Scleral Contact Lenses in Middleton & Madison

What are Scleral Lenses?

Tailored to fit like a glove, providing unsurpassed vision and comfort, we fit scleral contact lenses for those who need something more specialized than what a traditional soft contact lens can provide. Scleral lenses are large-diameter, rigid, gas-permeable contact lenses that are mapped to fit the surface of each patient’s eye. Unlike soft contact lenses, which rest on the cornea, scleral rest on the “white of the eye” or sclera. Because there are fewer nerves on the sclera than the cornea, scleral lenses can be more comfortable than traditional contacts, which rest on the cornea. The space between the cornea and the back surface of the lens holds a fluid reservoir that provides comfort to patients with dry eyes.

Who are Scleral Lenses for?

If you’ve been told in the past that you cannot wear contact lenses because of an irregular cornea, or other eye issues, ask your eye doctor about the possibility of using scleral lenses. Scleral lenses offer superior comfort and vision for patients with keratoconus, corneal scars and irregularities, corneal deformities, and those who have had LASIK or RK surgeries. The fluid reservoir that sits between the lens and eye is filled with preservative-free saline that can offer relief to patients with severe dry eye or corneal scarring.

How Do Scleral Lenses work?

Scleral lenses are designed to vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the "white" of the eye (sclera). By doing this, the scleral lenses replace the irregular cornea with a smooth optical surface, thereby correcting the issues caused by corneal irregularities. Patients with corneal irregularities may have poor vision even when corrected by glasses and contacts, and scleral lenses are able to improve vision and quality of life for these patients. Scleral can be designed to correct any amount of corneal steepness or irregularity, provide better stability and comfort, and can correct for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and even presbyopia.

How Are Scleral Lenses Made?

Our scleral lenses are made using the sMap3D™ corneo-scleral topographer, which features 360-degree coverage and 10-micron precision in order to capture one million measurement points. The data collected from this topographer creates highly detailed maps of the cornea and sclera. The sMap3D is Efficient, non-invasive, and allows us to create a completely customizable scleral lense.