More on Scleral Lenses and Dry Eye

Scleral Lenses consist of roughly 1.3% of all contact lenses fit globally but they are a game-changer since they are not fitted by all eye care practitioners and they require dedicated time and effort differing with every patient. Even though they are somehow costly they last for more than a year. They may take few more visits to fit but they are customized to fit the shape of the eye. They sit on the sclera however, they don’t touch the cornea (which is why they are significantly comfortable) and don’t cause any intraocular pressure therefore they are significantly safe. Due to fogging sometimes, patients would need to remove them during the day for cleaning however, they provide longer and better comfort and don’t dry out during the day. They existed since the first contact lenses were conceptualized and invented and they gained more popularity with the advancement of computerized manufacturing. Advancement in manufacturing provided additional lens designs that include further distinctions like corneo-scleral lenses and mini-scleral, and large-scleral lenses.

Scleral lenses usage includes patients with irregular corneas (hard to fit with conventional contact lenses), Keratoconus or any type of corneal degeneration or dystrophy, transplants, scarring or trauma, or post-LASIK complications, allergies, and dry eye. Dryness and end-of-day discomfort are the most common complaints we receive from regular contact lens wearers. Scleral lenses help maintain a healthy ocular surface. Properly fit scleral lenses vault the cornea maintaining a layer of tears that continually moisturize the surface of the cornea. This phenomenon benefits patients suffering from severe dry eye or any ocular surface disorder. Scleral lenses provide an ongoing therapeutic effect by keeping the corneal surface protected from trauma, irritation, dehydration, and desiccation. Scleral lenses have been proved to be effective in treating dry eye syndrome. In particular, mini scleral contact lenses are helpful in the management of moderate to severe dry eyes. Due to the coverage beyond the surface of the cornea, scleral lenses protect the eye from smoke, irritants, or other foreign debris that cause the eye to dry out. While other options exist for treating dry eye, scleral lenses allow the combination of various functions: cosmetic, visual correction, comfort, and ocular surface rehabilitation.