What is Keratoconus?

The cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped window at the front of your eye. It focuses light into the eye. Keratoconus occurs when the cornea becomes thin and protrudes in a cone-like shape. This change causes light rays to defocus, resulting in blurry and distorted vision. Consequently, everyday activities like reading or driving become challenging.

As an optometrist in Ajax, Ontario, with extensive training in fitting scleral contact lenses, I often see patients struggling with vision and ocular comfort problems. Many have tried traditional glasses, contact lenses, or over-the-counter remedies without success and have almost given up hope. Fortunately, scleral contacts offer an effective option for patients with various challenging eye conditions. In this post, I’ll explain what scleral lenses are, the common complaints and conditions they address, the fitting process, and how you can get in touch with Ajax Eye Care to schedule a consultation.

What are Scleral Lenses?

Scleral lenses are a large diameter rigid contact lens that are designed to vault up and over the cornea and rest on the sclera, the white part of the eye. These are the only type of contact lens that do not touch the cornea directly and are an excellent option for patients with corneal conditions such as keratoconus, scarring or trauma and corneal transplant. Scleral lenses are also unique in that they contain a fluid reservoir that bathes the front of the eye for the entire duration of lens wear which can be extremely therapeutic for patients who suffer from dry eye disease.  These lenses can improve the quality of life for patients who suffer from severe forms of dry eye disease including Ocular Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD), Sjogren’s Syndrome and Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

Common Complaints and Eye Conditions

A common complaint that I hear in my office from patients suffering from keratoconus is …

My vision is blurry even with my glasses or while wearing my soft contact lenses, there is a ghosting or shadowing that occurs around letters.  I am also really bothered by lights when driving at night, headlights have starbursts or halos around them.

These symptoms of ghosting, glare, halos occur due to irregularity on the surface of the eye which causes light to scatter and blurs vision.  Scleral contact lenses provide a smooth and regular surface for light to pass through, resulting in improved vision, sharper clarity, and reduced glare and halos.

For those suffering from moderate to severe dry eye disease, these patients usually end up in my exam chair for a scleral lens consult once they have tried numerous things. Which may include eye drops (ie. artificial tears, gels, ointments), medications (ie. cyclosporine, lifitegrast) and therapies (ie. warm compresses, punctal plugs, Lipiflow, IPL) for their gritty, watery, red and painful eyes. Managing their symptoms all day exhausts these patients, and they are ready to find relief.

Scleral contact lenses can give dry eye sufferers their life back.

The constant lubrication from the scleral lens fluid reservoir provides this relief. In addition, the rigidity of the lens material protects the surface of the eye from the sheering forces of the eyelids and its’ large diameter provides defense from environmental factors (air/wind, pollutants).

The Fitting Process

Fitting scleral lenses is a specialized and custom process that typically spans three months. During this time, we take detailed measurements and scans of your eyes. We trial various scleral lens designs to find the best fit for your needs and then custom design your lenses. We further refine your lenses to optimize vision and ensure a perfect fit. Our office will train you on how to insert and remove the lenses and provide guidance on lens care and maintenance.

Contact Ajax Eye Care Today

At Ajax Eye Care, our team of experienced optometrists are dedicated to providing personalized care to all of our patients including regular disposable contact lenses, gas permeable contact lenses, and specialty custom scleral contact lenses. We use state-of-the-art technology to ensure the most accurate and efficient care possible.

If you are located in Durham Region (Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa) or the Greater Toronto Area (specifically Scarborough or Markham) and are looking for a trusted optometrist who fits scleral contact lenses, look no further than Ajax Eye Care. Let us help you achieve your best possible vision and eye health.

Click to call now –> 905-686-1551