Contact lenses offer a wonderful alternative to traditional eyeglasses. They’re a comfortable, convenient solution to all kinds of problems. But sometimes, regular contacts can’t do the trick, and you need something a little more specialized—like scleral lenses.
Scleral lenses are larger than regular contacts. Rather than sitting on the surface of the cornea, these lenses rest on the whites of your eyes and arch over the cornea. This makes them an excellent solution to problems like astigmatism, dry eye, and more.
The Basics of Contact Lenses
The human eye can be complex at first. For you to see clearly, light needs to enter through the clear tissue at the front of your eye. The curved nature of this tissue—your cornea and natural lens—bends light so it can focus on the retina. However, this tissue isn’t always perfectly shaped, and light can’t enter the eye properly. Instead, it reaches the wrong parts of the eye and causes blurry vision.
When you place a contact lens on your eye, it creates a new refractive surface. This means that as light passes through the lens, it’s bent in a way that focuses it properly on your retina. This process allows you to see clearly—much like how glasses work—but without anything sitting on your face.
Traditional contact lenses come in various types and materials. However, there’s a bit of a problem; some eye conditions can make it harder or more uncomfortable to wear regular contacts. Because these lenses are designed to rest on your cornea, almost any condition that makes the cornea more sensitive can make contacts more difficult to use.
How Do Scleral Lenses Work?
When there’s a problem with your cornea, scleral lenses are often recommended. These are similar to regular contacts, but with a twist; rather than touching the cornea directly, scleral lenses rest on the whites of your eyes and arch over the cornea without making direct contact.
This creates a small gap between the cornea and the contact lens where tears can rest. This helps provide you with a smooth, comfortable surface to counteract irregular corneas. Meanwhile, the reservoir gap at the back helps keep your eye hydrated and comfortable.
Because of their different shape, scleral lenses are larger than regular contacts. This makes them less likely to move around or dislodge themselves when you’re blinking, making them a consistent and reliable solution to all kinds of vision problems.
What are Scleral Lenses For?
Scleral lenses aren’t just another option in the world of contact lenses; they’re an incredible solution for a range of different health issues.
Due to their unique design, scleral lenses are suitable for conditions that traditional lenses can’t support. These conditions can include:
- Keratoconus
- Dry eye
- Astigmatism
- Ocular damage
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and bulge outward. This makes it more difficult to wear regular contacts—especially as the condition worsens.
Scleral lenses can arch over this irregular cornea without touching it, giving you clear and comfortable vision despite the unusual shape.
Dry Eye
Dry eye develops when there’s an imbalance in your tear film that leaves your eyes exposed and unprotected. This condition often leads to overly sensitive corneas, which can make regular contact lenses uncomfortable to wear.
Scleral lenses can help with dry eyes because of how they arch over the cornea. They can serve a dual purpose—giving you clear vision while trapping a small amount of tears to rest on the cornea. This makes them an ideal way to deal with dry eye when regular contacts are no longer an option.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea isn’t perfectly rounded, causing distorted or blurred vision. While there are several types of astigmatism, they all lead to the same result—light scatters inside the eye and causes blurry vision. This can be difficult to treat with regular contact lenses.
Meanwhile, this is where scleral lenses shine. Their larger size and unique design allow them to provide seamless vision correction by covering the entire cornea, giving a more stable optical surface. This gives you clear, comfortable vision to correct your astigmatism.
Ocular Damage
Ocular damage can be a serious problem, especially if you rely on contact lenses for clear vision. Whether due to surgery, injury, or scarring, any type of ocular damage can significantly impair your vision while simultaneously making it uncomfortable to wear your contacts.
Scleral lenses are a fantastic alternative in this case. Their design not only provides a stable optical surface but also offers a protective layer over the damaged areas. This shields the eye from environmental irritants while still giving you clear vision.
Visit Us to Get Scleral Lenses
Scleral lenses offer a wonderful way to deal with all kinds of problems. Their unique design gives you comfortable and clear vision without worrying about the limitations of traditional contact lenses.
If you’re looking for a solution to your vision problems, scleral lenses might be the answer. So come talk to our team at Fontana Optometric Group! We can examine your eyes and find out if scleral lenses are the right approach for you, so book an appointment with us today.
