If you have keratoconus or another eye condition that makes your cornea an irregular shape, you may already know that wearing regular contact lenses might not be the best option. Patients who have a condition that makes it impossible for a contact lens to sit directly on the cornea may also be unable to wear regular contact lenses. Scleral lenses are made for these types of situations to provide the vision clarity you need without having to rely on glasses. If you live in or around Prosper, TX, and are considering regular or scleral contact lenses, our optometrists at Eye Gallery are here to help. We will answer any questions that you may have and make sure you get the right lenses to correct your vision.
What Are Scleral Contact Lenses?
Scleral contact lenses are rigid contact lenses that sit on the sclera, which is the white portion of your eye. Most contacts sit on the cornea, but if your cornea cannot handle having something directly on it, the solution is to have the lens sit on the eye around the cornea. The lens is rigid so it curves over the cornea without actually touching it, but it is also gas-permeable, so oxygen can still reach your eye.
There Is No One-Size-Fits-All
Any time the cornea cannot handle having something lay directly on it, or if the cornea is an irregular shape, you need to consider scleral lenses instead of regular contacts. There is a space between the lens and the cornea when you wear scleral lenses, this space helps avoid irritating the cornea.
Conditions
Scleral contact lenses usually work well for people with keratoconus, dry eye (especially severe dry eye), Sjogren's syndrome, corneal transplants, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and graft-versus-host disease. Other conditions that may require scleral lenses include neurotrophic keratitis, exposure keratitis, and corneal ectasia.
Common Types of Scleral Contacts
Scleral contact lenses are usually called scleral lenses. There are different sizes, so mini scleral lenses exist as well. You may also hear them referred to as rigid large-diameter gas permeable lenses. Please note that the "scleral" lenses used in costumes are not the same as true scleral contacts used to correct corneal conditions.
Contact Eye Gallery for Scleral Contact Lenses
If you use glasses for vision correction and have been told that contact lenses are not an option in the past, our optometrists at Eye Gallery might be able to help. We will perform a comprehensive eye exam and determine if scleral contact lenses are right for you. Call our Prosper office today at (214) 305-4020 or our Plano office at (972) 519-0006. You can also reach us through our website by using our online contact form.