If standard contacts have never worked for you, scleral lenses might be the answer. Ojos Del Mar in Tamarindo offers specialty scleral lens fittings for keratoconus, irregular corneas, and chronic dry eye.
What are scleral lenses — and are they right for you?
If you've been told that contact lenses "just don't work" for your eyes — or if you've tried multiple types of soft contacts without success — there's a good chance no one has offered you the right lens. Scleral lenses are a specialty option that solves problems standard contacts can't, and they're available at Ojos Del Mar in Tamarindo.
Why standard contacts fail some people
Standard soft contact lenses rest directly on the cornea — the clear dome at the front of the eye. For most people, this works fine. But for anyone with an irregular corneal shape, extreme dryness, or a condition like keratoconus, a lens that sits on an uneven surface can't create a stable, clear optical correction. The result is blur, distortion, discomfort, or lenses that won't stay in place.
What scleral lenses are
Scleral lenses are large-diameter, rigid gas-permeable contact lenses that vault completely over the cornea and rest on the sclera — the white of the eye. Because they don't touch the cornea at all, the shape of the cornea becomes irrelevant to how the lens sits or performs.
The space between the lens and the cornea is filled with sterile saline solution, creating a smooth, stable liquid optical surface. This produces vision clarity that irregular corneas simply cannot achieve with standard lenses — and a level of comfort that surprises most new wearers, because the lens never contacts the sensitive corneal surface.
Who benefits most
Scleral lenses are particularly effective for:
- Keratoconus — a condition where the cornea progressively thins and bulges into a cone shape, causing progressive, uncorrectable blur with standard lenses
- Post-surgical corneas — after LASIK, PRK, or corneal transplant, the surface is often irregular
- Severe dry eye — the fluid reservoir under the lens keeps the eye lubricated throughout the day
- High irregular astigmatism — where no soft lens can create a stable correction
- Pellucid marginal degeneration and other corneal ectasias
What the fitting involves
Scleral lens fitting is not a standard contact lens fitting — it requires specialist training and specific diagnostic equipment. We perform detailed corneal topography mapping to measure the exact shape of the cornea and the surrounding sclera, then use that data to design a lens that vaults properly and lands correctly.
A typical fitting process involves a trial lens, assessment of fit under the slit lamp, a period of adaptation, and refinement as needed. Most patients are wearing their final lenses comfortably within a few weeks of starting the process.
If you have keratoconus, have had previous eye surgery, or have struggled with contact lenses for years, book a specialty lens consultation or message us on WhatsApp to ask whether scleral lenses are right for you.
