At Laurel Eye Clinic, our eye doctors understand the importance of clear and comfortable vision. For those with certain eye conditions like keratoconus or corneal scarring, achieving this goal may seem challenging.
However, scleral lenses offer a solution that can provide excellent vision and comfort.
What Are Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses are contact lenses that expand over the entire corneal surface, resting on the white portion of the eye known as the sclera. These lenses are filled with a preservative free, sterile saline solution before being placed on the eye.
This creates a liquid environment between the contact lens and the eye. The unique design of scleral lenses allows them to provide clear and comfortable vision for people with various eye conditions.
How Are Scleral Lenses Different From Soft Contact Lenses or RGP Lenses?
While soft contact lenses and rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses are popular options for many, scleral lenses offer distinct advantages for people with certain eye conditions. Soft contact lenses are flexible and conform to the shape of the eye, but they may not provide adequate vision correction for those with irregular corneas.
RGP lenses are smaller and more rigid, providing sharper vision but potentially causing discomfort due to their movement with each blink.
In contrast, scleral lenses are larger and more stable than conventional RGP lenses. They expand over the cornea, avoiding direct contact with the sensitive surface of the cornea.
The liquid reservoir between the lens and the eye helps to maintain a healthy, hydrated environment while providing excellent vision correction. This makes scleral lenses an ideal choice for those with irregular corneas, keratoconus, or other conditions that may make wearing soft or RGP lenses challenging.
How Do I Know if Scleral Lenses Are Right For Me?
If you have been diagnosed with an eye condition that makes it difficult to achieve clear and comfortable vision with traditional contact lenses or glasses, scleral lenses may be the solution you’ve been looking for. Some of the conditions that can benefit from scleral lenses include:
- Keratoconus
- Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL) Complications
- Intacs Complications
- Glare, Dry Eyes, Halos, Starbursts and Ghosting
- Complications from LASIK, PRK, and RK
- Pellucid Marginal Degeneration (PMD)
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
At Laurel Eye Clinic, we offer comprehensive scleral lens fittings to determine if these lenses are right for you. These fittings can be done at both our Brookville and Altoona offices.
Our experienced eye doctors use advanced technology, such as the Pentacam for topography and the Optovue OCT for anterior segment tomography, to ensure a precise and comfortable fit. The initial fitting process may take one to two hours, followed by another visit where you will receive your custom lenses and learn about proper insertion and removal techniques.
After this visit, you will have a follow-up contact lens check in one to two weeks. In some cases, scleral lenses and the fittings are covered by insurance. Our team will work with you to determine your coverage and find the most affordable option for your eyes.
Do you want to learn more about scleral lenses or determine if these lenses may be right for you? Schedule an appointment at Laurel Eye Clinic in Brookville or Altoona, PA, today!