4 Severe Eye Conditions to Treat with Scleral Lenses

scleral lenses

If you want to wear contact lenses but have trouble with them or have an eye condition that makes traditional lenses uncomfortable or ineffective, you may be interested in learning more about scleral lenses. Scleral lenses are large, gas-permeable lenses that, in addition to providing the same benefits as regular contact lenses (clearer vision, no need to wear eyeglasses), also treat a range of serious eye conditions. Here are five of the eye conditions you can treat with scleral lenses:

 

  1. Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea (the dome-shaped front surface of the eye) grows thin and begins to bulge outward into a “cone” shape. This shape causes blurred vision and, possibly, glare and sensitivity to light. This condition typically affects both eyes, although it can affect one more than the other. Scleral lenses can help because they vault over the irregular cornea, making the vision clearer and the eyes more comfortable.

 

  1. Severe dry eyes

Dry eyes are extremely common – and extremely uncomfortable. If your eyes are very dry, you may experience itching, redness, irritation, vision problems, and even pain. Scleral lenses help people with dry eyes in several ways. First, because they don’t make contact with the cornea, they aren’t irritating the way traditional lenses can be. Also, the vault over the cornea acts as a reservoir that holds a saline solution against the eye, a constant source of hydration (and comfort).

 

  1. Ocular trauma

A traumatic injury to the eye is another situation in which scleral lenses can be helpful. These types of injuries can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life and general ability to function. Depending on the damage, symptoms can vary from mildly irritating to debilitating. Scleral lenses can help by improving vision and increasing comfort in people with a wide range of traumatic ocular injuries as well as those with concurrent ocular surface disease.

 

  1. Post-surgical complications

Sometimes, after refractive surgery, such as radial keratotomy or LASER-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, some complications result in irregularities of the cornea. The use of scleral lenses often helps these patients. Depending on the type and extent of the irregularity, scleral lenses can provide improved vision and greater comfort in the presence of problematic symptoms after an ocular procedure.

If you have any of the above conditions and are wondering if scleral lenses might be able to help you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and schedule an exam. We’ll be happy to talk with you about your options and help identify the most effective and most comfortable treatment for you.

 

 

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