SCLERAL LENSES: WEAR THEM PROPERLY

What are Scleral Lenses?

Scleral, also known as rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, are a special kind of hard contact lens. It’s made of a hard plastic material that offers clear vision and breathability. Despite, it’s rigid design, scleral or RGP lenses allow oxygen to reach your eyes making them comfortable to wear. However, some would argue that soft lenses are your best choice if you’re looking for the highest level of comfort.

Contact lenses are very popular accessories that you can use for both vision correction and cosmetic purposes. In fact, there are a number of different types of contact lenses that you can choose from. However, if you’re using scleral lenses in particular, you’ll need a few tips to wear them correctly. After all, this type of hard lens can be challenging to wear especially for beginners.

Benefits of RGP or Scleral Lenses

Unlike your regular soft lenses, scleral contact lenses offer a harder and much wider lens shape. As a result, this type of lens is more durable than your regular contact lenses. Additionally, the rigidity of scleral lenses provide better visual clarity which can be very helpful for certain cases. Keep reading and find out why you might want to switch to scleral contact lenses.

Durability – Unlike soft lenses, this type of lens is very hard to tear or ruin. Although, you can still break them if you step on them.
Longevity – Scleral contact lenses last longer than soft lenses which makes them cheaper in the long run.
Sharpness – You can get a sharper eyesight because of how the rigid lenses don’t move when you blink.
Less Build Up – You don’t get as much protein build on your lenses compared to soft lenses.
Astigmatism – Some people with astigmatism may not experience the best results with soft lenses. As a result, scleral contacts can be an alternative for better vision.
Presbyopia – You can get scleral lenses with different bifocal designs. This makes it a nice option for people who suffer from presbyopia.
Keratoconus – Some people have a cone-shaped cornea that leads to intense distortion in their vision. If you have this type of problem, scleral lenses may help solve our problems.
Refractive Surgery – Patients who recently undergo refractive surgery may be required to wear RGP lenses. Although, you should take note that this is a case to case basis.

How Do You Wear Scleral Lenses Properly

Despite having lots of benefits, scleral contact lenses are still a lot less popular compared to soft lenses. In fact, with millions of people using contact lenses, most of them are using soft daily wear or disposable lenses. So why aren’t scleral or RGP lenses very common? The answer mainly lies on the adjustments and practice you need to get used to them.

Today, we often choose the fastest and most convenient options because of our busy lifestyle. For example, you can’t afford to spend hours on your lenses when you have a busy day ahead. Although scleral lenses don’t require an hours worth of work, they’re still less efficient compared to soft lenses. In other words, scleral contact lenses require an adjustment period and lots of getting used to. But don’t worry, we have the right tips to help you get used to your lenses faster!

Tools for Scleral Lenses

Due to its material and design, you need to practice getting used to wearing your scleral lenses. The main challenges you’ll be facing is putting on and taking off your lenses. Aside from those, you won’t really have a lot of problems wearing your lenses. Additionally, there are also a few tools that you can use to make your experience easier. And in no time, you’ll be taking your lenses on and off as easily as soft lenses.

DMV Plunger – Scleral contacts are a little larger than your regular lenses so putting them on can be challenging. Luckily, you can use a DMV plunger to hold on to your lens while you use your other hand to keep your eyes open. A hollow DMV plunger also makes it easier for you to put your lenses directly on the right position.
Saline Solution – You need to wet your scleral lens before you put it on. With this in mind, you should fill the top of your lens with a saline solution. Additionally, you shouldn’t use a multi purpose solution as its ingredients may irritate your eyes. In fact, it’s important to know which type of contact lens solution to use.
Mirror – Putting on regular soft lenses is hard enough for some people. So if scleral lenses pose a challenge, putting a mirror on your table may help you wear your lenses better. After all, it’s always easier when you can see where your lens is going.
Cloth – Considering the amount of saline solution you’ll need, wearing your lenses can be a little messy. But don’t worry, you just need to prepare a clean cloth to wipe up all the saline solution that may spill.
S5 Inserter – If you’re really having a hard time despite using a DMV plunger, you can try an S5 Inserter. You can use this tool as an extra arm to hold your lenses vertically atop your table. With this tool, you can now use both your hands to hold your eyelids open as you attach your lenses.

