What Conditions Do Scleral Lenses Help Treat?

Consider scleral lenses if you have a vision problem that makes it hard to wear regular contact lenses. These special lenses cover the entire cornea and rest on the area of the eye's white, called the sclera. They create a space between the lens and the cornea that fills with tears. This space helps keep the cornea moist and comfortable. Scleral lenses can help treat many conditions that affect the cornea and the eye. Here are some of them.

Keratoconus

In this disorder, the cornea thins and protrudes like a cone. This causes blurry and distorted vision, sensitivity to light, and difficulty wearing regular contact lenses. Scleral lenses can help correct keratoconus by providing a smooth and stable surface for the cornea. They can also improve vision and comfort by reducing glare and dryness.

Dry Eye Syndrome

This is where the eyes do not produce enough tears, or those produced evaporate too quickly. The eyes become dry, irritated, burning, and red. It can also affect vision and make it hard to wear regular contacts. 

By forming a tear reservoir between the lens and the cornea, scleral lenses can aid in treating dry eye syndrome. This reservoir keeps the cornea hydrated and lubricated throughout the day.

Post-LASIK Complications

With LASIK, vision issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are treated by reshaping the cornea. However, some people may experience complications after LASIK, such as dry eyes, glare, halos, starbursts, or irregular astigmatism. These complications can affect vision and comfort and make it hard to wear regular contact lenses. 

Scleral lenses can help treat post-LASIK complications by providing a smooth and regular surface for the cornea. They can also improve vision and comfort by reducing glare and dryness.

Corneal Dystrophies

A series of hereditary conditions known as corneal dystrophies affects the cornea. They result in aberrant corneal deposits or growths that can obstruct vision and hurt or feel uncomfortable. Some examples of corneal dystrophies are Fuchs’, lattice, and map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy. 

Scleral lenses can help treat corneal dystrophies by covering the deposits or growths on the cornea. They can also improve vision and comfort by providing a clear and moist surface for the cornea.

Other Conditions

Scleral lenses can also help treat other conditions that affect the cornea and the eye, such as:

• Corneal scars or injuries

• Corneal infections or ulcers

• Corneal transplants

• High astigmatism

• Sjogren’s syndrome

• Graft-versus-host disease

• Stevens-Johnson syndrome

These are some of the conditions that scleral lenses can help treat. If you have any of these conditions, you can talk to your eye doctor about scleral lenses. The same applies if you have an eyesight issue that makes it challenging to wear regular contact lenses. Scleral lenses can offer many benefits for your eyes, such as:

• Better vision

• More comfort

• Less irritation

• More protection

• More stability

Scleral lenses are not for everyone, though. They require special fitting, care, and handling. They are also more expensive than regular contact lenses. Before deciding whether or not to use scleral lenses, consider their advantages and disadvantages.

Conclusion

Scleral lenses are an excellent option for many people with vision problems that affect the cornea and the eye. They can treat many conditions that regular contact lenses cannot. Consult your eye doctor to determine whether scleral lenses suit you.

For more on the conditions scleral lenses help treat, visit TMS Eyecare at our Wichita or Arkansas City, Kansas offices. Call (316) 669-4760, (316) 686-7212, or (620) 442-2577 to schedule an appointment today.