Scleral lenses work like corneal contact lenses, but they’re wider. They’re also rigid and hold their shape. They treat dry eye, corneal and eye surface conditions, and correct vision with more severe refractive errors. They’re a key treatment for many eye conditions and may make the difference between recovery and needing surgery, in some cases.
Scleral lenses are a type of contact lens that you wear on your eyes. Unlike the more common soft contact lenses that mainly rest on the cornea of your eye, scleral lenses are larger and cover more of the eye surface. They extend beyond the cornea and cover parts of the surrounding sclera (the white of your eye).
Scleral lenses are rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses — sometimes known as “hard” lenses — meaning they hold their shape, but oxygen can still pass through them. The center disk of the lens “vaults” (jumps) over the cornea and doesn’t touch the corneal surface at all. The small gap between the cornea and the inner surface at the center of a scleral lens can hold saline or another liquid, which is there to cover your cornea.
The upper and lower edges of scleral lenses actually sit underneath your eyelids, so there’s very little risk of them falling out or something getting underneath them. And because the sclera isn’t as sensitive as the cornea, you’re less likely to notice them once they’re in.
Eye specialists prescribe scleral lenses for many diseases. These include managing problems on the surface of your eye itself and eye symptoms from other conditions. And scleral lenses can sometimes correct vision in ways that soft contact lenses can’t.
These characteristics of how scleral lenses work make them ideal for treating:
Scleral lenses accounted for 7% of all contact lens fittings internationally in 2023.
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Scleral lenses can do things that other types of lenses can’t. The most important advantages include:
Scleral lenses have some drawbacks, but they’re usually minor and manageable. The most common drawbacks and issues include:
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If you have an underlying condition that the scleral lenses treat, your eye care specialist will recommend regular visits to monitor the treatment effectiveness. If you wear scleral lenses to correct vision only, your provider will also give you a recommended follow-up schedule.
You should also tell your provider if you notice any of the following:
It’s also vital that you stop using the lenses if you notice recurring discomfort or pain. Discomfort is a sensation that’s not quite painful but is more than just something being uncomfortable because it’s new. While scleral lenses might feel a little uncomfortable or odd early on, discomfort or pain aren’t things you should expect or try to endure. If your scleral lenses cause discomfort or pain, take them out as soon as possible and talk to your eye specialist before using them.
Scleral lenses should last one to two years. Some may last longer, but this isn’t common. Your eye specialist can tell you more about the expected lifetime for your lenses based on the brand, material and your specific needs and circumstances.
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It varies. Some people may not be able to wear scleral lenses for more than a few hours, especially when they first start. But people can often work their way up to wearing them for 10 or more hours. Your eye specialist can tell you more about your lenses’ maximum daily wear time.
It’s also common to need to take the lenses out during the day and clean them before putting them back in, so you shouldn’t be afraid to do so. Taking the time to clean them may make it easier to wear your lenses longer. And when you clean your lenses, be sure to use only the recommended solution or fluid. You should NEVER use tap water or saliva (spit). Using something other than the cleaning solution your provider recommends can damage your lenses, cause an eye infection or have other negative effects.
Inserting scleral lenses works differently from smaller contact lenses. To put them in, do the following:
*Some people prefer to use special applicator-type devices that act like a handle with a bowl-shaped platform at the top. The scleral lens sits atop the platform, open-side-up. If you’re using one of these, these are steps where you’ll use the fingers of your off-hand only, instead of using fingers from both hands for the upper and lower eyelids.
Your eye specialist will help you practice this process early on during the fitting of your lenses. Don’t hesitate to ask them for tips or help learning how to do this. With a little practice, you should find it easy to manage in no time.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Scleral lenses might seem intimidating at first because they’re noticeably wider than standard contact lenses. But they’re designed that way, and the size and shape are key features that make them useful. Your eye specialist can help you understand how to put these lenses in, take them out and maintain them.
Once you’re used to your scleral lenses, you should barely notice you have them on (or you might not notice them at all). Rather than focusing on how your eyes feel, you can turn your gaze to what you care most about, and let the lenses do their job of improving your vision and eye health.
Last reviewed on 05/28/2024.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy