If you got told in the past that you can’t wear contact lenses since there are chances of having an unusual cornea or different issues, you might need to hear the second point of view and get some information about scleral contact lenses.
Scleral contact lenses are gas absorbent and are really big to cover up the entire corneal surface and get fixed on the “white portion of your eye (sclera)”. Scleral lenses dislocate the incompatible cornea with a comfortable and smooth optical surface to tackle vision-related problems recognized by keratoconus.
It also provides comfort for the people with severe dry eyes because sclera contact lenses act as a fluid reservoir between space in the cornea and black surface.
There are some factors about sclera contact lenses that you should know about:
7 Interesting facts about sclera contact lenses:
1. Kinds of Scleral Lenses
Scleral contact lenses are distinctly more prominent than the regular gas permeable (GP) contact lenses, and its diameter is larger than that of any soft contacts.
Semi-scleral and large-Scleral gas permeable contacts can fix the sclera and leap over the irregular cornea with keratoconus and improve vision.
Usually, lenses that are 18mm or smaller split into secondary or subordinate categories as mini-scleral.
The smallest sclera contact lenses created to protect and cover up the entire corneal surface. A regular human cornea is almost around 11.8 mm.
Another type of gas permeable lens connects the size gap between regular GP contact lenses and min-scleral. The corneoscleral lenses, by and large, are around 13 to 15 mm in diameter.
Those who prefer or use larger than usual Gas Preamble (GP) lenses for greater comfort, Cornea-scleral lenses are basically an excellent choice. They are regularly usable when contact lenses required after LASIK or other corneal refractive procedures to address uneven astigmatism.
Mini or smaller scleral contact lenses can be inexpensive and need fewer consideration things; they can also be simpler to apply as compared to other lenses.
Your eye care professional will decide the best sclera contact lenses’ type, which is suitable for you while your contact lens evaluation happens.
2. Lenses for Keratoconus
Many eye care experts, including ophthalmologists, suggest scleral contact lenses as an option for an assortment of difficult-to-fit eyes, incorporating keratoconus eyes.
In early keratoconus, a standard Gas Preamble (GP) lens may be useful. In any case, if the lenses don’t fix suitably on the eye or move particularly with blinks and become upset, shifting towards large-diameter scleral contact lenses may handle the issue.
They are made to fit with little or no lens movement during blinks because they are designed in such a way to be more stable on the eye than traditional corneal gas permeable lenses.
3. Lenses for Various Other Eye Problems
These lenses can also be useful when it comes to other eye problems, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, eyes that have undergone a cornea transplant, and graft-versus-host disease.
New advancements in technologies allow manufacturers to create scleral lenses that can solve many problems than ever before, especially bifocal scleral for presbyopia correction.
4. Special-Effect of the Scleral Contacts
Scleral lenses (or “sclera contact lenses”) are also useful in defining contact lenses that have a unique effect that dramatically modifies the wearer’s eyes’ appearance. These lenses are also known as Halloween, theatrical, or gothic lenses, which are really soft and comfortable to wear. They have a little similarity to scleral gas permeable lenses other than their large diameter to cover the cornea fully. These are produced for therapeutic purposes just and not for vision remedy.
5. Scleral Lenses Addresses the healing of the ocular surface.
Improving vision is just one piece of what a scleral lens does. They likewise secure the eye by presenting it to a gas penetrable liquid-filled chamber. This design provides the eye with the moisture and oxygen it needs to stay healthy. It also protects the eye from external threats and irritants. Scleral lenses are excellent for advanced restoration of the ocular surface. They are useful after a corneal transplant or during recovery from a chemical or burn injury.
The benefits of scleral contact lenses make them a popular choice. Many patients choose them for clearer and more comfortable vision. Please do not ignore the advantages of sclera contact lenses. They incorporate incredibly innovative technology that is readily available everywhere for patients today.
6. They Work even when others don’t.
Scleral lenses are useful for patients who cannot find a contact lens that works well. They also help correct vision problems effectively.
Each scleral contact lens is hand-crafted for the patient. The lenses should fit properly on the cornea. This ensures a consistent supply of liquid between the lens and the cornea. This structure guarantees the eye stays hydrated during the whole time the lens is worn. What’s more, the liquid layer makes up for any abnormalities looking like the cornea, which improves vision.
7. Scleral lenses are not at all expensive.
One common myth about scleral lenses is that they are much more expensive than standard soft lenses. These lenses must be fitted and customized for each individual eye. This requires more work when prescribing them. Many patients assume this will lead to a higher cost. Patients are frequently astounded to find scleral lenses are not unnecessarily costly. Apart from being inexpensive, these lenses are also available in the market without a prescription! Now, if you want to have lenses without a prescription, your go-to stop can be sclera.
Scleral contact lenses, often covered by insurance, provide significant benefits over standard lenses. They improve both comfort and vision, making patients willing to invest in them. If the lenses are properly cleaned and stored, they can last longer than all other types of contact lenses.