Corneal Ectasia · A Comprehensive Evaluation · Advanced Treatment & Surgery

Specialty Contact Lenses

Scleral contact lenses are large-diameter rigid gas-permeable lenses designed to vault over the irregular cornea and rest on the less-sensitive sclera. They create a smooth, tear-filled vault over the distorted corneal surface, temporarily neutralizing irregular astigmatism and often grant a high-quality level of vision that spectacles or standard soft contacts cannot.

Schedule a Visit

Comprehensive Examination

Corneal Cross-Linking

Corneal Resphaping

Corneal Transplant Surgery

Cataract Surgery

— How it Works

Mechanism of Scleral Contact Lenses

For patients with keratoconus, achieving clear, comfortable vision can feel like a frustrating challenge. Because keratoconus causes the normally round cornea (the clear front window of the eye) to thin and bulge into an irregular, cone-like shape, standard glasses and soft contact lenses often fall short. They simply drape over the distorted surface, failing to correct the complex visual scattering and glare.

Scleral contact lenses offer a transformative solution through a radically different, highly customized design. Here is how they work to restore functional, high-definition vision:

The Scleral Vault: Unlike traditional contact lenses that sit directly on the highly sensitive cornea, scleral lenses are larger in diameter. They are custom-engineered to rest gently on the sclera (the white part of the eye) and completely vault over the compromised cornea without ever touching it.
The Liquid Lens Reservoir: The true optical magic of a scleral lens lies in the space between the lens and the eye. Before insertion, the bowl-like lens is filled with a sterile, preservative-free saline solution. Once placed on the eye, this fluid fills the microscopic peaks and valleys of the irregular cornea.
A New Optical Surface: This fluid reservoir essentially acts as a "liquid lens." It completely masks the irregularities of the keratoconic cornea, replacing it with the perfectly smooth, spherical front surface of the scleral lens itself. Light is now able to focus sharply and precisely onto the retina, providing crisp vision that glasses simply cannot achieve.
Unmatched Comfort and Protection: Because the cornea is densely packed with nerve endings, standard lenses can cause friction and irritation for keratoconus patients. The sclera, however, has far fewer nerve endings. By resting on the sclera and bathing the cornea in a constant reservoir of hydrating saline, scleral lenses provide exceptional all-day comfort while protecting fragile corneal tissue from environmental exposure and mechanical rubbing.