5 Tips to Help You Adjust to Life with Scleral Contact Lenses

Contact lenses offer millions of people the opportunity to see more clearly without the hassles and change in appearance that come with glasses. If you’re among those who require scleral contact lenses because of problems with an irregular cornea or another issue, you still need to make a few adjustments to your daily routine to get the most out of these corrective lenses.

At Vision and Ortho-K Center, Dr. Curtis Frank and our team offer a wide range of services that help our patients improve their vision. Because we understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for vision correction, we offer a variety of options, including scleral contact lenses.

As with any corrective device, there are a few adjustments you need to make, and we outline five of them here.

1. Cleanliness is key

Your vision is only as good as the lenses you’re peering through, so it’s important that you keep these lenses clean. Cleaning scleral contact lenses versus normal contact lenses isn’t any different and requires vigilance on your part. This means using the recommended cleaning products, cleaning your contact lenses according to instructions, and ensuring that your hands are clean (and dry) when you insert or remove your contact lenses.

2. Using makeup

For women, using scleral contact lenses and applying makeup requires some small adjustments. First, we recommend that you put your contact lenses in before you apply your makeup (they’ll also help you apply your makeup correctly!). Next, follow these tips:

When you want to remove your eye makeup, you should remove your lenses first.

3. UV protection

You shouldn’t count on your scleral contact lenses to protect your eyes against ultraviolet (UV) rays. Even if your lenses have a special coating, we still recommend that you use sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes against the sun’s harmful rays.

4. Mind your storage

While keeping your scleral contact lenses clean and washing your hands thoroughly when handling your lenses is important, don’t forget about your contact lens case. It’s very important that you routinely wash and sterilize your contact lens case, as debris can gather in these storage devices, as well as fungi that can lead to serious infections.

5. A matter of adjustment

Be patient as you learn how to put your scleral contact lenses in and remove them. Scleral contact lenses are larger than normal contact lenses, which makes working with them a lot easier, but you’ll still need a bit of practice. As well, once on your eyes, patients report that the larger scleral contact lenses are more comfortable. 

Still, wearing contact lenses takes some getting used to so be patient during the first few weeks of use as you learn how to handle and wear them with ease. Your patience is rewarded as you regain clear vision.

If you have any more questions about adjusting to life with scleral contact lenses, please don’t hesitate to contact our office in Boston, Massachusetts. You can call us or use the online tool to request an appointment. 

You Might Also Enjoy...

5 Tips for Preserving Your Vision as You Age

We joke about needing longer arms for reading as we age, but the reality is that most everyone’s vision and eye health can weaken and change as they grow older. Here are some tips to slow that process.

Getting the Right Glasses for Your Needs

You life is varied — between work, recreation, and family, your vision needs can change throughout the day. If you wear glasses, you might consider a few speciality pairs to keep up with your diverse interests.

Can I Prevent Cataracts with Lifestyle Changes?

While age is the primary risk factor for cataracts, it’s not an inevitable part of getting older. There are some lifestyle adjustments you can make to put off cataracts or slow their progression, and we present a few of them here.

4 Tips to Improve Dry Eyes

Having dry eyes is one of those conditions that may not be medically serious, but the issue can still have a big impact on your life. If you’re plagued by dry eyes, here are four tips that go a long way toward relief.

Sensitivity to Light? It Could Be Keratoconus

Your eyes have become extra sensitive to light or you’re starting to see halos around lights — these are two of the hallmarks of keratoconus. Here, we take a look at this condition and your treatment options.