Scleral Lenses in Urbandale, IA
Standard contacts don’t work for every eye. If you have keratoconus, an irregular cornea, high astigmatism, or vision problems following LASIK, scleral lenses may offer another way to see clearly and comfortably.
At Lumen Eye, we custom fit scleral lenses to the shape and needs of your eyes.
Benefits of Scleral Lenses Over Regular Contact Lenses
Scleral lenses are larger than regular soft contacts and fit differently. Instead of resting directly on the cornea, they vault over it and rest on the white part of your eye.
This design can be especially helpful when standard contacts cannot provide a stable fit or consistent vision.
Benefits may include:
- Stable vision over an irregular cornea
- A customized fit for complex eyes
- Less direct contact with sensitive corneal tissue
- A fluid reservoir between the lens and cornea
- More consistent correction for certain complex prescriptions
Scleral lenses aren’t necessary for everyone. For the right patient, however, their unique design can solve problems that regular contacts may not.
Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus and Corneal Conditions
Keratoconus changes the shape of the cornea. As the surface becomes more irregular, glasses and standard soft contacts may have trouble fully correcting the resulting visual distortion.
Scleral lenses create a smooth optical surface over the irregular cornea, which may provide clearer, more stable vision.
They may also be considered for other corneal conditions or irregularities when standard contacts do not provide adequate vision or fit.
A detailed contact lens exam at Lumen Eye will help us determine whether scleral lenses are appropriate for your eyes.
Scleral Lenses for Post-LASIK Complications and High Astigmatism
Some patients have corneal irregularities after LASIK that make their vision difficult to correct with glasses or standard contacts.
Because a scleral lens vaults over the cornea, it may help compensate for certain irregularities affecting vision after refractive surgery.
Scleral lenses may also be considered for high astigmatism when conventional contacts do not provide stable correction.
They can offer:
- A stable, customized fit
- Consistent positioning on the eye
- Vision correction for certain complex prescriptions
We’ll evaluate your corneal shape, eye health, and prescription to determine whether scleral lenses make sense for you.
What to Expect During a Scleral Lens Fitting
A scleral lens fitting is more detailed than a standard contact lens fitting because each lens needs to work with the unique shape of your eye.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Eye and vision evaluation: We assess your prescription, eye health, corneal shape, and previous contact lens experience.
- Detailed measurements: Measurements help us select a lens design suited to your eyes.
- Trial fitting: We evaluate how a trial lens settles on your eye, how well you see, and how it fits.
- Lens training: We teach you how to fill, insert, remove, and care for your scleral lenses.
- Follow-up care: We check your vision, comfort, and eye health and refine the fit when needed.
Scleral Lens Comfort, Safety, and Expectations
Scleral lenses are larger and handled differently from regular soft contacts. It can take some practice to become comfortable inserting and removing them.
We’ll help you learn the routine and monitor your eyes after you begin wearing your lenses.
Regular follow-up allows us to check:
- Lens fit
- Vision
- Comfort
- Corneal and eye health
- Whether adjustments are needed
Scleral lenses can be an important option for complex vision needs, but they aren’t right for everyone. A proper evaluation is the best way to find out.
When Regular Contacts Aren’t Enough
You may have been told that contact lenses simply aren’t a good fit for your eyes. Sometimes, the problem is the type of contact lens rather than contact lenses altogether.
Lumen Eye offers specialty contact lens fittings for patients with complex prescriptions and corneal conditions, including keratoconus.
We’ll take a careful look at your eyes, explain your options clearly, and determine whether a scleral lens could be a better fit.
Explore Scleral Lenses at Lumen Eye
If standard contacts haven’t provided the vision, fit, or comfort you need, a customized option may be worth exploring.
Schedule a scleral lens evaluation with Lumen Eye in Urbandale to find out whether scleral lenses are right for your eyes.