What are scleral lenses?
Scleral contact lenses are large diameter gas permeable (GP) contact lenses which provide the same benefits as regular GP lenses in that they allow oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye. Though not as common as soft contact lenses, scleral lenses offer a number of advantages over soft lenses, such as:
- Clear vision
- Long-wearing comfort
- Longer wearing time
- Ease to insert and remove
- Much less complications
Scleral lenses get their name because they vault over the entire cornea and rest on the sclera (the white part of the eye). This larger size is a great advantage offering more stability than traditional GP lenses (they have minimal risk of dislodging from the eye), making them even more comfortable. You see, they are created to fit with little to no movement of the lens during blinking, creating optimum stability on the eye in comparison to traditional GP corneal lenses.
What are the advantages of scleral lenses?
Scleral lenses offer the comfort of a soft lens with the benefits of a GP lens, and even more so for those with sensitive eyes or irregularly shaped corneas. Due to the design of scleral lenses vaulting over the cornea and resting only on the less sensitive sclera, these contact lenses are much more comfortable for people with keratoconus.
Who can benefit from scleral lenses?
Almost anyone who would prefer to have the clearest and sharpest vision possible with a contact lens is a suitable candidate. They are especially advantageous for people with irregular corneas or irregularly shaped eyes, and dry eye syndrome.
