What are scleral lenses, and why might your eye doctor recommend them? These specialty contact lenses can provide clear, comfortable vision for some patients with irregular corneas, severe dry eye, and other hard-to-fit vision needs.
You may have spent years hearing some version of the same message: contact lenses simply aren't a good fit for your eyes.
Maybe soft contacts shift around and leave your vision inconsistent. Perhaps dryness makes wearing them uncomfortable. Or an irregular cornea makes it difficult for a standard lens to provide the clarity you need. A difficult contact lens history, however, doesn't always close the door on contacts.
At Tillman Family Eye Care, our eye doctors offer medically guided specialty contact lens fittings for patients across South Alabama. Scleral lenses are one option we may consider when traditional contact lenses struggle to provide comfortable, stable vision.
What Are Scleral Lenses and Who Needs Them?
Scleral lenses are large-diameter, rigid gas-permeable contact lenses designed differently from standard soft contacts. Instead of resting directly on the cornea, a scleral lens extends over it and rests on the sclera, the white portion of your eye.
This design creates a smooth optical surface over the cornea while leaving space for a reservoir of fluid beneath the lens. That combination can make scleral lenses especially useful when the shape or condition of the cornea makes traditional contact lens wear challenging.
At Tillman Family Eye Care, scleral lenses may be considered for patients with:
- Keratoconus
- Irregular corneas
- Corneal scarring
- Post-surgical corneal changes
- Severe dry eye
- Strong or unusual prescriptions
- Soft lenses that frequently move or feel uncomfortable
The reason for choosing a scleral lens varies from patient to patient. For someone with keratoconus, the smooth optical surface can help address vision distorted by an irregular corneal shape. For someone with severe dry eye, the fluid reservoir beneath the lens can help keep the corneal surface bathed in moisture during wear.
The Benefits of Scleral Contact Lenses
A standard contact lens depends heavily on the surface beneath it. When the cornea has an irregular shape, achieving stable vision with a conventional lens can become difficult. Scleral lenses approach the problem differently by vaulting over the cornea and creating a smooth optical surface above it.
For some patients, that can provide clearer and more consistent vision. The larger lens also rests on the sclera rather than directly on the sensitive corneal surface, which can support comfortable wear when properly fitted.
Patients who have struggled with traditional contacts because of lens movement, inconsistent vision, dryness, or discomfort may find that a specialty fitting opens another possibility.
The fluid reservoir beneath a scleral lens adds another benefit for certain people with severe dry eye. Moisture remains between the lens and cornea during wear, which can help protect the corneal surface while providing vision correction.
Scleral lenses still require careful fitting. Your eye doctor needs to consider how the lens relates to your cornea, sclera, tear film, prescription, and overall eye health. At Tillman Family Eye Care, we take the time to look at those details before recommending a specialty lens.
How Long Do Scleral Lenses Last?
Scleral lenses are reusable rigid gas-permeable lenses, so their replacement schedule differs from daily, biweekly, or monthly soft contacts. How long your particular lenses last depends on their condition, changes in your prescription and eyes, and your eye doctor's recommendations.
Regular follow-up visits give your eye doctor an opportunity to inspect the lenses and make sure the fit continues to support healthy, comfortable wear. Changes to the lens surface, damage, prescription changes, or changes in your eyes can all signal that a replacement is appropriate.
Caring for Your Scleral Contact Lenses
Scleral lenses require a different routine from opening a fresh pair of daily disposable contacts each morning, but the process becomes more familiar with practice.
Your eye doctor will teach you how to insert, remove, clean, fill, and store your lenses using the products recommended for your eyes and lenses. Washing and drying your hands before handling contacts, following the prescribed cleaning routine, and treating the lenses carefully can all help keep them in good condition.
What Happens During a Specialty Lens Fitting?
Finding the right scleral lens begins with a careful evaluation of your eyes. At Tillman Family Eye Care, we look at your corneal shape, tear film, eye surface, prescription, and any medical conditions that could affect contact lens wear.
Those findings help us determine whether scleral lenses or another specialty option may provide the right support. Hard-to-fit eyes rarely share exactly the same needs, so specialty contact lens care depends on an individualized fit.
Scleral Lens FAQs
Are Scleral Lenses Harder to Insert Than Soft Contacts?
Scleral lenses use a different insertion technique because they are larger and hold fluid beneath the lens. New wearers may need some practice while the routine becomes familiar.
Does Insurance Cover Specialty Scleral Lenses?
Coverage varies by insurance plan and the reason specialty lenses are prescribed. Some plans may provide benefits when specialty contacts meet medical criteria, while other plans may offer different coverage.
Can Scleral Lenses Help With Keratoconus?
Scleral lenses may help some people with keratoconus achieve clearer, more stable vision. Keratoconus changes the shape of the cornea, while the fluid-filled space beneath a scleral lens creates a smooth optical surface over that irregular shape.
Can Scleral Lenses Help With Severe Dry Eye?
Scleral lenses may be helpful for certain patients with severe dry eye. The reservoir of fluid beneath the lens keeps moisture against the corneal surface during wear.
Schedule a Specialty Contact Lens Exam in South Alabama
Being hard to fit for contacts can simply mean your eyes need a more individualized approach. Scleral and RGP lenses give our eye doctors additional options for patients with keratoconus, irregular corneas, severe dry eye, post-surgical corneal changes, and other complex vision needs.
At Tillman Family Eye Care, we bring the same thoughtful approach to specialty contact lenses that South Alabama families have trusted for nearly 40 years. Schedule a specialty contact lens exam at our Andalusia or Brewton location to find out whether scleral lenses could be a good fit for your eyes.