Caring for Scleral Lenses

If you are currently experiencing irritation, pain or sensitivity to light when wearing or removing your scleral lenses, please contact our office immediately.

Scleral lenses require a great deal of special care; even more so than regular contact lenses. Failure to properly care for your scleral lenses can result in serious issues. 

Required Equipment

In order to properly care for your scleral lenses, you will need the following:

  • A scleral lens-friendly cleaner for the cleaning, storage, and disinfecting of your lenses. Dr. Cazares recommends Tangible Clean, Unique pH, or Clear Care.
  • Preservative-free saline solution (single-use ONLY). Dr. Cazares recommends Lacripure.
  • Insertion plunger
  • Removal plunger
  • A handheld mirror

Supplies can be purchased at Scott Eye Care or dryeyeshop.com

Daily Care

A scleral lens care video has been produced by the Scleral Lens Society

Be sure to adhere to the following guidelines when inserting, removing, cleaning, and storing your scleral lenses:

  • Always clean and store your scleral lenses in your scleral lens-friendly cleaner
  • If using Clear Care, NEVER take lenses directly from the hydrogen peroxide cleaning system and insert them into your eye—hydrogen peroxide can cause painful chemical burns on the eye
  • Thoroughly rinse your scleral lenses with preservative-free saline
  • Fill the contact lens bowl with your preservative-free saline
  • DO NOT reuse saline solution or use large bottles—only single use preservative-free saline should be used for scleral lenses
  • Carefully insert your scleral lenses with the appropriate plunger or your preferred insertion method.
  • After use, carefully remove your lenses with the removal plunger
  • To clean your lenses nightly, add a few drops of cleaner to each lens while gently rubbing in the palm of your hand with your fingers for 10 seconds
  • Fill a contact lens case with scleral lens-friendly solution
  • Place your lenses into the case for cleaning overnight (at least 6 hours)
  • Using a small handheld mirror that can lay flat on your countertop may aid you during the insertion and removal processes

Keratoconus

A condition defined by conical corneas instead of round ones, Keratoconus not only impairs vision but can result in the degradation of eyesight over time. Special corrective lenses are able to greatly reduce the risk of needing corneal transplants.

Learn More