What are Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses are a specialized type of contact lens made of rigid gas permeable (RGP) material. These lenses differ from traditional contact lenses in several key ways. Unlike other contacts that touch the cornea, scleral lenses are designed to vault over the entire cornea and rest on the white part of the eye, known as the sclera. Typically, scleral lenses have a diameter ranging from 15 to 24 millimeters, which is significantly larger than the 8 to 14.5 millimeter range of standard contact lenses.This unique design provides a wide range of advantages.
Advantages of Scleral Lenses
Scleral lenses offer a multitude of advantages over traditional contact lenses. Let’s dive into the key benefits:
- Improved Comfort: The scleral lens design, with its larger diameter and vaulted shape, reduces the direct interaction between the lens and the sensitive corneal surface. This minimizes friction and irritation, providing a significantly more comfortable wearing experience for the wearer.
- Enhanced Corneal Protection: By vaulting over the entire cornea, scleral lenses create a protective tear-filled space that shields the cornea from external factors, such as wind, dust, and dry air. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with corneal irregularities or conditions like keratoconus, where the cornea is more susceptible to damage.
- Improved Vision Quality: Scleral lenses are designed to provide a smooth, uniform optical surface, which can significantly improve visual acuity and clarity. This is especially advantageous for individuals with corneal irregularities or refractive errors that traditional contact lenses struggle to correct.
- Reduced Dry Eye Symptoms: The tear-filled space between the scleral lens and the cornea helps to maintain a consistent and stable tear film, which can alleviate dry eye symptoms. This can be beneficial for individuals who suffer from dry eye disease or other ocular surface conditions.
- Increased Wearing Comfort: The larger diameter of scleral lenses, coupled with the vaulted design, often results in a more comfortable wearing experience, especially for individuals who have struggled with the fit and feel of traditional contact lenses.
- Versatility in Correction: Scleral lenses can be customized to address a wide range of refractive errors, including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and even irregular corneal conditions like keratoconus, which can be challenging to correct with standard contact lenses.
Disadvantages of Scleral Lenses
While scleral lenses offer numerous advantages, it’s important to be aware of some potential drawbacks as well:
- Increased Cost: Scleral lenses are generally more expensive than traditional contact lenses, primarily due to the specialized design, customization, and fitting process involved.
- Insertion and Removal Complexity: Inserting and removing scleral lenses can be more challenging compared to standard contact lenses, as the larger diameter and vaulted shape require a specific technique and practice to master.
- Adaptation Period: Transitioning to scleral lenses may require an adjustment period, as the wearer’s eyes and eyelids adapt to the larger lens size and unique fit. This adaptation period can vary from individual to individual.
- Increased Maintenance: Scleral lenses require more meticulous cleaning and care compared to traditional contact lenses, as the larger lens surface and tear-filled space can harbor more deposits and bacteria if not properly maintained.
- Potential for Corneal Edema: In rare cases, the tear-filled space between the scleral lens and the cornea can lead to corneal edema (swelling) if the lens is not properly fitted or if the wearer experiences issues with oxygen permeability.
It’s important to weigh these potential disadvantages against the significant benefits that scleral lenses can offer, in order to make an informed decision about whether they are the right choice for your individual needs and preferences.
Scleral Lenses vs. Traditional Contact Lenses
When it comes to the comparison between scleral lenses and traditional contact lenses, the key differences lie in their design, fitting process, and the specific benefits they offer.
Traditional contact lenses are designed to rest directly on the cornea, whereas scleral lenses vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the white part of the eye, known as the sclera. This fundamental difference in design leads to distinct advantages and disadvantages for each type of lens.
Traditional contact lenses are generally more affordable, widely available, and easier to insert and remove. However, they may not provide the same level of comfort, corneal protection, and vision quality as scleral lenses, especially for individuals with irregular corneal conditions or severe dry eye symptoms.
Scleral lenses, on the other hand, offer enhanced comfort, improved corneal protection, and better visual acuity, particularly for those with corneal irregularities or refractive errors. The larger diameter and vaulted design of scleral lenses create a tear-filled space that can alleviate dry eye symptoms and provide a more stable tear film. Additionally, scleral lenses can be customized to address a wider range of vision and ocular surface conditions.
