The key to a scleral lens is its unique design:

• Size and Vaulting: Unlike standard contact lenses that sit directly on the sensitive cornea (the clear front dome of the eye), scleral lenses are significantly larger. They vault completely over the entire corneal surface and the edge of the lens rests gently on the less-sensitive white part of the eye, called the sclera.
  
  
• The Fluid Reservoir: Because the lens vaults over the cornea, it creates a small gap that is filled with a preservative-free saline solution upon insertion. This tear-filled reservoir serves two powerful purposes:
  
  
  • Therapeutic Hydration: It continuously bathes the cornea in moisture, acting as a "liquid bandage" and providing crucial relief and healing for severe dry eye conditions.
  • Optical Perfection: The smooth, front surface of the liquid reservoir effectively masks any irregularities on the underlying cornea, creating a perfectly smooth new optical surface for light to pass through.

Due to their custom design and therapeutic benefits, scleral lenses are often the ideal—and sometimes only—solution for several complex conditions:

Keratoconus: For conditions where the cornea bulges or becomes irregularly shaped, scleral lenses provide a new, smooth refractive surface that results in remarkably crisp, stable vision that cannot be achieved with glasses or soft lenses.

Severe Dry Eye Syndrome: Patients with chronic, severe dryness (including those with conditions like Sjögren's syndrome) benefit tremendously from the constant hydration provided by the fluid reservoir, dramatically improving comfort and reducing irritation.

Post-Surgical Complications: They effectively correct vision issues stemming from corneal transplants, complications following LASIK, or other refractive surgeries.

Corneal Scarring/Irregularity: They smooth out the visual distortions caused by scarring from injury or infection.

High and Complex Prescriptions: Their rigid material and stable fit offer superior visual acuity for individuals with high refractive errors or significant astigmatism.

• Exceptional Comfort: Because the lens rests on the less-sensitive sclera rather than the cornea, many patients find them surprisingly more comfortable than smaller, traditional RGP lenses.
• Stability: The large diameter prevents shifting, rotation, or dislodging, providing consistent, clear vision all day long.
• Sharper Vision: The material provides clearer, higher-definition vision than soft contacts, especially for irregular corneas.

If you have struggled with comfort or clarity from standard contact lenses, scleral lenses represent an advanced option that can truly transform your vision and quality of life. To learn if scleral lenses are right for you, schedule your consultation with Ashburn Vision Source today.