Scleral contact lenses are
large-diameter gas permeable lenses designed to vault over the entire corneal
surface and rest on the "white" part of the eye, called sclera.
Scleral lenses are noticeably larger than standard contacts and have a diameter
greater than that of soft contact lenses, which is usually from 15 mm to 24 mm.
In comparison, the average human cornea is about 11.8 mm in diameter and most
conventional gas permeable contact lenses are 9.0 to 9.5 mm in diameter.
Scleral lenses are designed to
treat a variety of eye conditions, some of which are keratoconus and dry eye syndrome. They might improve vision and reduce light sensitivity for people
suffering from Steven-Johnson syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, corneal ectasia,
for eyes that have undergone a cornea transplant and some post injury eyes.
Advances in lens technology are allowing manufacturers to design scleral lenses
that can correct more conditions than ever before, including bifocal scleral
lenses for correction of presbyopia.
Sometimes these lenses are also
used as special effect contact lenses, also called theatrical, to dramatically
alter the appearance of the eye. They are often used in movies and during
Halloween for cosmetic purposes only and not for vision correction.
If you or someone you know has
questions or concerns about cataracts, cataract surgery, lens implants and how
to reduce your risk of cataracts or other eye diseases please, call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in
Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an
appointment.
Doctor & Associates is a
leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North,
Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and
148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.