How to Wear Scleral Lenses

Inserting your lenses for the first time can be a very tricky experience. However, with the right tools and tips, you’ll wear them in no time. So read on and find out how to wear your lenses properly.

Wash your hands – you should always wash your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses. In fact, you should wash your hands before touching your eyes or lenses. This is because touching your lenses with dirty hands can lead to contamination. And when you wear dirty lenses all day, you’re putting yourself at more risk of eye diseases! So keep your eyes safe and wash your hands regularly.
Pick which lens to wear first – You’re going to have a left and a right lens which are not interchangeable. This means that you should never use your left lens on your right eye or vice versa. You can avoid mistakes by adding visible marks on your case to identify which ones are left and right.

Additionally, you should try to practice putting on a specific lens first whenever you wear them. For example, you can practice putting on your right lens first every time you put them on. This way, you’ll naturally develop a habit to determine which lens is for the right eye.

Check your lens – You should inspect your lens for damages before putting them on. This is the best time for you to look for any marks, dents, or scratches on your lens. If you do find some damages, you shouldn’t put your lenses on. In fact, you can try calling your lens provider for help if they cover any sort of refund.
Use a plunger – If your lens is scratch free, then the next step is to use a DMV plunger. You can use this tool to hold your lenses safely instead of using your finger tips. Place your outer side of your lens directly on the plunger. With this, you now have a better hold on your lenses which makes the next step easier.
Add saline solution – While your lens is on top of the DMV plunger, you should take out your saline solution. You should only use a specific type of saline solution as other formulas like multi purpose solutions are too strong. In other words, using the wrong solution could irritate your eyes due to their strong ingredients. Next, you should fill the top of your lens with the right saline solution. Make sure that you fill it up to the point where it almost overflows.
Face the floor – Before you try putting on your lenses, you should first face the floor. In fact, your DMV plunger should face directly at your roof at the same time. Being parallel to the ground makes it easier for you to insert your lens perfectly. You can also put a mirror on top of the desk and look at it directly. This will act as your guide as you slowly move your plunger closer to your eye.
Hold your eyelid – Scleral lenses are bigger than your regular soft lens. This means that you need to open your eyelid as wide as you can. To do this, use the index and thumb of your other hand to force your eyelids open. Next, slowly move your head towards the bowl of the lens. Additionally, you should expect a few drops of saline solution to fall on the floor. This is perfectly natural and all you have to do is wipe them with a clean cloth.
Feel your lenses – Once you’ve safely put on your lenses, you should look around and check how they fit. They should naturally feel somewhat distracting at first. However, you should remove them immediately if you feel any sort of stinging or burning sensation. Some people may be allergic to contact lenses or lens solution so you should be careful. Finally, if you do not feel any irritation, you can now enjoy your crystal clear vision.

How to Remove Scleral Lenses

Once you’ve tried putting on your lenses properly, taking them out will be much easier. In fact, check out these quick and easy tips that you can follow.

Take out your DMG plunger and place a few drops of saline solution on it.
Aim the plunger at the lower part of your lens.
You can use your index finger to push the side of your lens to loosen them up.
Carefully pull on the plunger to remove the lens from your eye.
If you do this correctly, everything should go as smoothly as possible.

Conclusion

Learning a few tips and tricks about your scleral contact lenses can really help you in the long run. After all, this type of lens requires a little more practice than your regular soft lenses. This information is also helpful if you’re still planning to get a new pair for yourself. If so, don’t forget to get your eyes checked by a professional before making any decisions. Additionally, you should never purchase any type of contact lens without the right prescription. Finally, you should enjoy your contact lenses and even explore colorful options like cosmetic contact lenses for fun!

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