How Do Scleral Lenses Help Treat Keratoconus?

Keratoconus isn’t one of the most common eye conditions, only affecting around 1 in every 2000 people. However, it can cause significant visual disruption, particularly since it will progress without treatment. Fortunately, there are treatments that can correct the vision of patients with keratoconus. One of the most effective is scleral lenses.

 

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory eye condition that is characterized by the progressive thinning and bulging of the cornea – the clear dome that covers the front part of the eye. The condition develops very slowly, and as it does, the progressive thinning causes a cone-shaped bulge to develop towards the very center of the cornea. This in turn alters the way that light enters the eye and causes blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and other vision problems.

It’s not always known why keratoconus develops, although you are more likely to develop the condition if you have family members with it or if you have experienced a trauma to the surface of the eyes. Persistent eye-rubbing is also known to be a contributing factor in its development. It usually affects both eyes, although the severity may vary between them.

 

What are Scleral Lenses and How do They Help Treat Keratoconus?

Scleral lenses are a type of specialty contact lens. This is because their design is different from that of conventional contact lenses. They differ in several ways that can be beneficial to people with keratoconus.

Size

Scleral lenses are available in several different sizes, all of which are larger than standard contact lenses. Regular contact lenses usually have a diameter of between 9 and 9.5mm, while the diameter of scleral contact lenses can be anywhere from 14.5mm to 24mm depending on which ones you choose. This feature enables them to cover your entire cornea, even extending as far as to the white part of the eye (the sclera), which helps to give them their name. This larger size makes them easier to handle, as well as makes them more stable on the surface of the eye and less likely to fall out. This is particularly valuable for patients with keratoconus, whose bulging cornea is more likely to cause issues with the stability of their contact lenses.

Vault

Conventional contact lenses make contact with the entire surface of the eyes. However, scleral lenses are designed to vault over the natural lens of the eye, leaving a space between the front of the eye and the back of the contact lens. This space serves several functions, acting both as a reservoir for tear film, and to provide enough room to accommodate any corneal abnormalities, like the bulges that characterize keratoconus, without putting any pressure on them.

Material

Scleral contact lenses are also made from rigid, gas-permeable material. This rigidity makes them easier to handle and provides sharper, more concise vision. Meanwhile, oxygen can also flow through the lens to reach the surface of the eye, keeping it healthier and more hydrated.

All scleral contact lenses are custom-made to meet the exact specifications prescribed by your eye doctor, in order to provide the clearest, sharpest vision, as well as remain comfortable.

If you are concerned about keratoconus, or if you would like more information about how scleral lenses can help, please contact our experienced eyecare experts at Smart Eyecare in West New York, New Jersey at (201) 854-3411 today.