Speciality and Hybrid, Corneal and Scleral Contact Lenses

Scleral contacts are large-diameter gas permeable contact lenses specially designed to vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the “white” of the eye (sclera).

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Scleral Contact Lenses

Scleral contacts are large-diameter gas permeable contact lenses specially designed to vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the “white” of the eye (sclera). In doing so, scleral lenses functionally replace the irregular cornea with a perfectly smooth optical surface to correct vision problems caused by keratoconus and other corneal irregularities.

What are scleral lenses for?

Keratoconus

Until now, patients with keratoconus had to rely on standard methods of vision correction: eyeglasses, soft contact lenses or RGP (rigid gas permeable) contact lenses. In many cases, these standard methods are woefully inadequate to correcting the vision in these uniquely shaped eyes. Scleral lenses can be life changing for patients with irregular corneas.

Other Eye Problems

In addition to keratoconus, scleral contact lenses can be used for eyes that have undergone a cornea transplant, and for people with severe dry eyes caused by conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Advances in lens design technology are allowing manufacturers to design scleral lenses that can correct more conditions than ever before, including bifocal sclerals for the correction of presbyopia.

Hybrid Contact Lenses

Hybrid contact lenses combine the crisp vision of rigid (GP) lenses with the comfort and stability of a soft lens. The rigid (GP) center of the lens provides optimal clarity and crispness of vision, while the soft silicone hydrogel material that surrounds the GP center of the lens provides longer-lasting comfort for irregular cornea and keratoconus patients.

The new lens materials and design provide enhanced tear exchange and the highest oxygen transmission available in a hybrid contact lens

What is the difference between hybrid contacts and sclerals?

Hybrid contact lenses offer clear and stable vision from a gas permeable (GP) center and comfort from a soft lens material called a skirt. The soft skirt makes the lens comfortable and helps pump tears and deliver oxygen throughout the day.

Scleral contact lenses are much bigger than a hybrid or a gas permeable (GP) lens. Similar to a hybrid, the scleral vaults over the cornea; however, the whole scleral lens is made of a gas permeable material even the portion of the scleral lens that lands on the white part of the eye (sclera). Tear circulation is minimized.

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More from Contact Lenses

Reusable contact lenses are an excellent choice for the frequent lens wearer. They’re for everyday wear, but rather than dispose of them at the end of the day, like daily disposables, you clean and store them in a contact lens case until you wear them again.

Frequent Replacement Lenses

Ortho-K contact lenses are worn at night when sleeping and have the ability to provide clear vision during the day without glasses or contact lenses.

Ortho-K lenses

Extended wear contact lenses are, most typically, contact lenses that can be worn continuously for up to six nights and seven days. With the advent of silicone hydrogel lenses, which are better at letting oxygen through the lens to your eyes, there are now also continuous wear contact lenses that can be worn up to 30 days straight.

Extended Wear