When the clear tissue at the very front of the eye, also called the cornea, has any irregularity, soft contact lenses may not provide the best visual clarity. Often times a rigid lens is the ideal solution because the firmness of the lens creates a new front surface of the eye that is not flexible like a soft lens.
Scleral contact lenses are a special type of rigid contact lens that fits over the clear cornea, and all the way beyond the edge where the cornea meets the white of the eye. These large lenses have proven to be invaluable to patients with:
- irregular corneal astigmatism
- keratoconus
- post-corneal transplant surgery
- corneal scars
Although the lenses may look extremely large, this is advantageous due to the fact that the lenses tuck under the upper and lower lid, and are generally very comfortable.
The fitting of these highly specialized lenses may be covered by your medical insurance (not necessarily vision insurance). Call our office for more information on the approximate cost and process for fitting scleral contact lenses.
