Are You a Good Candidate for Scleral Lenses?

The last few years have seen scleral lenses grow in popularity. Manufacturers have created various types of scleral lenses to fit different people. Diversifying these designs has made the lenses available for two types of patients. The first group is those needing scleral lenses because they have a condition requiring them to wear them. The second group is those with some simple refractive errors.

Read on to learn if you are a candidate for scleral lenses.

What Are Scleral Lenses?

There are two primary types of contact lenses available for most people—hard and soft contact lenses. Scleral lenses fall under the hard contact lens category. Hard lenses are usually gas permeable, allowing oxygen to permeate and reach the cornea. 

Scleral contact lenses are larger than regular contact lenses. They usually range between 14 and 24 millimeters in diameter. They rest on the sclera of the eye, hence their name. They vault over the cornea, allowing the eye to form a tear film between the lens and the cornea. The tear film helps keep the cornea well lubricated and allows oxygen to flow freely into the eye. 

Who Is a Candidate for Scleral Lenses?

As stated above, two main groups of patients can use scleral lenses: those needing them medically and those with refractive errors.

Medically Necessary

Irregular Cornea

Irregular corneas are the most common reason eye doctors recommend scleral lenses—specifically, corneal irregularities that cause greater deviations in vision. You can get an irregular cornea from keratoconus, complications in surgery, corneal trauma, or surgery. 

Eye doctors used to prescribe GP lenses for these conditions. Although GP lenses could compensate for corneal irregularity, they still had one problem. The lenses were too small and exerted weight on the irregular cornea, making them a difficult fit. 

On the other hand, scleral lenses had a better design, allowing the lens to vault over the irregular cornea. The design ensures the lens is stable, remains centered, and masks corneal irregularity. 

Ocular Surface Disease

Patients with some systemic conditions will often have an ocular surface disease. The ocular surface disease affects their ability to do daily activities. The scleral lens creates a tear film over the cornea that lubricates the front of the ocular surface. It protects this surface from exposure. Patients experience considerable improvement in vision, which also changes their quality of life.

Refractive Errors

Astigmatism

Patients with astigmatism often struggle with poor vision even when using soft and GP lenses. They are unable to have steady vision with these lenses. Patients with average to severe astigmatism can enjoy scleral lenses. They can effectively overcome corneal astigmatism and provide sharp vision. 

Dry Eye

Some patients suffer from refractive errors and dry eye simultaneously. However, using scleral lenses in this manner is not conventional. Scleral lenses work for patients with dry eyes because of the dam of tears they trap over the cornea. Sometimes, this solution may be more effective than other methods of managing dry eyes.

For more on being a good candidate for scleral lenses, call Refined Eyecare Optometry at (310) 214-0409 to reach our office in Torrance, California.