Dry eye disease affects millions of Americans, causing symptoms like irritation, scratchiness, itching, burning, and blurry vision that can make even simple tasks unpleasant and challenging. That chronic irritation means people with dry eye syndrome typically can’t tolerate regular contacts, keeping them chained to their glasses.
Fortunately, scleral lenses offer a solution. However, getting the right fit requires specialized expertise.
As a leading lens specialist in the greater Boston area, Curtis Frank, OD, is skilled in scleral lens fittings, helping patients at Vision and Ortho-K Center find relief for dry eyes and enjoy the convenience of contact lenses.
If you have chronic dry eyes, here’s how scleral lenses could help.
Scleral lenses are large, dome-shaped contact lenses designed to rest on the sclera — the white part of your eye.
Unlike regular contacts that rest on your corneas, scleral lenses won’t cause irritation to the sensitive center part of the eye surface, making them ideal for people with dry eyes and other issues, like keratoconus or allergies.
Made from rigid and gas-permeable materials, these lenses allow oxygen and nutrients to pass through, supporting better eye health. They’re also much larger than standard contacts, which means they hold their shape better for clearer vision throughout the day.
The domed profile of scleral lenses creates a slim pocket between the lens and the eye surface, collecting tears to form a liquid “cushion” that keeps the eye surface comfortable.
For people who haven’t been able to tolerate regular contacts or whose vision grows blurry due to dry eye symptoms, this feature represents a major improvement.
One of the biggest advantages of scleral lenses is their ability to provide continuous hydration. The space between the lens and the eye surface traps tears, delivering moisture directly to the eye’s surface while protecting sensitive tissues and reducing irritation.
This consistent moisture barrier significantly improves comfort and relief from symptoms such as burning, foreign-body sensations, and dryness. Scleral lenses are also gas-permeable, helping maintain better corneal health and reducing irritation.
Because of their larger size, scleral lenses also shield the eye surface from the environment.
While wind, air conditioning, dust, and dry indoor air can worsen dry eye symptoms, the larger design of scleral lenses creates a physical barrier that minimizes exposure to these triggers, making daily tasks a lot more comfortable.
Beyond hydration and protection, scleral lenses also improve vision clarity, particularly when dry eyes cause blurry vision. Once again, due to their size, scleral lenses are very stable, preventing tiny shifts that cause blurry vision and increase irritation on the eye surface.
Chronic dry eyes don’t have to limit your comfort or your vision. Scleral lenses offer an advanced solution that supports both eye health and improved vision.
If dryness is affecting your quality of life or preventing you from enjoying the convenience of contact lenses, scleral lenses could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
To find out more, request an appointment with Dr. Frank and our team at Vision and Ortho-K Center in Boston, Massachusetts, today.
