Astigmatism is one of the most common vision problems, and for most people it's easily corrected with glasses or toric soft lenses. But when astigmatism is high, irregular, or paired with another corneal condition, those options fall short. That's where scleral lenses come in.
Regular vs. irregular astigmatism
Regular astigmatism comes from a cornea shaped more like a football than a basketball — but still smooth and predictable. Glasses and toric contacts handle it well.
Irregular astigmatism comes from an uneven, unpredictable corneal surface — caused by keratoconus, scarring, injury, or past surgery. This kind can't be fully corrected by glasses or standard lenses, no matter how precise the prescription.
Why scleral lenses excel at astigmatism
A scleral lens replaces your eye's uneven focusing surface with the lens's own perfectly smooth front surface, plus the saline layer beneath it. That means:
- Irregular astigmatism is neutralized because the lens vaults over the distortion entirely.
- High regular astigmatism is corrected cleanly, without the rotation problems that can affect toric soft lenses.
- Vision stays stable because the large lens doesn't rotate or shift the way smaller lenses can.
Do you need scleral lenses for your astigmatism?
Not everyone does. If your astigmatism is mild-to-moderate and regular, glasses or toric contacts are simpler and cheaper. Scleral lenses shine when your astigmatism is severe, irregular, or resistant to other corrections — often because there's an underlying corneal condition at play.
Finding out for sure
A comprehensive exam with corneal mapping reveals exactly what type and degree of astigmatism you have, and whether scleral lenses would help. Dr. Salley can walk you through the full range of options.
Curious whether your astigmatism needs a specialty lens? Book a contact lens evaluation at CFE Memphis.