Scleral Lenses

Contact lenses come in a variety of shapes and styles to suit the range of needs for individual patients. What this means is that there is almost certainly a type of contact lens that will both feel comfortable for you and improve your vision.

Some types of contact lenses are known as speciality lenses. This is because they are designed specifically to overcome some eye issues which may prevent a patient from wearing the most common and generic styles of contact lenses. In fact, speciality contact lenses have transformed the vision options of many patients who would otherwise have only had the choice between wearing glasses or undergoing laser vision correction. There are numerous types of specialty contact lens, including scleral lenses.

Benefits of Multifocal Scleral Lenses for Seniors

Multifocal contact lenses are specialized lenses designed to correct presbyopia, a condition that typically occurs as you age, making it difficult to focus on near objects. Unlike traditional single-vision lenses that correct either near or distance vision, multifocal contact lenses incorporate multiple prescriptions into a single lens. This innovative design allows you to enjoy clear vision at various distances, eliminating the need for separate reading glasses or bifocals.

Choosing multifocal contact lenses can offer numerous advantages, including:

Clear Vision at All Distances: With their innovative design, multifocal contact lenses provide you with clear vision for near, intermediate, and distance tasks, eliminating the need for multiple pairs of glasses or constantly switching between them.
Convenience and Versatility: By combining multiple prescriptions into a single lens, multifocal contact lenses offer unparalleled convenience and versatility, allowing you to seamlessly transition between various activities without compromising your visual clarity.
Natural Appearance: Unlike traditional bifocal or progressive lenses, multifocal contact lenses provide a more natural-looking solution, as the corrective zones are integrated directly into the lens, eliminating the visible lines or segments found in eyeglasses.
Improved Depth Perception: With multifocal contact lenses, you can enjoy improved depth perception and spatial awareness, as both eyes receive consistent visual input, enhancing your overall visual experience.
Reduced Eye Strain: By eliminating the need to constantly switch between different pairs of glasses or squint to see clearly, multifocal contact lenses can help reduce eye strain and fatigue, promoting better overall eye health and comfort.

Scleral Lenses and Hard-to-Fit Patients

The cornea is the clear dome that covers the front part of the eye and many people have a cornea that is a slightly, or significantly, irregular shape. This causes light to be refracted incorrectly when it enters our eyes, triggering vision problems. Issues arising from irregularly shaped corneas cannot be completely corrected using glasses or conventional contact lenses. Therefore, scleral lenses, which provide sharper and more accurate vision, are recommended.

Treating Keratoconus with Scleral Lenses

Keratoconus is an eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and bulge. This bulge generally takes on the appearance of a cone. As light enters the eye, it becomes distorted by the cone causing vision abnormalities.

Modern research is connecting keratoconus with an enzyme imbalance in the cornea. This imbalance leaves the eye susceptible to oxidative free radicals. Keratoconus has also been linked to UV damage, excessive eye rubbing, poorly fitting contacts, and chronic eye irritation.

While Dr. Gross will have the best understanding of what treatment option is right for you, we have compiled six of the most common sceleral lenses here.

Custom Soft Contact Lenses – Soft contacts are generally more comfortable to wear than gas permeable lenses. Recently, some contact companies have been able to create a contact specifically to correct the issues related to mild and moderate cases of keratoconus.
Gas Permeable Contact Lenses – Gas permeable lenses are a hard contact lens that physically forces the eye to adhere to the lens shape. This allows for the correction of keratoconus. The fit is often time-consuming and may take several different lenses to achieve the proper fit.
Piggybacking Contact Lenses – This method is used for individuals who require a gas permeable lens but cannot tolerate wearing rigid contacts. Piggybacking utilizes a soft lens placed on the eye first, and then a gas permeable lens is placed over the top. This offers the comfort of soft contacts with the rigidity and clarity of the gas permeable lenses.
Hybrid Contact Lenses – Hybrid contact lenses were designed specifically for keratoconus. This technology blends a rigid contact lens center with a softer edge, or skirt, of the contact
Scleral and Semi-Scleral lenses – These lenses are gas permeable lenses but cover a larger area of the eye than a standard rigid lens. These lenses don’t put pressure onto the cone shape of the eye. The reduced pressure results in a more comfortable fit for patients.
Prosthetic Lenses – This lens is used specifically for patients that have very advanced keratoconus and have ruled out other options. The advanced scleral lens also doubles as a protective prosthetic shell. There are special requirements to qualify for this lens though, so check with your eye care professional if this is an option for you.

For more information about scleral lenses, don’t hesitate to speak to our optometrist.