Scleral Lenses

If you’ve been told in the past that you cannot wear contact lenses because of an irregular cornea or other problems, you may want to get a second opinion and ask your eye doctor about scleral contact lenses.

Scleral contacts are large-diameter gas permeable contact lenses specially designed to vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the “white” of the eye (sclera). In doing so, scleral lenses functionally replace the irregular cornea with a perfectly smooth optical surface to correct vision problems caused by keratoconus and other corneal irregularities.

Also, the space between the cornea and the back surface of a scleral lens acts as a fluid reservoir to provide comfort for people with severe dry eyes who otherwise could not tolerate contact lens wear.

More complex conditions, including advanced keratoconus, pathologically dry eyes or severe ocular surface disease that might require a large tear reservoir, often are fitted with scleral lenses, as they have more capacity to hold fluid or bridge large changes in corneal curvature.

If you have history of a corneal transplant, RK surgery, corneal scarring, keratoconus, or other corneal disease, scleral lenses may be a consideration for you.

During your contact lens exam and fitting, your eye care professional will determine the best scleral lens type and size for your specific needs.