye care provider near you.
