Scleral Lenses for Dry Eyes: Is It a Good Idea?

Living in a beautiful place like Miami feels like a dream. But its windy climate, heat, and allergens may not let you live in peace. You can develop dry eye symptoms because of these environmental factors. This condition occurs when the eyes fail to produce enough tears naturally or when the tears evaporate quickly. However, there is nothing to be scared of, as this eye condition is quite common. Fortunately, it can also be treated efficiently. For the uninitiated, reputable eye clinics in Miami today recommend scleral lenses for this eye problem. These lenses serve as a moisture reservoir for the cornea, addressing both tear production and evaporation issues.

You may wonder why you should worry about this eye condition or the particular treatment. The fact is, you already know about the environmental irritants that exist in Miami. Plus, factors like aging, hormonal changes, prolonged screen time, and certain lifestyle choices increase the risk of dry eyes. If you know enough about this condition and the best treatment options, you will feel less anxious or concerned about your eye health. You can also trust your eye specialist more easily when discussing suitable treatment methods. In this context, here are some helpful details for you to explore.

Dry eye disease and scleral lenses

Modern dry eye treatments are designed to address all contributing factors, including tear film instability, inflammation, ocular surface damage, and oil gland dysfunction. Dry eye disease can be of two types: aqueous-deficient dry eye and evaporative dry eye. Scleral lenses for dry eyes have been shown to provide relief in both cases by maintaining moisture levels on the corneal surface.

Aqueous-deficient dry eye

When the eyes don't produce enough tears, the condition is called aqueous-deficient dry eye. Patients with Sjögren syndrome and similar medical conditions are more vulnerable to this because these diseases affect the body's secretory organs, including the lacrimal glands that produce tears. Earlier, doctors would recommend punctal occlusion or artificial tears to treat this eye condition, but neither provided long-term relief in severe cases. However, scleral lenses have been able to address the severity of Sjögren syndrome-related dry eye symptoms more effectively. These lenses create a protective moisture chamber and help keep the eyes hydrated for longer, leading to reduced corneal staining, better ocular surface health, improved visual comfort, and more stable tear retention. Furthermore, scleral lenses have also been found to ease the symptoms of aqueous-deficient dry eye caused by other factors, such as age-related lacrimal dysfunction. As tear production naturally decreases with age, many patients experience irritation, redness, blurred vision, and persistent discomfort. These lenses replace the natural tear film affected by the patient’s condition and protect the ocular surface.

Evaporative dry eye

This eye condition can cause visual fluctuations, photophobia, and other symptoms due to an unstable tear film. Doctors recommend scleral lenses to patients to provide ocular comfort and improved vision. However, it is important to know that these lenses don’t eliminate the actual cause of the symptoms. Scleral lenses are usually considered an adjunctive therapy in this area because they primarily help manage the condition and protect the ocular surface. But they are often extremely effective, especially when treatments like intense pulsed light and heat therapy don’t show much improvement.

Do you have red eyes, watery eyes, irritation, or persistent dryness? For a comprehensive eye examination and consultation, you can visit Miamicontactlens.com.