Scleral contact lenses are big-diameter, made of gas-permeable (GP) contact lenses. These contact lenses allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. They shield both the corneal surface and the white (sclera) of the eye. Scleral ocular lenses are made from a rigid material into a dome shape.
These scleral eye lenses are therapeutic and important if your corneas are not well shaped, as in astigmatism and keratoconus. This gives a smooth ocular surface to correct sight problems caused by corneal irregularities.
There is a space between the surface of the lens and the cornea that serves as a fluid (saline) reservoir on scleral lenses. Thereby, allowing people with severe dry eyes or others to wear lenses comfortably. They improve vision and also work better than eyeglasses or regular contact lenses.
Before using scleral contact lenses, consult an eye doctor to know if scleral lenses fit your needs.
Scleral contact lenses offer a specialized solution for vision correction, combining advanced design with unique benefits for various eye conditions. This article will take you through the key aspects of scleral lenses, including their types, usage, and materials, along with crucial insights on fitting and safety concerns. From care instructions and cost to visual effects and compatibility, we’ll cover everything you need to know. Explore popular brands, user testimonials, expert opinions, and medical benefits, while also examining potential risks, alternatives, and the latest trends. .
What Makes Up Scleral lenses
There are two common types of contact lenses, which are soft and hard contact lenses.
Hard lenses are gas permeable, thereby allowing oxygen to reach your cornea. Scleral contact lenses are larger than soft contact lenses. They’re strong, fit the sclera around the cornea, and hold their shape.
Specialty contact lenses are useful if your corneas are abnormally shaped, like keratoconus, etc. It can also be used after eye surgery as LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis), to correct refractive errors, or corneal transplants. Scleral contact lenses enhance poor vision due to refractive errors. These lenses are used for individuals with keratoconjunctivitis sicca, limbal stem cell deficiency, corneal ectasia, corneal transplants, pellucid marginal degeneration, neurotrophic keratitis, exposure keratitis, PEDs, and cicatrizing conjunctivitis.
The uncommon design of a scleral lens makes the cornea be fully vaulted while the lens fits entirely on the sclera. The post-lens fluid reservoir filled with non-preserved sterile saline always hydrates the cornea, which helps the healing process of the ocular surface.This helps to preventing other desiccation of the ocular surface. It also improves maximum visual sensitivity. Scleral lenses also prevent keratinized or irregular lid margins and cicatricial entropion by protecting the ocular surface, which increases the comfort of the patient.
Specialty contact lenses can correct eye defects like:
- Moderate-high astigmatism
- Sensitive eyes
- Corneal conditions
- Myopia (Nearsightedness)
- (myopia)
- Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
- Presbyopia (difficulty with near vision with age)
- Pellucid marginal degeneration
- Post-penetrating keratoplasty (PKP)
- Hard-to-fit eyes
- Severe dry eye syndrome.
Aside from the medical benefits of scleral lenses, they can be used for cosmetic purposes. It can serve cosmetic purposes such as Halloween, cosplay, changing eye appearance, etc.
Types of scleral lenses
The sizes of the scleral lenses are determined by the degree of complexity of the problem. Larger lenses are needed by those who have dry eyes pathologically or ocular surface disease. This is because they need a bigger tear reservoir.
Scleral lenses are available in three different options:
- Corneo-scleral lenses and semi-scleral lenses. They are the smallest type of scleral lenses and are fixed on the eye where the cornea and sclera join.
- Mini-scleral lenses are the medium-sized scleral lenses. They bend over the cornea and are positioned on the front part of the sclera.
- Full scleral lenses. These are the biggest scleral lenses and provide the largest arch over the cornea. It has increased the space between the lens and the cornea.
- pediatric scleral lenses
- Soft-scleral lenses
- Orthokeratology lenses
- Cosmetic scleral lenses.
Materials Used in Making Scleral Lenses.
There are different new GP lens materials that have become known in clinical practice over time, all of which provide certain advantages to scleral lens patients. Each of the materials used in making scleral lenses has different properties and customization.
