Scleral Lenses in Long Beach: Relief for Keratoconus & Hard-to-Fit Irregular Corneas

For patients with keratoconus or an irregular cornea, finding contact lenses that provide clear, comfortable vision can be challenging. Standard soft contact lenses may not adequately correct the visual distortion caused by an uneven corneal surface. At Long Beach Vision Center, we offer specialty contact lens options, including scleral lenses, for patients in Long Beach who need a more customized approach to vision correction.
 

How Scleral Lenses Work

Scleral lenses are larger-diameter rigid gas permeable lenses designed to rest on the white portion of the eye, called the sclera. Instead of sitting directly on the cornea, the lens vaults over it and creates a smooth optical surface.
 

The space between the lens and cornea is filled with sterile saline solution. This design can help provide more consistent vision while reducing direct contact with sensitive or irregular corneal tissue.
 

Because scleral lenses are individually fitted, they can be an effective option for patients who have struggled with conventional contacts.
 

Scleral Lenses for Keratoconus

Keratoconus causes the cornea to gradually thin and develop a cone-like shape. As the cornea becomes more irregular, glasses and standard soft contacts may no longer provide the level of vision correction a patient needs.
 

Scleral lenses can compensate for that irregular shape by creating a smooth refractive surface over the cornea. For many patients with keratoconus in Long Beach, this may provide clearer and more stable vision than traditional contact lenses.
 

Who May Benefit From Scleral Lenses?

Scleral lenses may be considered for people with a variety of complex corneal or contact lens needs, including:

• Keratoconus
• Irregular corneal shapes
• Significant corneal astigmatism
• Corneal scarring
• Post-surgical corneal changes
• Difficulty achieving comfortable vision with standard contact lenses

Every eye is different, which is why a detailed contact lens evaluation is important before determining whether scleral lenses are appropriate.
 

Why Custom Fitting Matters

Scleral lens fitting requires careful measurements of the eye and corneal surface. Small changes in lens diameter, vault, alignment, or prescription can influence both vision and comfort.
 

At our Long Beach office, we evaluate the shape and condition of the cornea before selecting and refining a specialty contact lens. Follow-up visits also allow us to assess how the lenses settle on the eyes and make adjustments when necessary.
 

The goal is not simply to provide a contact lens prescription. We want to find a lens design that supports clear vision, healthy eyes, and comfortable everyday wear.
 

When Standard Contacts Are Not Enough

Blurred or distorted vision with regular contacts does not necessarily mean contact lenses are no longer an option. Patients with keratoconus and other hard-to-fit corneas may need a lens specifically designed around their eye shape.
 

If traditional contacts have been uncomfortable or have not provided consistent vision, a specialty contact lens evaluation can help determine whether scleral lenses may offer a better solution.
 

If you are struggling with keratoconus, an irregular cornea, or hard-to-fit contact lenses, schedule a specialty contact lens evaluation with Long Beach Vision Center at 5610 E. 2nd St., Long Beach, CA 90803 by calling (562) 434-7775.