The trade-off is that scleral lenses are typically more expensive, require a more complex fitting process, and may take longer for the wearer to adapt to the larger lens size and unique insertion/removal technique.
Ultimately, the choice between scleral lenses and traditional contact lenses will depend on your individual needs, eye health, and personal preferences. Our team of eye care professionals can help you weigh the pros and cons of each option and guide you towards the best solution for your specific requirements.
Custom Scleral Lenses
In addition to the standard scleral lens designs, custom scleral lenses, such as wavefront guided scleral lenses, are also available to address more complex or unique eye conditions. These custom lenses are tailored to the individual’s specific needs, providing an even higher level of customization and precision.
Some key features of custom scleral lenses include:
- Customized Lens Shape: The shape of the scleral lens can be precisely engineered to match the unique contours of the individual’s eye, ensuring a more comfortable and stable fit.
- Specialized Optical Corrections: Custom scleral lenses can incorporate advanced optical corrections, such as customized aspheric or toric designs, to address complex refractive errors or irregular corneal conditions.
- Specific Material Selection: The lens material can be selected based on the individual’s specific needs, such as increased oxygen permeability for individuals with dry eye or enhanced durability for active lifestyles.
- Specialized Coatings: Custom scleral lenses may feature specialized coatings, such as anti-reflective or hydrophilic treatments, to enhance visual performance and comfort.
- Unique Lens Designs: In some cases, custom scleral lenses may feature innovative designs, such as mini-scleral or semi-scleral configurations, to address specific eye conditions or patient preferences.
The process of obtaining custom scleral lenses typically involves a more detailed eye examination, advanced diagnostic testing, and close collaboration between your eye care professional and the specialized lens manufacturer. While the cost of custom scleral lenses may be higher, the increased level of customization and precision can be invaluable for individuals with complex vision or ocular surface needs.
Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus
Scleral lenses for keratoconus are a particularly game-changing solution. Keratoconus can pose significant challenges for traditional contact lens wearers, as the irregular corneal shape can cause distortion, discomfort, and reduced visual acuity. However, scleral lenses offer several key advantages for individuals with keratoconus:
- Corneal Clearance and Protection: The vaulted design of scleral lenses allows them to completely clear the irregularly shaped cornea, providing a protective tear-filled space that shields the cornea from external factors.
- Improved Visual Acuity: Scleral lenses can help correct the visual distortions caused by the irregular corneal shape, providing a more uniform optical surface and significantly improving visual clarity.
- Enhanced Comfort: The larger diameter and scleral-based fit of scleral lenses can minimize the discomfort and irritation often experienced by keratoconus patients with traditional contact lenses.
- Stabilization of the Cornea: Scleral lenses can help stabilize the cornea and slow the progression of keratoconus, particularly when combined with other treatment modalities, such as corneal cross-linking.
For individuals with keratoconus, the specialized fitting process and customization options available with scleral lenses make them a highly effective and often life-changing solution. By providing enhanced corneal protection, improved visual acuity, and greater comfort, scleral lenses can significantly improve the quality of life for those living with this challenging eye condition.
Conclusion: Making an Informed Decision about Scleral Lenses
As you’ve learned, scleral lenses offer a range of unique advantages over traditional contact lenses, particularly for individuals with complex vision or ocular surface needs. From improved comfort and corneal protection to enhanced visual acuity and reduced dry eye symptoms, scleral lenses can be a game-changer for many contact lens wearers.
To determine if scleral lenses are the right choice for you, schedule a consultation with our team of long-time specialists in scleral lens fitting. We can conduct a comprehensive examination, discuss your specific needs and preferences, and guide you through the fitting process to ensure you achieve the best possible results with scleral lens wear.
Remember, the decision to switch to scleral lenses is a highly personal one, and we will be there to support you every step of the way. With the right information and guidance, you can make an informed decision that will lead to improved eye health, enhanced visual performance, and a more comfortable and confident lifestyle.
