If glasses and regular contact lenses no longer give you clear or comfortable vision, you may be a candidate for scleral contact lenses. These are advanced, custom-designed medical lenses used to treat keratoconus, corneal disease, severe dry eye, post-LASIK complications, and high or irregular prescriptions.
Unlike soft contact lenses, scleral lenses do not sit on the cornea. Instead, they vault over it and rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera), creating a liquid-filled cushion between the lens and your eye. This fluid layer smooths out corneal distortion, protects fragile tissue, and keeps the eye continuously hydrated — resulting in clearer vision, greater comfort, and healthier eyes.
Many of our patients come to us after being told,
“You’re not a contact lens candidate.”
Scleral lenses are often the solution for exactly those patients.
Who Should Consider Scleral Contact Lenses?
You may be an excellent candidate if you have:
Irregular Corneas
Including:
- Keratoconus
- Post-LASIK or post-surgical corneal distortion
- Corneal scarring
- Corneal transplants
These conditions prevent the cornea from focusing light properly. Scleral lenses create a new, smooth optical surface, often restoring vision that glasses and soft lenses cannot.
High or Complex Prescriptions
Patients with these conditions often struggle with traditional contacts. Scleral lenses are custom-designed using precise measurements of your eye, allowing us to correct even highly complex prescriptions:
- Very high nearsightedness or farsightedness
- Severe astigmatism
- Distorted or fluctuating vision
Severe Dry Eye & Ocular Surface Disease
Scleral lenses are one of the most effective treatments for:
- Severe dry eye
- Sjögren’s syndrome
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Graft-versus-host disease
- Neurotrophic cornea
The fluid reservoir acts like a liquid bandage, keeping the cornea constantly hydrated and allowing damaged tissue to heal.
Patients Who Could Never Wear Contacts
If soft lenses were uncomfortable, fell out, or never gave you clear vision, scleral lenses may finally make contact lens wear possible.
Are Scleral Lenses Covered by Insurance?
Because scleral lenses are often prescribed for medical eye conditions, many patients qualify for medically necessary contact lens benefits through their vision or medical insurance plans. Our team will verify your coverage and review your benefits before your fitting.
Why Scleral Lens Fitting Requires Specialized Care
Scleral lenses are not a “try-on and go” contact lens. They require advanced diagnostic technology and clinical expertise.
At Richmond Eye Experts, we offer a full-service scleral lens program, including:
- Corneal topography to map the shape of your eye
- Anterior segment OCT to measure lens vault and corneal clearance
- High-resolution ocular photography to monitor eye health
- Multiple scleral lens fitting sets to allow precise customization
This allows us to fine-tune each lens so it:
- Never touches the cornea
- Aligns properly with your eye
- Maximizes comfort
- Delivers the sharpest possible vision
This level of precision is what separates a basic scleral fit from a truly successful medical fit.
Are You a Candidate?
If you have:
- A corneal condition
- Severe dry eye
- A high or irregular prescription
- Or have been told you “can’t wear contacts”
A scleral lens consultation could be life-changing.
About the Author
Dr. Jordana Chettiparampil is a Therapeutic Optometrist at Richmond Eye Experts and specializes in medical and specialty contact lenses, including scleral lenses for patients with complex corneal disease. She graduated from the University Of Houston College Of Optometry and is a member of the Texas Optometric Association.
Using advanced imaging and diagnostic technology, Dr. Chettiparampil designs custom scleral lenses for patients who cannot be helped with traditional contacts.
To schedule a consultation, visit Richmond Eye Experts, use our online booking tool, or call (832) 685-2020.