Scleral & Specialty Contact Lenses
Scleral & Specialty Contact Lenses in Stony Point, NY
Standard contact lenses do not work for every eye. Some patients need a more individualized approach to achieve clear, comfortable vision.
Vision Plus provides scleral and specialty contact lens evaluations and fittings for patients with keratoconus, irregular corneas, dry eye, and other challenging vision needs.
What Are Specialty Contact Lenses?
Specialty contact lenses are designed for patients whose vision, eye shape, or eye condition makes conventional contact lenses difficult to wear or unable to provide satisfactory vision.
These lenses may use different materials, sizes, shapes, and fitting designs to address the individual characteristics of the eye.
A detailed evaluation helps determine which type of specialty contact lens may be appropriate for your vision and eye health.
Conventional Contact Lenses
Not every patient needs a specialty contact lens. For many people, conventional contact lenses can provide clear, comfortable vision for everyday activities without relying on eyeglasses.
Vision Plus provides contact lens evaluations and fittings based on your prescription, eye health, corneal shape, lifestyle, and previous contact lens experience. Options may include soft contact lenses and rigid gas-permeable lenses, depending on your individual needs.
Conventional contact lenses can address a variety of vision needs, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Proper fitting is important because contact lenses must provide good vision and comfort while also supporting the health of your eyes.
If conventional lenses have been uncomfortable or have not provided the vision you need, Vision Plus can also evaluate whether a specialty contact lens may be a better option.
What Are Scleral Contact Lenses?
Scleral lenses are larger-diameter specialty contact lenses designed to vault over the cornea and rest on the white portion of the eye, called the sclera.
Instead of sitting directly on the cornea like many conventional contact lenses, a scleral lens creates a fluid-filled space between the lens and the corneal surface.
This design can provide a smooth optical surface while helping maintain moisture over the cornea.
How Do Scleral Lenses Work?
Because scleral lenses vault over the cornea, they can create a new, smooth optical surface over an irregular cornea.
The space between the lens and the cornea is filled with preservative-free saline before the lens is inserted.
For appropriate patients, this combination can help improve vision while maintaining a fluid reservoir over the corneal surface. Each lens must be carefully selected and fitted to the individual eye.
Who May Benefit From Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses may be considered for patients whose eyes or vision needs make conventional contact lenses difficult to use.
They may be appropriate for some patients with:
• Keratoconus
• Irregular corneas
• Corneal scarring
• Certain post-surgical corneal conditions
• Significant dry eye
• Difficulty wearing conventional contact lenses
• Vision that cannot be adequately corrected with standard lenses
A specialty contact lens evaluation is necessary to determine whether scleral lenses are appropriate for your individual eyes.
Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus
Keratoconus causes the cornea to become thinner and develop an irregular, cone-like shape.
Because the corneal surface is irregular, ordinary glasses or conventional contact lenses may not always provide satisfactory vision.
A scleral lens vaults over the irregular cornea and creates a smoother optical surface, which may provide improved vision for appropriate patients with keratoconus.
Vision Plus evaluates the individual shape and condition of the eye before recommending a specialty lens solution.
Scleral Lenses and Dry Eye
Some patients with significant dry eye may have difficulty comfortably wearing conventional contact lenses.
Because a scleral lens vaults over the cornea and maintains a fluid reservoir between the lens and the corneal surface, it may provide a useful option for certain patients with dry eye.
Dry eye has many possible causes, however, and scleral lenses are not appropriate for every patient.
A comprehensive evaluation helps determine the cause of your symptoms and whether specialty contact lenses should be considered.
Specialty Contact Lenses Require a Personalized Fit
Specialty contact lenses are not one-size-fits-all.
The shape of the cornea, sclera, prescription, eye health, comfort, and visual needs can all influence lens selection and design.
Vision Plus carefully evaluates your eyes before fitting specialty lenses. The fitting process may involve diagnostic lenses, measurements, vision testing, and adjustments to achieve an appropriate fit.
More Than One Specialty Lens Solution
Scleral lenses are an important specialty contact lens option, but they are not the only type of specialized lens.
Different eye conditions, corneal shapes, prescriptions, and visual needs may require different contact lens designs.
Vision Plus evaluates each patient individually rather than assuming that one lens type is appropriate for every challenging contact lens case.
The goal is to identify a lens solution that supports vision, comfort, eye health, and the patient's everyday needs.
What to Expect During a Specialty Contact Lens Evaluation
A specialty contact lens evaluation begins with understanding your vision, eye health, previous contact lens experience, and the difficulties you are experiencing.
Your evaluation may include examination of the cornea, measurements of the eye, assessment of your prescription, and diagnostic lens fitting.
Because specialty lenses are individualized, finding the appropriate lens may require more than one visit and adjustments during the fitting process.
Follow-up allows Vision Plus to evaluate vision, comfort, lens fit, and eye health as you begin wearing your lenses.
Caring for Scleral & Specialty Contact Lenses
Proper handling, cleaning, disinfection, and storage are important when wearing specialty contact lenses.
Scleral lens wearers also need to learn how to properly fill, insert, remove, and care for their lenses.
Vision Plus provides instructions based on your specific lenses and wearing routine.
Follow the lens-care products and wearing schedule recommended by your eye doctor. If you experience unusual pain, redness, sensitivity to light, or changes in vision, remove your lenses and contact your eye-care provider.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scleral & Specialty Contact Lenses
What is a scleral contact lens?
A scleral lens is a large-diameter specialty contact lens designed to vault over the cornea and rest on the sclera, creating a fluid-filled space between the lens and corneal surface.
How are scleral lenses different from regular contact lenses?
Many conventional contact lenses rest on or move across the cornea. Scleral lenses are larger and designed to vault over the cornea while resting on the sclera.
Can scleral lenses help people with keratoconus?
Scleral lenses may provide improved vision for some patients with keratoconus by creating a smooth optical surface over the irregular cornea.
Can scleral lenses be used for dry eye?
They may be considered for certain patients with significant dry eye because the lens maintains a fluid reservoir over the cornea. An evaluation is necessary to determine whether they are appropriate for an individual patient.
Are scleral lenses difficult to put in?
Scleral lenses require a different insertion and removal technique than many conventional contact lenses. Vision Plus can teach patients how to properly handle and care for their lenses.
How long does a specialty contact lens fitting take?
The fitting process varies by patient. Because specialty lenses are individualized, multiple evaluations or adjustments may be necessary to achieve an appropriate fit.
How do I know which specialty contact lens I need?
Your eye shape, prescription, eye health, condition, comfort, and visual needs must be evaluated before determining which lens design may be appropriate.
Find a Contact Lens Solution Designed for Your Eyes
If conventional contact lenses have not provided the vision or comfort you need, a specialty contact lens evaluation may reveal additional options.
Vision Plus provides individualized scleral and specialty contact lens fitting for patients with complex vision needs in Stony Point, NY.