Scleral lens care essentials

Written By Rebecca Petris

Cleaning & Disinfection

YOU MUST: Disinfect daily.

  • This typically takes 4-6 hours depending which product you use

  • Use an approved disinfection solution

  • Solution must be fresh

YOU SHOULD: Rub clean daily.

  • Disinfecting without rubbing is like brushing teeth without flossing.

  • Rub and rinse (as opposed to just dumping dirty lenses in the disinfection solution)

  • Use the same type of solution that you use for disinfection, though some people will need a stronger solution that is used solely for this step

YOU MIGHT NEED TO: “Deep clean” at times.

  • This step is for people who are prone to heavy depositing on their lenses

  • Specialty cleaners are designed to remove more stubborn deposits

Rinsing

You can rinse with any of these:

  • Preservative-free saline solution

  • Multi-purpose solution

  • Preserved saline solution (handy for those who are trying to economize on PF saline)

No rinsing with water

NEVER rinse with water

…Not even if your lenses will be disinfected immediately afterwards! Most disinfection solutions do not eradicate acanthamoeba.

Storage

OVERNIGHT: Generally speaking, what you do with your lenses overnight is disinfection (not storage). Scroll up for a reminder.

TEMPORARY: You’re taking a nap or a shower or you’re going for a swim. You put your lenses in a case with some multi-purpose solution.

LONG-TERM: You’re storing a spare lens, or you have to take an extended break from wearing sclerals. You clean them, dry them and put them in a case for dry storage.*

*In some cases, for short term storage of newly Hydra-PEG coated lenses, you may need to store them in multi-purpose solution. Talk to your provider about this if unsure.

NEVER store scleral lenses in preservative-free saline or water.

Replacement

You may need to purchase a replacement lens if your lens becomes cracked, chipped, “etched” by chronic deposits, warped, broken or lost.

Scleral lens “life length” can vary quite a bit from user to user and brand to brand. If you are unsure whether your lens is still safe and effective to use, make an appointment so your provider can examine it.

 
Rebecca Petris
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Step 1: Rub clean