If you have keratoconus, you know how difficult it can be to find a method of vision correction that offers clear vision without causing discomfort or worsening distortion.
While eyeglasses may help, they’re not always the answer, and traditional contact lenses just aren’t able to handle the job, either.
At Vision and Ortho-K Center, Curtis Frank, OD, and our team are skilled in managing keratoconus, offering state-of-the-art solutions like scleral contact lenses to help everyone enjoy better vision. Here’s how these special lenses could help you.
Keratoconus is a condition that affects your corneas — the clear domes over your pupils. Your corneas help “bend” light as it enters your eye so you see clearly.
If the cornea is misshapen — even slightly — it can cause eyesight problems, like astigmatism. This is a vision problem that happens when the cornea is shaped more like a football than an oval.
Keratoconus happens when the corneal shape is markedly different — specifically, when the corneal “dome” is very steep and the corneal tissue is unusually thin. Unfortunately, these differences make it difficult to wear traditional contact lenses comfortably.
Because keratoconus alters the cornea, wearing regular contact lenses typically isn’t an option. The good news is that even though traditional contacts may be uncomfortable, scleral contact lenses offer an alternative.
Unlike traditional contacts that rest on the surface of your cornea, scleral contacts are larger. In fact, they are large enough to bypass the corneas and rest instead on the white portion of the eye. As a result, they don’t press on or irritate the corneal surface.
This unique design creates a smooth optical surface over the cornea, helping light focus more evenly so visual distortions are reduced or eliminated.
The space underneath the lens forms a “pocket” that’s filled with sterile saline solution. This built-in reservoir helps maintain a moist environment for maximum comfort while the lens is in place.
Scleral contact lenses need to be carefully fitted. Since keratoconus affects people in different ways, the shape of your cornea, the contours of your eye, and your vision needs all play a role in your fitting and your results.
At Vision and Ortho-K Center, Dr. Frank uses advanced diagnostic technology to guide the fitting process. He combines it with an eye exam and a careful review of your prior experiences with glasses and contact lenses.
And of course, we’re always available for adjustments to ensure you find a solution that’s comfortable and supports clear vision.
Living with keratoconus can mean making adjustments you never expected. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to see more clearly and improve your overall quality of life.
To learn more about scleral lenses or to schedule an eye exam, request an appointment with Dr. Frank and our team at Vision and Ortho-K Center in Boston, Massachusetts, today.
