Many people prefer contact lenses over conventional eyeglasses. Contact lenses give patients a more natural look that’s lost with traditional eyeglasses. Contacts also don’t block your view and are ideal for numerous physical activities. Nevertheless, some eye ailments, such as keratoconus, can prevent you from wearing traditional soft contact lenses.
Patients struggling with eye health conditions need specialty lenses, like scleral contact lenses. At Southwest Eye Care in Bakersfield, CA, our optometrist provides scleral lenses and will determine if they are right for you. We will perform a contact lens exam and fit you for the correct contacts.
What Are Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses are specialty contacts used to correct corneal diseases and other eye defects for visual improvement. They are specially designed to fit comfortably on the white part of the eye (sclera) and vault over the cornea without any contact. Traditional lenses are inserted on the cornea and can be upsetting when fitted on an uneven cornea. The white part of the eye is less sensitive when compared to the cornea, which makes scleral lenses more practical for patients with various eye disorders.
The main difference between scleral lenses and conventional contacts is that soft contacts sit directly on your cornea while scleral lenses sit on the white part of the eye. The medicated portion of the scleral lens domes over the cornea and doesn’t touch it.
Types of Scleral Lenses
- Mini: These are fitted on the anterior sclera and vault over the corneal surface.
- Corneo: These are bigger than traditional contacts and sit near the meeting point between the cornea and the sclera.
- Full: These provide maximum clearance between the cornea and the rear surface of the lens.
Conditions Requiring Scleral Lenses
Scleral lenses can provide the enhanced visual ability to people with vision issues and patients struggling with irregular corneas caused by:
- Keratoconus
- High astigmatism
- Corneal transplant
- Trauma to the eye
- LASIK surgery
Scleral lenses can also help patients with eye health conditions such as:
- Dry Eye
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Neurotrophic Keratitis
- Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD)
Scleral Lens Fitting
Our optometrist will start by performing a thorough eye examination to determine if you need scleral lenses. If so, we will find your prescription and measure your eye’s diameter. We will then take you through the correct procedure to wear and remove the lenses. The final prescription is then sent to the lab for customization according to your eye measurements.
Visit Our Optometrist in Bakersfield, CA for Scleral Lenses
If you are suffering from a vision or eye health condition, you don’t have to give up on contact lenses. At Southwest Eye Care in Bakersfield, CA, our optometrist will determine if scleral lenses are right for you. We offer a wide range of other optometry services, as well. Call us today to schedule an appointment.