Scleral Lenses: The Ideal Solution for Keratoconus and Irregular Corneas

Living with keratoconus or an irregular cornea can make clear, comfortable vision feel out of reach. Fortunately, advancements in contact lens technology have made it possible to manage these conditions more effectively. Scleral lenses offer a customized, highly effective solution for patients who need more than conventional vision correction.
 

What Are Scleral Lenses?

Scleral lenses are large-diameter gas permeable lenses designed to vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the sclera, or the white part of your eye. Unlike traditional contact lenses that sit directly on the cornea, scleral lenses create a tear-filled vault between the lens and the eye’s surface. This unique design offers both enhanced comfort and improved vision, especially for individuals with irregular corneas.
 

Why Scleral Lenses Are Ideal for Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition in which the cornea gradually thins and bulges outward into a cone-like shape. This distortion interferes with the way light enters the eye, resulting in blurry, distorted, and often fluctuating vision. Traditional glasses and soft contact lenses typically struggle to provide adequate correction because they cannot conform to the irregular surface of the cornea.

Scleral lenses, however, are specifically designed to address these challenges. They create a smooth optical surface over the eye, effectively compensating for the uneven curvature caused by keratoconus. This allows for significantly sharper visual acuity compared to standard corrective options. Additionally, scleral lenses remain stable and centered on the eye, minimizing lens movement and providing consistent vision throughout the day.

Another key advantage is comfort. Since scleral lenses vault over the cornea and rest on the less sensitive white part of the eye (the sclera), they avoid irritating the already-compromised corneal tissue. This makes them especially beneficial for patients with advanced keratoconus or corneal scarring, where traditional lenses may cause discomfort or be ineffective altogether.
 

Benefits for Other Irregular Corneas

Beyond keratoconus, scleral lenses are an excellent solution for people with:

• Post-surgical eyes (such as after LASIK or corneal transplants)

• Severe dry eye syndrome

• Pellucid marginal degeneration

• Corneal dystrophies and degenerations

The fluid reservoir created by the lens helps keep the eye hydrated, making scleral lenses a dual-purpose tool for both vision correction and therapeutic relief.
 

Customized Comfort and Fit

At Ridgeview Eye Care, we use advanced diagnostic tools to map the shape of your eye and design custom-fit scleral lenses that match your unique corneal contours. This level of precision helps ensure maximum comfort and visual clarity, even for the most complex cases.
 

Find Out if Scleral Lenses Are Right for You

Scleral lenses offer a life-changing option for patients with keratoconus and other irregular corneal conditions. They combine comfort, stability, and exceptional vision correction where other solutions may fail.

Schedule a consultation at Ridgeview Eye Care to find out if scleral lenses are right for you. Contact our office in Olathe, Kansas by calling or texting (913) 261-8327 to book an appointment today. You can visit our websites, Ridgevieweyecare.com and Kansascontactlens.com, for more information.