Scleral lenses are an important option for patients whose myopia is complicated by irregular corneas or ocular surface disease. As the flagship Specialty Contact Lens Center for Eye Rx, we use scleral lenses to provide stable, functional vision when glasses, soft lenses, or standard myopia-control lenses are not enough.
How Scleral Lenses Fit into Your Myopia Care
Most children and teens in our myopia management program do well with options like ortho-k, specialty soft lenses, or myopia-control glasses. However, some patients have additional challenges, such as keratoconus, post-surgical corneas, or advanced prescriptions, that make standard designs difficult to wear.
For these patients, scleral lenses are not used to slow myopia progression, but to provide clearer, more stable vision and to protect the ocular surface so they can function comfortably at school, work, and in daily life.
What Are Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses are large, gas-permeable lenses that rest on the white part of the eye rather than directly on the cornea. They vault over the cornea and create a fluid reservoir between the lens and the eye.
That fluid layer can smooth out corneal irregularities and keep the surface bathed in moisture, which is especially helpful for patients with irregular corneas, high myopia combined with astigmatism, or significant dryness.
Who Might Need Scleral Lenses as Part of Myopia Management?
We consider scleral lenses when myopia exists alongside other conditions that make standard corrections difficult, such as:
- Keratoconus or corneal ectasia
- Post-surgical or post-trauma corneal irregularities
- Severe ocular surface disease
- Very high, irregular prescriptions that do not perform well in glasses or soft lenses
In these situations, scleral lenses help us support functional vision while we continue to monitor eye health and myopia status over time.
Scleral Lens Evaluation at Eye Rx - Chevy Chase
Your visit begins with a comprehensive medical eye exam and a detailed conversation about your (or your child’s) prescription history, symptoms, and previous lens experiences. Our eye doctors use advanced imaging, including corneal topography and Pentacam mapping, to understand the precise shape of the eye before we design any lens.
During the fitting process, we select trial scleral lenses, evaluate their alignment and clearance on the eye, and measure vision and comfort with the lenses in place. If scleral lenses appear appropriate, we order custom designs based on your unique measurements.
If you’ve been told you are not a candidate for standard contact lenses, or if your myopia is complicated by corneal disease or surface problems, a scleral lens evaluation may be a worthwhile next step.
Schedule a specialty contact lens consultation with our Chevy Chase optometrists to determine whether scleral lenses are an appropriate part of your myopia management plan or if another approach better supports your long-term eye health and vision.