If you’ve tried and failed to use contact lenses in the past, or if you’ve been told you’re not a suitable candidate for contacts, scleral contact lenses may be the answer.
These large-diameter gas permeable (GP) lenses provide the same benefits as traditional GP lenses as compared to soft contacts, including:
- Improved eyesight
- Increased durability
- Handling is simplified
- Less chance of problems
These big GP lenses are referred to as “scleral” lenses because, rather than covering merely a piece of the cornea (as regular GP lenses do), they vault over the whole corneal surface and rest on the “white” of the eye (the sclera).
Because of their smaller size, scleral lenses are more secure on the eye than regular GP lenses, making them less prone to fall out. This rigidity can also make them more pleasant than traditional GP lenses; scleral lenses give initial comfort akin to soft lenses, which is especially beneficial for sensitive eyes or unevenly shaped corneas.
Scleral Lens Varieties
Scleral lenses are classified into three types based on the size and location of principal contact with the front surface of the eye:
- Corneo-scleral lenses and semi-scleral lenses are substantially bigger than regular GP lenses and rest at the cornea-sclera junction.
- Mini-scleral lenses vault across the entire surface of the cornea and rest on the anterior sclera.
- Full scleral lenses are the biggest scleral lenses and have the most clearance between the lens’s rear surface and the cornea.
Modern scleral lenses are constructed entirely of highly breathable, rigid gas-permeable lens materials. Even though scleral lenses cover the whole cornea, enough oxygen enters the eye’s front surface to maintain it healthy and pleasant.
Are You an Ideal Candidate?
In general, anyone who wants to improve their eyesight with contact lenses may be a candidate for scleral lenses. However, scleral GP lenses are especially beneficial for the following conditions:
- Corneal irregularities. Vision issues caused by an unevenly shaped cornea are often uncorrectable with glasses or soft contact lenses. Scleral lenses usually give more precise vision in these eyes.
- Irritated eyes. Scleral lenses can give a more comfortable and secure fit if your eyes cannot be comfortably fitted with traditional GP lenses or if the shape of your eyes causes the lenses to dislodge too readily from your eyes (during sports, for example).
- Dry eyes. Scleral lenses might assist if your eyes are too dry for regular contact lenses. The substantial area between the rear surface of scleral lenses and the cornea, in particular, works as a tear reservoir, keeping the front of your eye wet and pleasant.
Scleral Lenses Price
Scleral lenses are manufactured to your eye doctor’s exact specifications to deliver the finest possible vision, eye health, and comfort.
Furthermore, sophisticated automated measuring equipment and imaging devices are frequently employed to fit scleral lenses, but similar instruments are generally not necessary to instal soft lenses.
For these reasons, professional expenses for fitting scleral lenses and lens replacement prices are greater than conventional contact lenses. However, your eye care provider may supply you with exact pricing for your unique needs.
In rare situations, vision insurance may pay some of the prices of scleral lenses.