Copyright 2009
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Frequently Asked Questions | |
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| What are scleral lenses used for? | ||||||
| The chief indication for scleral lenses world-wide is keratoconus. Other indications are disfiguring eye
diseases such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, severe dry eye conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome,
and following or refractive surgery. |
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| How large are scleral lenses? | ||||||
| Scleral lenses range from 18 mm to 26 mm in diameter. Mini-scleral lenses are from 16.0 mm to 18.0
mm, and semi-sclerals range from 13.5 mm to 15.0 mm. |
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| What size do you prefer? | ||||||
| Our philosophy is to use the smallest diameter lens with the least amount of mass that is consistent
with good corneal physiology, comfort, and vision. Most or our lenses are between 15.0 and 18.0 mm,
with 16.0 mm being most common. But, any size is possible. |
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| Are they comfortable? | ||||||
| Yes, they are very comfortable. Many patients report that the comfort equals or even exceeds that of
soft lenses. They are so comfortable that we use them on patients who are unhappy with traditional
lenses such as toric soft lenses. |
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| Is there anything different about your lenses compared to others? | ||||||
| The lenses aren’t as different as our method of designing and fitting them, which is totally unique.
Heretofore, a method of mapping the sclera for contact lenses did not exist. Even now, all fitters use
trial lenses in an interative “trial-and-error” approach to fitting scleral lenses. Dr. Gemoules was the
first to adapt high resolution biometric methods to mapping the anterior eye, including the sclera, in
order to design and fit contact lenses. |
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| What are the benefits of this approach? | ||||||
| The chief benefit is being able to perfect the fit of the lens in the least amount of time. Another benefit
is that the lenses are able to be designed to follow the contour of not only the cornea, but also the
sclera for a better and more comfortable fit. There is currently no other system capable of doing this. |
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| What is the cost? | ||||||
| Everything we do is designed to minimize the cost and maximize the value to the patient. Being able
to perfect the lens fit and dishcarge the patient in the shortest possible time not only saves chair time
and material cost, but also minimized the time away from the job and family for patients who must
travel. We also save overhead by keeping the design process under our roof and having the lenses
manufactured by a local commercial lens laboratory. As a result, we charge only a third of what some charge. Arrangements have also been made with a local hotel for a discount rate
and free shuttle service. |
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| How long does it take from start to finish? | ||||||
| We recommend that patients allow up to 5 business days. Turnaound time for lenses is 24 hours or
less. Many cases will be completed earlier, and only a very small number will need more time. |
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| Do you design other lenses using this method? | ||||||
| Yes. Conventional, reverse geometry, and orthokeratology corneal lenses have been successfully designed using this method. | ||||||
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Copyright 2009 |
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