What are Scleral Contact Lenses?

Do you struggle with wearing contact lenses? Are your eyes “hard to fit.” There are a variety of conditions that can create difficulty when wearing contact lenses including keratoconus and dry eyes.

Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease where the normally round cornea thins and bulges into a cone-like shape. This shape deflects light causing distorted vision and can occur in one or both eyes.

One solution to this condition is scleral contact lenses. Scleral contacts are large in diameter and are gas permeable. They cover the entire surface of the cornea and rest on the “white” of the eye—the sclera.  Because of their size, these lenses are more stable on the eye making them more comfortable to wear. They are made with breathable, rigid gas-permeable material.
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There are several types of Scleral Lenses.:
• Corneo Scleral Lenses & Semi-Scleral Lenses | These lenses are much larger than conventional gas-permeable lenses and rest near the junction between the cornea and sclera.
• Mini-Scleral Lenses | These contacts completely cover the entire corneal surface and rest on the anterior sclera.
• Full Scleral Lenses | The largest of the Scleral Lenses, these contacts proved the most clearance between the back surface of the lens and the cornea.

​If you are suffering from irregular corneas, hard-to-fit eyes or dry eyes, Scleral Contact Lenses might be the answer for you. Contact Bayside Vision Center today for a fitting and to see if these special lenses can help you.

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