Patients who cannot obtain good vision or comfort with glasses or conventional contact lenses can benefit from using scleral lenses. Though scleral lenses began as a specialty treatment, they have become an increasingly popular choice in recent years even for people who have normal corneas.
Each scleral contact lens is custom-made for the patient. The lenses need to be fitted to vault over the cornea to maintain a constant reservoir of fluid between the lens and cornea. This design ensures the eye remains hydrated during the entire time the lens is worn. In addition, the fluid layer helps compensate for any irregularities in the shape of the cornea, which improves vision.
At the Miami Contact Lens Institute, we specialize in fitting scleral lenses. Our scleral lenses are highly permeable to oxygen and provide the comfort of a soft lens while achieving the higher optical quality of a rigid gas permeable lens. In most cases, patients report no sensation or awareness of the lens while wearing it. The all-day comfort of scleral lenses is one reason for their increased popularity
The Design of Scleral Contact Lenses
In comparison with other contact lenses, scleral lenses have a larger diameter. The lenses sit on the white part of the eye (the sclera) and vault over the cornea. The larger design delivers the desired vision benefits without requiring the lens to sit on the cornea itself. Lenses that sit on the cornea are typically less comfortable than scleral lenses and are problematic for patients with corneal irritation or irregularly-shaped corneas.
Scleral contact lenses as they are designed today are considered the best option on the market for health benefits and increased comfort. These lenses eliminate blurred and distorted vision, promote healing of the ocular surface, and protect the cornea from the surrounding environment and eyelids.
Our Optometrist at the Miami Contact Lens Institute, we work closely with our patients to determine the optimal fit for scleral lenses. What makes our specialty practice different others is we focus on taking care of patients with corneal irregularities. We know how hard it can be for this unique class of patients to find effective vision treatments. We are passionate about creating custom scleral lenses that have the potential to change one’s quality of vision and quality of life.
Our Mission
We are on a mission to continuously update our expertise in contact lens design. We want to be able to provide our patients with the latest lens technology and the best solution for their eyes. At this time, scleral lenses are the highest technology available for the patients we serve. We are proud to make these lenses a core focus of our practice.
Here are a few of the conditions that can be treated using scleral lenses:
- Dry Eye Syndrome
- Chemical and burn injuries
- Keratoconus and ectasia
- Corneal degenerations and dystrophies
- Eyelid abnormalities
- Radial Keratotomy (RK)
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
- Graft vs Host Disease
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Corneal ectasia and other complications from LASIK
- Post-corneal transplant
- Intense Pulsed Light
Scleral contact lens cost varies from patient to patient. Please contact our office today for more questions.
For Existing Patients with Scleral Lenses
If you are used to wearing standard contact lenses, it can take some time to become accustomed to wearing scleral lenses. Because they are larger than standard lenses and sit on the eye a bit differently, scleral lenses don’t have the same insertion and removal processes. To learn how to insert or remove your scleral lenses, watch the educational video below.
About sMap3D® Technology
Scleral lenses are a powerful vision correction option for patients who have not found success with other methods. These custom-made lenses are designed to sit on the sclera (the white of the eye) and vault over the patient’s cornea in a way that reduces discomfort and minimizes the impact of corneal irregularities. In some cases, though, the fitting process can take a long time—involving weeks or months of appointments, trial, and error.
That isn’t the case at Miami Contact Lens Institute. Here, we make use of the revolutionary sMap3D™ technology, developed by the company Visionary Optics. sMap3D™ is a “corneo-scleral topographer” that provides a non-invasive way of mapping the eye and fitting scleral lenses. The entire process takes no more than 3-5 minutes and only requires patients to do three gazes: one up, one down, and one straight ahead.
During this process, the machine takes one million measurement points and stitches them together to create a precise and accurate map of the cornea and sclera. The machine will then suggest a lens style for the patient to wear for a second “over-refract” test. After these two tests, we have all the data we need to order custom-fitted lenses just for you.
Our scleral lenses are designed to minimize refits by prescribing lenses directly from surface measurements and based on user-input requirements. View virtual fits and customize lens parameters with the goal of achieving optimal fits for every eye in one platform.
Our patients have expressed surprise and delight at just how quick and easy the sMap3D™ process is. This technology not only makes life easier for our patients, but it also enables us to deliver lenses that fit better, offer higher levels of comfort, and provide maximum clarity in vision. Most patients have read a bit about scleral lenses online and come in, expecting a trial-and-error process along the lines of what they’ve seen online. The speed of the corneo-scleral topographer means less time in the examination chair and more time enjoying the crisp, clear vision that our scleral lenses provide.
If you are interested in learning more about sMap3D™ or finding out how it can help you find a quick and easy path toward improved vision, contact Miami Contact Lens Institute today.
