Scleral lenses have become very popular in the world of contact lenses. They have shown that they can correct the vision of people with conditions such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, or issues with their cornea.
On top of that, scleral lenses give comfort to people with dry eyes and have trouble wearing normal contact lenses. This is because scleral lenses keep the eyes hydrated throughout the day, unlike conventional lenses.
What are scleral lenses, and who should wear them?
What Are Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses are huge contact lenses that rest on the sclera and hydrate the cornea. The sclera is the white part that surrounds the eyeball and protects it from injury. The clear part of the eye lets light into the eye, causing you to see better. When the cornea develops problems, scleral lenses address these problems and protect the cornea from further injury.
Should You Wear Scleral Lenses?
If you wish to wear contact lenses but have experienced difficulty wearing them before, scleral lenses could be what you are looking for. Also, if your eye doctor has told you that contact lenses are not right for you, you may be a good candidate for scleral lenses. However, scleral lenses are particularly useful in treating the following eye problems:
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is an eye disease that causes the cornea to bulge outwards. The cornea is normally round, but Keratoconus makes it unable to keep its round shape. Once this happens, your vision becomes distorted, and you may end up becoming blind. Scleral lenses correct vision problems brought about by keratoconus and make your eyesight more stable.
Irregular Cornea
An irregular cornea is a condition where the cornea has a shape that is anything but round. The condition can happen naturally or result from eye surgery or keratoconus; you cannot correct it with eyeglasses or soft contact lenses. Scleral lenses usually make vision sharper and clearer for these eyes.
Dry Eyes
If your eyes are too dry for normal contact lenses, your eye doctor will recommend scleral lenses. This is because scleral lenses, unlike normal contact lenses, give your eyes enough moisture to minimize dryness.
Eye Injury
This refers to an injury that results from something hitting your eye or a chemical burn. Eye injuries make it practically impossible for people to wear contact lenses. Eye doctors may recommend sclera lenses in such cases. This is because scleral lenses protect the eye from exposure to further injury and help improve a person’s vision.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a condition where your eyeball is not totally round. A perfectly round eyeball bends the light that comes into it evenly, enabling you to see clearly. But if your eyeball is curved differently, it bends light unevenly, meaning some parts of an object may look blurry. Scleral lenses help bend light appropriately, allowing people with astigmatism to see more comfortably.
To learn more about when to opt for scleral lenses, contact Abraham Eye Associates. We are conveniently located in Villanova and Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
