Scleral Contact Lenses
Scleral contact lenses are large, rigid gas-permeable lenses that sit on the sclera (the white of the eye) rather than directly on the cornea. They vault over the cornea and create a fluid-filled reservoir, which improves comfort, vision quality, and ocular surface health.
Because they do not touch the sensitive cornea, scleral lenses are often far more comfortable than traditional rigid lenses, even for people with complex eye conditions.
Who Can Benefit?
Scleral lenses are typically prescribed when standard soft or rigid lenses are not sufficient for achieving clear vision or comfort.
Keratoconus & Irregular Corneas
Helps correct distorted vision caused by a cone-shaped cornea or uneven surfaces resulting from surgery, trauma, or corneal disease.
Severe Dry Eye Disease
The fluid reservoir continuously bathes the cornea in preservative-free saline, providing relief from chronic dryness and irritation.
Post-Surgical Corneas
Often used after procedures such as LASIK, RK, or corneal grafts where the corneal shape has become unstable or irregular.
Key Benefits
- - Excellent Comfort: Minimal corneal contact significantly reduces lens awareness.
- - Stable Vision: The rigid material maintains its shape, correcting irregular optics.
- - Hydration: Supports the ocular surface throughout the day via the saline reservoir.
- - Protection: Acts as a physical barrier against wind, dust, and environmental exposure.
- - Custom Design: Individually fitted to the unique shape of each patient's eye.
Wearing and Care Tips
Proper handling is essential for maintaining both the lenses and your long-term eye health.
- - Always wash and dry hands thoroughly before handling lenses.
- - Fill the lens bowl with preservative-free saline before insertion.
- - Never use tap water on your lenses or your lens case.
- - Use only solutions specifically recommended for gas-permeable lenses.
- - Attend all follow-up visits to monitor the fit and health of your cornea.
Warning: Any sudden redness, pain, discharge, or unexplained blur should be assessed by your practitioner promptly.
Scleral lenses require a specialised fitting process and are typically more costly than standard contact lenses. While they require a period of adaptation, many patients achieve life-changing improvements in both comfort and visual clarity.
Clinical References
1. Contact Lens Society of South Africa (n.d.)
Scleral Lenses. Available at:
https://www.clssa.co.za/sclerallenses
2. WebMD (2024) What to Know About Scleral Contact Lenses.
Available at:
https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/what-to-know-about-scleral-contact-lenses
3. Cleveland Clinic (2024) Scleral Lenses. Available at:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/scleral-lenses
4. Optometrists.org (n.d.)
Who Can Benefit from Scleral Lenses? Available at:
https://www.optometrists.org/general-practice-optometry/optical/guide-to-contact-lenses/what-are-scleral-lenses/who-can-benefit-from-scleral-lenses/