People choose to wear contact lenses for many reasons; some people believe that eyeglasses don’t suit them, while others may tend to break their glasses. Unfortunately, some people experience trouble wearing contact lenses or have been told by their optometrists that they are not good candidates for regular contact lenses. If you’re one of these people, you should consider getting scleral contact lenses.
Scleral contact lenses are large-diameter gas permeable lenses. Some of the advantages of scleral contact lenses are as follows:
- Greater durability
- Sharper vision
- Easily handling
- Reduced risk of complications
The reason these lenses are called “scleral” lenses is that they cover the entire corneal surface, including the sclera, or the whites, of the eyes. On the other hand, conventional contact lenses only cover a portion of the cornea.
Due to their larger size, scleral lenses are more stable than conventional contact lenses. Subsequently, it is more difficult to dislodge scleral lenses from the eye accidentally. This stability also makes the scleral lenses more comfortable than traditional contact lenses. This is particularly true for individuals who have irregularly shaped corneas or sensitive eyes.
Types of Scleral Lenses
There are three different types of scleral lenses. The types of scleral lenses differ in terms of size and where the lenses make primary contact with the eye.
Semi-scleral and corneoscleral lenses – These lenses are huge in comparison to conventional contact lenses and make contact with the eye at the junction between the sclera and the cornea.
Mini-scleral lenses – These lenses make contact with the anterior sclera and vault over all of the corneal surface.
Full scleral lenses – These lenses are the largest scleral lenses available. Full scleral lenses offer the most clearance between the cornea and the back surface of the lenses.
For more information about scleral lenses and whether you would be a good candidate for these lenses, don’t hesitate to contact us here at A Look Ahead Optix.
