Scleral Lenses

Have you been told that contact lenses are not available in your prescription or have you struggled to achieve optimal vision in glasses? If so, scleral lenses may be for you!

What are scleral lenses?

Scleral lenses are large hard contact lenses that are custom designed for each individual patient. They are filled with fluid before insertion, and they are designed to rest on the sclera (the white of the eye) and vault over the cornea (the clear front visual surface of the eye). Patients with irregular corneal surfaces, corneal disease like keratoconus, or dryness may benefit from scleral lenses. The scleral lens vaults over any irregularities and creates a new surface for the eye to see through. Scleral lenses are a custom medical device and are prescribed only by licensed eye doctors.

Which conditions could benefit from scleral contact lenses?

Keratoconus
Refractive Surgery Complications: Radial Keratotomy (RK), LASIK, PRK, Lasek, etc.

• Scarred or Irregular corneas
• Irregular or High Astigmatism, High Sphere Prescription
• Keratoglobus
• Corneal Degenerations: Terriens, Pellucid Marginal, Salzmanns, etc.
• Recurrent Corneal Erosion
• Severe Dry Eye / Sjogren's Syndrome
• Post Corneal Transplant
• Corneal Eye Injury
• Ocular Nerve Damage
• Image size difference between eyes: Anisometropia/ Aniseikonia/ Spectacle Magnification
• Inadequate vision with current glasses
• Intolerance to soft or RGP contact lenses
  

What is the typical scleral lens prescribing process like?

1. Prior to scleral lenses prescribing, a complete eye examination is needed to determine if scleral lenses are an appropriate treatment option for you.
2. An appointment is scheduled to capture measurements of the front surface of the eye, fit your eyes with a diagnostic scleral lens, and an on-eye evaluation and vision check is performed to gather all the necessary data needed to order your custom scleral lenses.
3. Follow up appointments are needed to evaluate your scleral lenses on your eyes and make appropriate fine tuning adjustments. Additional follow up appointments and lens parameter changes may be made until the optimal fit and prescription is achieved.
4. The final scleral lens is a one-of-a-kind, fully customized lens unique to each patient’s eye

What happens after scleral lenses are prescribed?

Many scleral lens wearers have underlying medical eye conditions such as keratoconus, ocular surface disease, or other corneal complications. Follow up visits are important to long-term ocular health and scleral lens success. Follow up recommendations are made at the discretion of your eye doctor.

Want more information? Listed below are links to additional resources for scleral contact lenses:

Insertion and Removal Video

Insertion and Removal Text

Scleral Lens Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Both Dr. BoKaye Dietmeier and Dr. Aja Kimrey perform scleral lens fittings at our East location.