What is a mini scleral lens?
Mini-scleral lenses are large diameter rigid lenses that are used to rehabilitate vision when the corneal shape is distorted from disease, scarring or after a corneal graft procedure. Mini-scleral lenses are inserted with special non-preserved fluid beneath them, which stays trapped beneath the lens all day.
How long do scleral lenses last?
about 1-2 years
Scleral lenses are made to wear daily for typically 10-16 hours and cleaned every night. Depending on your lens care habits and your tear film dynamics, scleral lenses should last about 1-2 years (similar to that of traditional RGPs).
What do scleral lenses do?
Custom designed scleral lenses help patients with sensitive eyes or corneal irregularities achieve dramatic improvements in visual acuity and comfort. Scleral lenses vault over the cornea and rest on the sclera instead. This creates a new optical surface and prevents discomfort by minimizing irritation to the cornea.
Who needs scleral lenses?
Technically, any patient can wear a scleral lens. But, they are most beneficial for patients who have corneal diseases, dystrophies, and degenerations (i.e. keratoconus), patients who have corneal scars and irregularities, and patients who have had a corneal transplant or refractive surgery (i.e. LASIK and RK).
Are scleral lenses better than glasses?
Patients are often surprised to discover scleral lenses are not excessively expensive. These lenses are often covered by insurance and, even when they aren’t, they provide enough of an improvement over regular lenses — in both comfort and vision — that patients are happy to make the investment.
Can I swim in scleral lenses?
Generally speaking, you can go swimming with your scleral contact lenses as long as you wear swimming goggles or a swimming mask that is appropriately sealed over your scleral lenses. Sleeping in your scleral lenses can cause the tear layer behind the lens to become stagnant, increasing the risk of eye infections.
What do you fill scleral lenses with?
sterile saline solution
Use a Filling Solution That Is Preservative-Free Use unpreserved sterile saline solution when inserting scleral lenses by filling the bowl of the lens upon insertion.
Who wears scleral contact lenses?
7. Schornack MM, Patel SV. Scleral lenses in the management of keratoconus. Eye Contact Lens 2010;36:39-44.
