Scleral Contact Lenses in Plano

Have you been told in the past that you are not a good candidate for contact lenses because of an irregular cornea? If so, you may still be able to wear contact lenses– you may just need a special type called “scleral contact lenses”. At Plano Eye Care Center, we take pride in offering custom-fit scleral contact lenses. Scleral contact lenses are custom made for every patient. Because of this, the process for fitting scleral contact lenses requires greater expertise than standard lenses and not every optometrist in Plano is able to offer this surface. We are one of the few eye care centers in the area to offer this type of speciality contact lens.

What are Scleral Lenses?

Scleral lenses are a special type of gas permeable contact lenses that are worn over your eye’s entire corneal surface. The lens then rests on the white portion of your eye, known as the sclera. Scleral lenses are able to correct your refractive vision errors despite an irregular corneal surface. Our Plano optometrist, Dr. Khoja, has fit hundreds of patients successfully for scleral contacts and can help you, too!

Am I a Good Candidate for Scleral Lenses?

You may be a good candidate for scleral lenses if you have corneal irregularities due to keratoconus or another vision condition. Corneal irregularities can make it difficult for standard contact lenses to comfortably sit upon your cornea and effectively correct vision.

Scleral contacts are larger than standard gas permeable contacts. Typically, scleral contacts range in size from 14.5mm to 24mm. Since the average human cornea is 11.8mm, this means that even the smallest scleral lenses will cover the entire cornea. In contrast, most GP contact lenses are only 9 to 9.5mm in diameter; this means that they only cover 75 to 80 percent of the cornea. Scleral contact lenses are made to “vault” over the cornea’s surface on rest on the less sensitive scleral surface. This means scleral lenses are more comfortable for patients with keratoconus. The lenses will also be more stable in the eye when you blink.

Patients with dry eyes may also benefit from scleral lenses. A scleral lens allows for extra space between the back surface of the contact lens and the cornea. This space acts as a fluid reservoir, which helps to keep the eyes irrigated and reduce dry eye irritation.

What To Expect: Getting Fitted for Scleral Lenses at The Plano Eye Care Center

As part of the lens fitting process, we will create a specialized, computerized map of your corneal curvature. This mapping is essential to achieving a precise, comfortable fit. Patients may need to try several different lens sizes in order to find the right size and curvature that best meets their vision correction needs. Finally, patients should keep in mind that since scleral lenses are larger than traditional lenses, learning how to apply and remove them will take some practice. Our Plano vision care team is always available to answer any questions you may have.

For more information on scleral contact lenses in Plano or to schedule a fitting, call 972-964-3937 today!