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Most contact lenses sit on the clear, front part of the eye known as the cornea. Corneal contact lenses include gas-permeable lenses and soft contacts. Scleral lenses, by contrast, do not touch the cornea at all, but rather form a bridge across it. Scleral lenses touch the white part of the eye, known as the sclera. Because the sclera doesn’t have as many nerve endings, it is much less sensitive to the contact lens, and for this reason scleral lenses can be more comfortable when compared to other corneal lens options. The fact that a scleral lens is made with gas-permeable material also gives it unique vision correcting properties.

Scleral lenses are also unique because they don’t move in the eye. Once a lens is placed on the eye, it remains in that same position. This seals the cornea and protects it from interactions with the lids, the contact lens, and environmental particulates such as dust.

Scleral lenses are a great option for those patients that require a custom contact lens in order to see clearly. Keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, post-surgical ectasia, post-radial keratometry, post-LASIK/PRK, and extreme dry eye patients all benefit greatly from this lens. Some patients have normal corneas, but are not tolerant of soft and gas-permeable lens designs. These patients may have high nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, but otherwise normal corneas. There are scleral lens options for those patients which can provide great comfort and vision.

Please call our office at (303) 450-2020, or use the button below to schedule a contact lens consultation to learn if scleral lenses would help you see more clearly and more comfortably.

 

Patient Conditions that Can Benefit from Scleral Lenses

  • Keratoconus
  • Pellucid Marginal Degeneration
  • Severe Dry Eye
  • High contact lens prescription
  • Post-surgical ectasia
  • Post-radial keratotomy
  • Intolerance of gas-permeable / soft lenses
A large-diameter scleral lens sits on a patient's eye.
A close-up view of a scleral lens sitting on a patient's eye.
A scleral lens sits alongside a much smaller traditional gas permeable lens.

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Vista Eye Care

13695 Colorado Blvd. Thornton, CO 80602
Phone: (303) 450-2020
Fax: (303) 920-1440

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