What Are Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses are large, custom contact lenses that vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye (sclera). The space beneath the lens is filled with preservative-free saline, creating a smooth optical surface while keeping the cornea bathed in fluid.
Who Can Benefit?
Scleral lenses may help patients with:
- Keratoconus or irregular corneas
- Corneal scarring or irregular astigmatism
- Severe dry eye or ocular surface disease
- Previous corneal surgery or transplant
- High or complex prescriptions
- Difficulty wearing traditional contact lenses
Why Scleral Lenses?
Clearer VisionThe lens creates a smooth optical surface that can improve vision, especially with an irregular cornea.
Comfort & Protection
The lens vaults over the sensitive cornea while a fluid reservoir helps protect and hydrate the eye.
Customized Fit
Each lens is selected and customized for your individual eye shape, vision, and ocular health.
Could Scleral Lenses Help You?
UMSL Eye Care provides customized scleral lens care for patients with complex corneal, ocular surface, and vision needs. Call 314-516-5131 to schedule an appointment for a scleral lens evaluation.
Rapid Improvement in Vision
Most of the visual changes that occur rapidly with Ortho-K happen in the first few days and weeks. Because of the rapid improvement in vision, there is a need for frequent examinations during the initial phase of treatment. Disposable contact lenses are often provided until the myopia reduction has stabilized. Following the accelerated change to better vision, minor changes then follow at a slower pace over the next few months.Most patients achieve significant results in the first week. Once maximum results are attained, retainer wear is initiated.
After treatment and maximum desired results are accomplished, retainer contact lenses (like retainers for the teeth) are worn as necessary to stabilize the results. That is, we determine the minimum wear necessary to maintain the correction change. Not all patients will reach maximum improvement. Fortunately, this number is comparatively small. If lens wear is discontinued, the cornea will simply return to its original shape within a few weeks.
Are You a Candidate for Orthokeratology?
In general, the ideal candidate for Ortho-K has nearsightedness that does not exceed 6.00 diopters and/or astigmatism greater than 1.50 diopters.
Candidates must have healthy corneas and people with certain medical conditions or women who are pregnant may not be good candidates for Orthokeratology.