---
title: "Scleral lenses | Eye Health Guide"
description: "How scleral lenses work for keratoconus and severe dry eye, how they are fitted, daily care, and what to expect. Clinically reviewed."
url: https://eyehealthguide.org/treatments/scleral-lenses/
source: Eye Health Guide
licence: "General information only. Cite the URL and the named medical reviewer."
---

Treatment

# Scleral lenses

Medical reviewer [Mr Mohamed Mohyudin](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/mohamed-mohyudin/)· Last recorded site review July 6, 2026

### About this review

This page inherits the site’s previous review record. A separate, current article sign-off has not yet been recorded.

[How review works](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/) · [Official biography & credentials](https://mohamedmohyudin.co.uk/author/mohamed-mohyudin/)

Quick answer

Scleral lenses are large, rigid contact lenses that rest on the white of the eye and vault over the cornea without touching it. They create a smooth optical surface for clear vision in keratoconus and hold a reservoir of fluid that can greatly help severe dry eye. They are custom-fitted by a specialist and need careful daily cleaning.

### On this page ⌄

1. What they are
2. Who they help
3. Fitting and daily use
4. What to expect
5. Conditions this can help
6. Frequently asked questions

## What they are

Unlike standard contact lenses that sit on the cornea, scleral lenses are bigger and rest on the sclera, the white part of the eye. They arch over the cornea, trapping a layer of sterile saline between the lens and the eye. This vault can mask an irregular cornea for sharper vision and bathe the surface in fluid for people with severe dry eye who cannot tolerate ordinary lenses.

## Who they help

Scleral lenses are often used when glasses or standard soft lenses cannot give adequate vision or comfort.

- Keratoconus or other corneal irregularity where glasses are not enough
- Severe dry eye, including after surgery or with conditions such as Sjögren syndrome
- Post-corneal transplant or other cases where the corneal surface is uneven

## Fitting and daily use

Fitting takes several visits with a contact lens specialist who maps the eye and orders a custom lens.

- Corneal imaging to design a lens that vaults safely over the cornea
- Practice inserting and removing the lens with a plunger or fingers
- Filling the bowl of the lens with saline before placing it on the eye
- Daily cleaning and storage with solutions recommended by your fitter

## What to expect

Vision is often much clearer and more stable than with glasses in keratoconus, and many people with dry eye find comfort improves dramatically. Adaptation can take time, and lenses need replacing periodically as the eye or prescription changes. Poor hygiene raises the risk of infection, so follow your fitter's care instructions closely.

## Conditions this can help

## Frequently asked questions

### Are scleral lenses comfortable?

They feel different from soft lenses at first, but because they rest on the less sensitive sclera and do not touch the cornea, many people find them comfortable once adapted, especially compared with other rigid lenses.

### How long can you wear scleral lenses each day?

Many people wear them all waking hours, though your fitter will advise a wearing schedule based on your eyes. Never sleep in them unless specifically told to by your specialist.

### Are scleral lenses the same as hard contact lenses?

They are a type of rigid lens, but much larger than standard rigid gas-permeable lenses. Their size and fluid reservoir make them especially useful for irregular corneas and severe dry eye.

Your next step

## Take this to your appointment

Write down what has changed, when it started, your current medicines and the questions you want answered. Take these to your eye-care appointment.

Sudden loss of sight, severe eye pain or a dark curtain across vision needs immediate assessment. Do not wait to complete a worksheet.

## Sources for this information

These references support the information on this page. Follow the linked source for its full context.

- [Moorfields Eye Hospital - Care of your scleral contact lenses (PDF)](https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/mediaLocal/hxypzpyf/care-of-your-scleral-lenses.pdf)