What are Scleral Lenses?

At Sunrise Specialty Lens & Dry Eye Institute, we strive to help you find the very best solution for your vision needs through our advanced, customized fitting process and are proud to offer scleral lenses to our patients.

What are Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses are large-diameter lenses. Though they are larger and cover a majority of the eye, the lens itself does not touch the cornea but instead rests on the sclera or white part of the eye. This makes them much more comfortable than standard contact lenses and a better alternative for patients who experience frequent eye discomfort due to allergies, dust, and debris.

Scleral lenses are designed to protect the cornea and provide a constant source of hydration to your eye. The area between the cornea and the lens is usually filled with saline, but in some cases, antibiotics and artificial tears can be added to help keep the eye hydrated and aid in healing the ocular surface.

Advantages of Scleral Lenses
If you want to wear contact lenses, but have had trouble wearing them in the past, or you’ve been told you are not the right candidate for contacts, scleral contact lenses may be the solution you are looking for. These lenses are now available in bifocal designs too.

These large-diameter GP lenses offer the same advantages as conventional GP lenses compared with soft contacts, including:

• Sharper vision
• Greater durability
• Easier handling
• Less risk of complications
• Longer life of the contact lens

Types of Scleral Lenses

• Corneo-scleral lenses are much larger than conventional GP lenses and rest near the junction between the cornea and the sclera.
• Mini-scleral lenses cover the entire corneal surface and rest on the anterior sclera.
• Full scleral lenses provide the most significant amount of clearance between the back surface of the lens and the cornea.

What Conditions Do Scleral Lenses Help Treat?
Scleral lenses are an effective treatment option for patients with keratoconus, astigmatism, dry eye, Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC), Sjogren’s Syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, corneal trauma, irregularly shaped corneas, and for those who have recently undergone corneal transplants.

The use of scleral lenses is not limited to the conditions mentioned above. These versatile lenses can also be made in a range of prescriptions to help treat a variety of optical needs including nearsightedness, farsightedness and be fitted with multifocal prescriptions if needed.

Caring For Your Scleral Lenses
Your lenses are custom-made for your unique optical needs as such they must be handled with care to ensure their effectiveness. Compared to traditional contact lenses, the application and removal process can be difficult as these lenses are larger.

Improper care of your scleral lenses and solution can increase your risk of infection and eye damage. Follow your doctor’s instructions to minimize risk and protect your vision.

• Always wash your hands and thoroughly dry them before handling your lenses
• Remember to remove your lenses before going to sleep
• Routinely clean and replace your lens case to prevent bacterial contamination.
• Inspect your lenses regularly for scratches, chips, or cracks
• Clean your lenses after wear with the appropriate cleaning solution

Often, insurance will provide 100% coverage of these medically necessary contact lenses and professional service fees if you qualify. Sometimes, however, insurance may only cover the cost of the exam and custom fitting. We recommend that you check with your specific insurance to verify whether scleral lenses are covered.

At Sunrise Specialty Lens & Dry Eye Institute, we are here for your visual needs. For more information on scleral lenses or to schedule an appointment, contact our office today at (954) 845-0665.