Scleral lenses are specialty contact lenses designed for people who need more than standard glasses or traditional soft contacts can provide. For patients with irregular corneas, keratoconus, severe dry eye, corneal scarring, or ongoing contact lens discomfort, scleral lenses can offer a more stable and comfortable way to see clearly. Instead of sitting directly on the cornea like many traditional lenses, scleral lenses vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye, known as the sclera.
This unique design makes scleral lenses especially helpful for patients who have struggled with blurry vision, distorted vision, fluctuating vision, or irritation from regular contacts. At CFE Memphis, patients throughout Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Lakeland, and nearby communities can receive personalized specialty lens care designed around their eyes, lifestyle, and long-term vision goals.
What Makes Scleral Lenses Different?
Most people are familiar with soft contact lenses. These lenses are thin, flexible, and designed to correct common prescriptions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. While soft contacts work well for many patients, they are not always the best solution for complex corneal conditions.
Scleral lenses are different because they are larger and more customized. They do not simply follow the shape of the cornea. Instead, they create a smooth new surface over the front of the eye. This can help improve how light enters the eye, which may lead to clearer and more stable vision for patients with irregular corneas.
The space between the back of the lens and the cornea is filled with sterile saline before the lens is placed on the eye. This fluid layer can help keep the cornea hydrated throughout the day. That is one reason scleral lenses may be recommended for some patients with severe dry eye or ocular surface disease.
For patients comparing their options, CFE Memphis provides more information on the Scleral Lenses page and the Contacts page.
Who Can Benefit from Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses may be recommended for several different eye conditions. One of the most common is keratoconus, a progressive condition that causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone-like shape. When the cornea becomes irregular, glasses may no longer provide sharp enough vision. Scleral lenses can help by creating a smoother optical surface over the irregular cornea.
Scleral lenses may also help patients with corneal scarring, irregular astigmatism, post-surgical corneas, and certain cases of dry eye disease. They can also be useful for people who have been told they are difficult to fit with standard contacts.
Not every patient with blurry vision needs scleral lenses. Some patients may do well with updated glasses, soft contacts, dry eye treatment, or other medical eye care. That is why a thorough exam is important. If you are dealing with changing vision, eye discomfort, or blurry vision that does not improve with your current prescription, a comprehensive evaluation can help identify the best next step.
Patients experiencing unclear or unstable vision may also find helpful information on CFE Memphis’ Blurry Vision page and Comprehensive Eye Exams page.
Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus
Keratoconus is one of the main reasons patients seek scleral lenses. With keratoconus, the cornea loses its normal round shape and becomes more cone-like. This creates distorted vision that can be hard to correct with glasses alone. Patients may notice ghosting, halos, glare, frequent prescription changes, or difficulty seeing clearly at night.
Scleral lenses for keratoconus can help because they vault over the uneven cornea. Instead of relying on the cornea’s natural surface to focus light properly, the lens creates a more regular front surface. This may improve clarity and reduce visual distortion.
For patients who have keratoconus or suspect they may have it, early evaluation matters. The condition can progress over time, so monitoring and treatment planning are important. CFE Memphis offers specialized care for this condition through its Keratoconus page.
Scleral Lenses for Dry Eye
Some patients with dry eye struggle because their eyes do not stay comfortable during the day. They may experience burning, stinging, redness, watering, gritty sensations, or vision that comes and goes. While many dry eye patients can be treated with other therapies first, scleral lenses may be helpful in more advanced or stubborn cases.
Because a scleral lens holds a fluid reservoir against the eye, it can help protect the corneal surface and maintain moisture while the lens is being worn. This does not cure dry eye, but it may improve comfort and visual stability for carefully selected patients.
If you have persistent irritation or discomfort, it is important to have your eyes evaluated before assuming scleral lenses are the answer. Dry eye can have multiple causes, including tear film problems, inflammation, eyelid issues, screen use, allergies, or medical conditions. CFE Memphis can help determine whether specialty lenses, dry eye treatment, or another solution is best for your symptoms.
What to Expect from a Scleral Lens Fitting
A scleral lens fitting is more detailed than a standard contact lens fitting. Your provider needs to evaluate your corneal shape, eye health, prescription, tear film, and comfort needs. Advanced measurements may be used to design a lens that properly vaults the cornea and lands safely on the sclera.
The process may include trial lenses, vision testing, comfort checks, and follow-up visits. Patients also receive training on insertion, removal, cleaning, storage, and proper lens care. This education is a key part of long-term success because scleral lenses require consistent hygiene and careful handling.
The first lens may not always be the final lens. Adjustments are sometimes needed to improve comfort, clarity, or fit. That is normal. The goal is to create a custom lens that supports both vision and eye health.
Are Scleral Lenses Comfortable?
Many patients are surprised to learn that scleral lenses can be very comfortable when properly fitted. Since the lens rests on the less sensitive white part of the eye and vaults over the cornea, some people find them more comfortable than smaller rigid lenses.
Comfort depends on the quality of the fit, the health of the eye, the condition being treated, and the patient’s ability to follow care instructions. If a lens feels uncomfortable, causes redness, creates foggy vision, or becomes difficult to wear, the fit may need to be adjusted.
Finding Scleral Lenses in Memphis
If you are looking for scleral lenses in Memphis, choosing the right provider matters. These are not standard contact lenses. They require specialty training, careful measurement, and ongoing follow-up. Patients in Memphis and nearby areas can visit CFE Memphis for personalized care and specialty lens evaluation.
CFE Memphis serves patients throughout the Greater Memphis area, including communities listed on the Service Areas page. Whether you are dealing with keratoconus, dry eye, irregular corneas, or contact lens discomfort, a customized approach can help you understand your options.
Take the Next Step
Scleral lenses can make a meaningful difference for patients who have not found success with regular glasses or contacts. They may improve clarity, comfort, and confidence for people with complex vision needs. The best way to know whether they are right for you is to schedule a specialty evaluation.
If your vision feels unstable, your contacts are uncomfortable, or you have been diagnosed with keratoconus or severe dry eye, CFE Memphis can help you explore whether scleral lenses are the right fit.