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Scleral Lenses

Patient Education
Last reviewed

What are scleral lenses?

Scleral lenses are a type of contact lens that you wear on your eyes. 

  • They are gas permeable. This means oxygen can pass through them. Your eyes need oxygen to stay healthy.
  • They are bigger than most lenses, so they cover more of the eye surface.
  • They are made of rigid materials, so they hold their shape to meet your eye needs. They bend over the cornea and rest on the white part of your eye (sclera).
  • They last for 1 to 2 years.

Why are scleral lenses used?

  • Scleral lenses are used to correct vision (eyesight) without resting on the cornea. This is helpful for people with cornea issues from:
    • Corneal transplant o Corneal disease, such as keratoconus (bulging or cone-shaped cornea)
    • Dry eyes
    • LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis)
    • RK (radial keratotomy) or PRK (photorefractive keratectomy)
    • Trauma or injury

What are the advantages or positives of scleral lenses?

  • They are durable and less likely to scratch.
  • The edges fit underneath the eyelid, so they stay in place.
  • The space between the cornea and the back of the lens holds fluid. This helps keep the cornea moist and makes your eye more comfortable. Moisture is needed for healthy eyes.

Who do I call if I have questions? 

  • Ophthalmology Clinic at Iowa River Landing at 319-467-2000. 

Where can I buy supplies? 

  • Supplies can be bought online from MyEyeSupply at myeyesupply.com.

How do I put the scleral lenses in my eyes?

It can take some time to get used to wearing scleral lenses. It takes practice to put them on and off.

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. Hold the lens open-side-up (like a bowl). Fill it with a non-preserved, sterile saline solution, such as LacriPure® or AddiPak®. Make sure it is full of solution. It is okay to overfill it to make sure you have enough solution
    1. If the lens is not full, bubbles may be present. Bubbles will cause blurry vision. If there are bubbles, take out the lens and fill it with solution.
    2. Never use tap water or saliva (spit) to clean or put in your lenses.
    3. Never use a preserved saline solution to fill the lens. Preservatives can cause damage to your cornea over time.
    4. Never use a multi-purpose solution to fill the lens well. They are for cleaning only.
  3. Put the lens on your eye with the 3-finger tripod method or inserter. We will show you how to do this.

When should I clean my scleral lenses? 

  • Clean your lenses each time you take them off.
  • Clean your lenses right after you take them off. This gets rid of mucus, protein, and debris that builds up on them during the day.

How do I clean my scleral lenses?

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. Take off the lens and put it in the palm of your hand.
  3. Put 2 to 4 drops of cleaning solution onto the lens. 
    • The only brands that can be used are Unique pH™ and Boston Simplus®.
  4. Gently rub the lens in a circular motion with your ring finger. 
    • Do not rub the lens too hard. 
    • Be sure to clean both sides of the lens.
  5. Put 2 to 4 more drops of cleaning solution onto the lens to rinse it.
  6. Put each lens in the correct side of the lens case (right eye in the right side, left eye in the left side).
  7. Fill the case with fresh cleaning solution to cover the lenses (Unique pH™ or Boston Simplus®).
  8. Close the case tightly.
  9. Keep the lenses in the case for at least 4 hours before you wear them again.
     • Use fresh solution each time you clean and store your lenses.
  10. Rinse and dry your case with the caps off after each use. 
    • Get a new case every 3 months.