Specialty Contact Lenses/Scleral Lenses

Are you an unsuccessful contact lens wearer or just difficult to fit? Scleral lenses may be right for you. Dr. Gross specializes in helping patients with unique or challenging vision needs find the clarity and comfort they’ve been missing. When standard options fall short, advanced specialty lenses can provide life-changing solutions.
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What Are Specialty Contact Lenses?

Specialty contact lenses are custom-designed lenses created to address vision problems that standard soft or rigid lenses cannot correct. These lenses are tailored for patients with unique eye shapes, irregular corneas, or certain eye conditions. Unlike “one-size-fits-all” lenses, specialty lenses are made to fit the specific needs of your eyes, providing comfort and clearer vision.

Who Can Benefit from Specialty Contact Lenses?

Specialty contact lenses are especially helpful for patients who experience challenges with traditional lenses, including:

• Keratoconus - thinning and bulging of the cornea.

• Severe dry eye syndrome - where regular lenses cause discomfort.

• Irregular corneal shapes - due to injury, surgery, or corneal disorders.

• High prescriptions - when standard lenses don’t provide sufficient correction.

• Presbyopia - age-related difficulty focusing on near objects.
  
  

If you’ve struggled with glasses or traditional contact lenses, specialty lenses may be the right solution to restore clear, comfortable vision.

The Fitting Process

Fitting specialty lenses requires advanced technology and precision. At Chelsea Vision Associates, Dr. Gross will take detailed measurements of your cornea using topography or imaging devices. From there, a custom lens is designed to match your eye’s unique shape. Several follow-up visits may be necessary to ensure a perfect fit and maximum comfort, but the results are well worth it.

Enhancing Vision And Comfort with Scleral Lenses

Scleral lenses are a type of specialty contact lens designed to vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of your eye (the sclera). Unlike traditional lenses that sit directly on the cornea, scleral lenses create a tear-filled chamber between the lens and your eye. This not only corrects vision but also provides soothing relief for patients with dry or sensitive eyes.

How Scleral Lenses Work

By vaulting over the cornea, scleral lenses create a smooth, even surface that improves vision for patients with irregular corneas. The fluid reservoir beneath the lens also keeps the eyes hydrated throughout the day, making them particularly beneficial for those with dry eye disease.

Benefits of Scleral Lenses

• Improved vision - especially for patients with keratoconus or irregular corneas.

• Long-lasting comfort - reduced irritation compared to traditional contacts.

• Dry eye relief - constant hydration thanks to the fluid layer.

• Stable fit - lenses stay in place and rarely shift during daily activities.
  
  

Experience the Difference with Specialty Lenses

Specialty contact lenses, including scleral lenses, provide life-changing solutions for patients who cannot rely on glasses or standard contact lenses. They deliver sharper vision, lasting comfort, and improved quality of life for those with challenging eye conditions.

Schedule your comprehensive eye exam with Chelsea Vision Associates and discover if specialty contact lenses or scleral lenses are right for you

Scleral Lenses and Hard-to-Fit Patients

The cornea is the clear dome that covers the front part of the eye and many people have a cornea that is a slightly, or significantly, irregular shape. This causes light to be refracted incorrectly when it enters our eyes, triggering vision problems. Issues arising from irregularly shaped corneas cannot be completely corrected using glasses or conventional contact lenses. Therefore, scleral lenses, which provide sharper and more accurate vision, are recommended.
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Treating Keratoconus with Scleral Lenses

Keratoconus is an eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and bulge. This bulge generally takes on the appearance of a cone. As light enters the eye, it becomes distorted by the cone causing vision abnormalities.

Modern research is connecting keratoconus with an enzyme imbalance in the cornea. This imbalance leaves the eye susceptible to oxidative free radicals. Keratoconus has also been linked to UV damage, excessive eye rubbing, poorly fitting contacts, and chronic eye irritation.

While Dr. Gross will have the best understanding of what treatment option is right for you, we have compiled six of the most common sceleral lenses here.
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• Custom Soft Contact Lenses – Soft contacts are generally more comfortable to wear than gas permeable lenses. Recently, some contact companies have been able to create a contact specifically to correct the issues related to mild and moderate cases of keratoconus.

• Gas Permeable Contact Lenses – Gas permeable lenses are a hard contact lens that physically forces the eye to adhere to the lens shape. This allows for the correction of keratoconus. The fit is often time-consuming and may take several different lenses to achieve the proper fit.

• Piggybacking Contact Lenses – This method is used for individuals who require a gas permeable lens but cannot tolerate wearing rigid contacts. Piggybacking utilizes a soft lens placed on the eye first, and then a gas permeable lens is placed over the top. This offers the comfort of soft contacts with the rigidity and clarity of the gas permeable lenses.

• Hybrid Contact Lenses – Hybrid contact lenses were designed specifically for keratoconus. This technology blends a rigid contact lens center with a softer edge, or skirt, of the contact

• Scleral and Semi-Scleral lenses – These lenses are gas permeable lenses but cover a larger area of the eye than a standard rigid lens. These lenses don’t put pressure onto the cone shape of the eye. The reduced pressure results in a more comfortable fit for patients.

• Prosthetic Lenses – This lens is used specifically for patients that have very advanced keratoconus and have ruled out other options. The advanced scleral lens also doubles as a protective prosthetic shell. There are special requirements to qualify for this lens though, so check with your eye care professional if this is an option for you.​​​​​​​

​​​​​For more information about scleral lenses, don’t hesitate to speak to our optometrist.