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Core insights:
- Scleral lenses can considerably improve comfort and vision in patients with complex corneal conditions when properly cared for.
- Strict daily hygiene (clean hands, clean work surface, thorough lens cleaning) helps prevent irritation, blur, and infection.
- Proper storage (clean case, fresh solution, no water) and regular replacement of cases/plungers are essential.
- Only use lens solutions recommended by your eye doctor, and do not switch products without your eye doctor’s guidance.
- Water exposure and poor care can lead to serious infections and potential long‑term vision damage, so any new symptoms should be checked promptly.
Living with complex visual conditions like keratoconus or corneal ectasia often means that glasses or standard contact lenses are no longer enough. Scleral lenses can provide both clarity and comfort for patients who don’t achieve adequate vision or relief with traditional options. Because these lenses sit directly on the eye and are worn for extended periods, proper care and hygiene are essential to maintaining eye health and preventing complications. Understanding how to clean, handle, and store your scleral lenses is a key part of successful, long-term wear.
Why Is Scleral Lens Hygiene So Crucial?
Proper lens hygiene is one of the most important aspects of successful scleral lens wear. A consistent cleaning and disinfection routine helps maintain eye health, preserves lens performance, and reduces the risk of complications.
Throughout the day, deposits from tears, oils from the skin, cosmetics, and environmental debris can accumulate on the lens surface. If not removed properly, these deposits can affect comfort, reduce visual clarity, and contribute to irritation or lens fogging.
Because scleral lenses are worn with a fluid reservoir between the lens and the eye, it is essential to clean, disinfect, and refill the lenses with fresh sterile solution each day. Following the recommended care regimen helps maintain a healthy ocular surface, supports comfortable wear, and allows your lenses to perform at their best.
With proper care and regular follow-up visits, scleral lenses can provide years of safe, comfortable, and effective vision correction.
Scleral Lens Maintenance Guide
Like any vision correction option, scleral lenses require an adjustment period as you become comfortable with lens application, removal, and daily care. While the cleaning and disinfection process is straightforward, consistent lens hygiene is essential for maintaining both eye health and lens performance.
Proper cleaning, disinfection, and storage help prevent the buildup of deposits and reduce the risk of complications such as eye infections and corneal inflammation. Establishing a routine and following your eye care provider’s instructions will help keep your lenses comfortable, your vision clear, and your eyes healthy.
With good habits and regular follow-up care, scleral lenses can provide safe, comfortable, and effective vision correction for many years.
How To Clean Scleral Lenses
Before touching your eyes or lenses, wash your hands thoroughly using a gentle, unscented soap. Be sure to clean under your nails, then dry your hands with a lint-free towel to avoid transferring fibers onto the lenses. It’s also helpful to keep the area where you handle your lenses clean to reduce the risk of contamination.
After removing your lenses, apply a recommended cleaning solution and gently rub the surface of each lens between your fingers to remove any buildup. Rinse thoroughly as directed, then place the lenses in their case and fill it with fresh disinfecting solution to allow them to properly disinfect. When you’re ready to wear them again, always use preservative-free saline to fill the lens before insertion, and clean and air-dry the case after each use.
How to Store Scleral Lenses
Proper storage is essential for keeping your scleral lenses safe and comfortable to wear. When lenses are not stored correctly, bacteria and debris can build up over time, increasing the risk of irritation or infection. After cleaning, lenses should always be placed in their case and fully submerged in a fresh disinfecting solution, never saline or water, so they can be properly disinfected before the next use.
It’s also important to use a case designed for scleral lenses, as their larger size requires proper support and spacing. Lens cases should be replaced regularly, since even with good hygiene, small deposits and wear can create areas where bacteria collect. If you use a plunger to handle your lenses, that should be cleaned regularly and replaced as needed as well.
Which Scleral Lens Solution Is Best?
Storing your scleral lenses properly is an important part of keeping your eyes healthy. After removing your lenses, they should be cleaned and then placed in their case with fresh disinfecting solution so they’re ready to wear the next day. Using the correct solution is key. Saline is used to fill the lens before insertion, but it does not disinfect.
It’s also important to keep your lens case clean and replace it regularly, since bacteria can build up over time. If you use a plunger to handle your lenses, that should be cleaned and replaced periodically as well.
Why Shouldn’t Scleral Lenses Be Cleaned With Water?
One of the most important rules of scleral lens care is to never use water on your lenses. Tap water can contain microorganisms such as Acanthamoeba, which can lead to serious and painful eye infections. Unlike proper lens solutions, water does not clean or disinfect the lenses, and it should never be used to store them or to fill the lens before insertion. Using water in place of the appropriate solutions may seem harmless, but it can put your eye health and vision at risk.
Clear Vision and Healthy Eyes With Scleral Lenses
Improper scleral lens cleaning and storage can have lasting consequences for your eyes. Neglecting care routines and using the wrong solutions can permanently damage your vision, so it’s critical to prioritize lens hygiene. Reach out to your eye doctor immediately if you experience any discomfort, irritation, itchiness, or redness. If you need more information about how to disinfect your scleral lenses or if you’re interested in trying scleral lenses for the first time, contact Miami Contact Lens Institute to schedule a consultation with one of our eyecare experts.
