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Scleral Contact lens

Visual Line Optical & Eye Clinic Introduces Scleral lens for the first time in Nepal. Currently theis service is available exclusively form Visual Line Optical & Eye Clinic.

 

If you've been told in the past that you cannot wear 

you cannot wear contact lenses because of an irregular corneaor other problems, you may want to get a second opinion and ask your eye doctor about scleral contact lenses.

Scleral contacts are large-diameter gas permeable contact lenses specially designed to vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the "white" of the eye (sclera). In doing so, scleral lenses functionally replace the irregular cornea with a perfectly smooth optical surface to correct vision problems caused by keratoconus and other corneal irregularities.

Also, the space between the cornea and the back surface of a scleral lens acts as a fluid reservoir to provide comfort for people with severe dry eyes who otherwise could not tolerate contact lens wear.

Types of Scleral Contact Lenses

 

Scleral contacts are noticeably larger than standard gas permeable (GP) contacts and have a diameter equal to or greater than that of soft contact lenses. The smallest sclerals are approximately 14.5 mm in diameter, and the largest can be up to 24 mm.

Typically, lenses that are 18 mm or smaller are subcategorized as mini-sclerals.

The average human cornea is approximately 11.8 millimeters in diameter, so even the smallest scleral contacts are designed to cover the entire corneal surface.

 

In comparison, most conventional GP contact lenses are 9.0 to 9.5 mm in diameter and cover only 75 to 80 percent of the cornea.

Another category of gas permeable lenses bridges the size gap between conventional GP lenses and mini-sclerals. These lenses, called corneo-scleral lenses, generally are approximately 13 to 15 mm in diameter.

Corneo-scleral lenses often are a good choice for people who require larger-than-normal GP lenses for greater comfort. They also are frequently used when contact lenses are needed after LASIK or other corneal refractive surgery to correct irregular astigmatism.

The size of lens used often is determined by the degree of complexity of the condition. Milder forms of keratoconus and irregular astigmatism from corneal grafts and refractive surgery often are easily managed with scleral lenses at the smaller end of the spectrum.

Smaller scleral and mini-scleral contacts can be easier to apply, can be less costly and require fewer care products.

More complex conditions, including advanced keratoconus, pathologically dry eyes or severe ocular surface disease that might require a large tear reservoir, often are fitted with larger scleral lenses, as they have more capacity to hold fluid or bridge large changes in corneal curvature.

During your contact lens exam and fitting, your eye care professional will determine the best scleral lens type and size for your specific needs.

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Scleral Contacts for Keratoconus

 

Many optometrists and ophthalmologists recommend scleral contact lenses for a variety of hard-to-fit eyes, including eyes with keratoconus.

In cases of early keratoconus, a standard GP lens may be used. However, if the lens does not center properly on the eye or moves excessively with blinks and causes discomfort, switching to a large-diameter scleral contact lens may solve the problem.

Because scleral lenses are designed to vault the corneal surface and rest on the less sensitive surface of the sclera, these lenses often are more comfortable for a person with keratoconus. Also, scleral lenses are designed to fit with little or no lens movement during blinks, making them more stable on the eye, compared with traditional corneal gas permeable lenses.

 

 

 

 

 

Scleral Lenses for Other Eye Problems

 

In addition to keratoconus, scleral contact lenses can be used for eyes that have undergone acornea transplant, and for people with severe dry eyes caused by conditions such as Sjogren's syndrome, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Advances in lens design technology are allowing manufacturers to design scleral lenses that can correct more conditions than ever before, including bifocal sclerals for the correction of presbyopia.

 

Special-Effect Scleral Contacts

 

Sometimes the term "scleral lenses" also is used to describe special-effect contact lenses that dramatically alter the appearance of the wearer's eyes.

However, these costume contact lenses (also called theatrical contact lenses, Halloween contacts or gothic lenses) typically are soft lenses that bear little resemblance to scleral gas permeable contacts — other than their large diameter to fully mask the cornea. Also, soft theatrical contacts usually are designed for cosmetic purposes only and not for vision correction.

 

 

 

Please feel free to contact us for further information and visit us for detail eye examination if you want to find if these form of lenses work for your eyes.

 

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