A high-DK material is perfect to reduce the risk of corneal hypoxia and edema due to scleral lens wear. However, some patients are such strong depositors that even the best high-DK materials deposit quickly.
Hydra-PEG contact lenses improve the wettability of a scleral lens on the eye, especially in bigger and more static lenses. The polyethlene glycol (PEG)-based polymer layer is covalently bonded to the lens surface—absolutely surrounding the front and back surfaces of the lens. This prevents degradation usually seen in plasma coatings. The PEG polymer acts as a mucin-like surface on the contact lens, increasing the binding of the natural tear layers to the lens and maintaining a more intact lipid layer.
Contamac materials, with lenses that have a hydrophobic spot, require soaking the lens longer than normal when cleaning, up to 48 hours. This longer soak enhances its wettability, as dirt and grease on the lens stop wettability.
The ice blue options from Boston XO2 are helpful for patients who have problems seeing clear lenses. The makeup of the material is the same as the regular XO2 material, including UV protection. Order the XO2 ice blue material for your scleral lenses.
Scleral lenses can provide very good vision and comfort for the wearers but have some risk attached to them. When the lenses are not properly cared for, poor cleaning, or long use can lead to complications like infections or corneal abrasions. It can also cause discomfort if they are fitted correctly. Frequent follow-up appointments with an eye care doctor are important to check the health of the eye and prevent any problem like corneal edema immediately.
How to Care for Your Scleral Lenses
Caring for your scleral lenses is necessary for your eye health and sight. Here are lists of how to care for your scleral lenses:
- Don’t sleep or nap with your scleral lenses. Sleeping or napping in your contact lenses can be risky to your eye health and can lead to corneal ulcers, abrasions, and other serious complications.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before touching and fixing your lenses.
- Wash your scleral lenses daily with a multi-purpose lens solution. Debris and bacteria can pile up on the surface of your lens over time. A buildup of foreign matter can cause severe eye infections and vision-threatening complications. Clean your scleral lenses on a daily basis to protect your eye health. Stick to your doctor’s advice on how to thoroughly clean and sterilize your lenses.
- Use a preservative-free solution to fill your lens storage case. Don’t use tap water to replace your storage solution. Tap water can contain acanthamoeba, a microorganism that can lead to serious, painful, and vision-threatening eye infections.
- Change your lens storage case as directed by your eye doctor. Changing your lens storage case on a daily basis will reduce your risk of bacterial contamination and keep your scleral lenses clean and germ-free for frequent use.
- do not share your lens wit anyone no mater the relationship and situation. It can cause adverse issue for you.
The Cost of Scleral Lenses.
Scleral lenses cost about three to four times more than common contact lenses. Their prices range from $500 to $4,000 per lens.
These lenses cost more than regular contact lenses because they are custom-fitted. This fitting requires using a computerized map to measure the cornea’s curvature. Different sizes and curvatures are tried during the fitting process. The complexity of the patient’s vision problem determines if an extra adjustment will be needed.
List of Popular and Reputable Scleral Lens
You dont dont just buy lenses from any vendor. Ensure you follow your doctor prescription or better still communicate with Kaima cosmetics special online eye consultant before purchasing your lenses; You can buy your lenses from the following trusted vendors
- Kiama Costmetics
- Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc.
- Visionary Optics
- Cooper Vision
Potential Risks of Wearing Scleral Lenses.
The potential risk linked to wearing scleral lenses can lead to no symptoms or just milder symptoms. These symptoms can be solved temporarily by not wearing contact lenses or using eye drops prescribed by your eye doctor.
Some of these potential risks may include:
- Increased dry eyes
- Oxygen deprivation
- Cornea edema
- Neovascularization: new blood vessels growing onto the cornea, which can cause redness of the eyes.
- Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis. This is a bump that appears underneath the eyelid.
- Allergies affecting the eyes
- Corneal abrasion: a scratch or scrape on the cornea
- Contact Lens-induced Acute Red Eye (CLARE): red, irritated eyes
- Corneal infiltrates: irritation of the cornea indicating inflammation or even infection.