Our mini-scleral and scleral lenses are designed to rest
on the insensitive
white tissue of the eye,
or sclera,
while vaulting the sensitive cornea.
This makes it
ideal
for treating corneal
surface
diseases since the
lens acts
to
retain moisture
between the lens
surface
and the
surface of the eye.
About the size of a dime,
it is also
much easier
to handle and feels
less “bulky” on
the eye
than
other types of scleral lenses.
From left to right:
16.0 mm mini-scleral lens;
14.0 mm mini-scleral lens; 12.0 mm intralimbal lens; 9.5 mm corneal lens
By comparison, a typical soft lens is 14.0 mm in diameter, i.e. the same size as lens #2 from left.
Other types of lenses may be designed to alter the corneal contour in order to produce a residual refractive effect. When done to reduce refractive error, it is called orthokeratology. However, it is often the case following refractive surgery that little or no refractive error is present, yet the visual quality is reduced. The cause of this is often an increase in higher order aberrations due to an irregular corneal surface or
zone of treatment that is too small in relation to the pupil diameter. In that case, the cornea can
sometimes be smoothed or a small optical zone expanded to reduce the aberrations temporarily after the lenses have been removed from the eye for an extended therapeutic effect. Lenses designed for this effect are typically not as large as scleral lenses, and may only be appropriate for certain individuals depending on the condition of the cornea and tear film.
Because of our unique design and fitting process, the average number of lenses required to achieve a final fit has been drastically reduced. The lenses are produced locally by a commercial manufacturer using state-of-the-art precision lathes and the best FDA approved materials in terms of oxygen permeability and tissue compatibility. All lens surfaces are plasma treated to improve surface wettability and comfort.
Using this approach allows us to focus on the design process without incurring the large overhead that a manufacturing operation would entail, while still producing a rapid turnaround of 24 hours or less. The net result is a state-of-the-art lens at about one-third the cost of our competition in a shorter period of time. Quicker case completion helps our patients return home sooner. The process is still somewhat time and skill intensive and we ask our out-of-town patients to plan on being with us for one week or five business days.
We are currently pursuing wavefront-generated designs to further reduce residual aberrations, leading to even better visual quality. Our newsletter keeps our subscribers informed of the progress of these developments.
To learn more:
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call the office at 972-462-7311
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