Key Takeaways
- Keratoconus thins the cornea and can make vision blurry and distorted.
- Scleral lenses vault over the cornea and rest on the white of your eye.
- These lenses can improve vision, but they don’t change the shape of your cornea.
- A fitting includes an eye exam, corneal mapping, and follow-up adjustments.
Your glasses used to work well, but now the letters look smeared, and the prescription keeps changing. At Littlefield Eye Associates, our team helps families in Kansas City find answers when vision keeps shifting like that.
Scleral lenses work by vaulting over a cone-shaped cornea and resting on the white of your eye, with a fluid-filled space that creates a smoother surface for light. If you’re looking for an optometrist in Kansas City who offers scleral lenses, our team can walk you through every step.
What Is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus happens when the cornea thins and bulges into a cone shape. The cornea is the clear front surface of your eye, so a change in its shape can affect how you see.
You might notice the following signs:
- Blurry or distorted vision
- Frequent changes to your glasses prescription
Glasses and soft contact lenses often fall short here. They follow the shape of the eye or sit in front of it, so they can struggle to smooth an uneven cornea.
How Do Scleral Lenses Work for Keratoconus?
A Lens That Rests on the White of Your Eye
A scleral lens is large. It vaults over the cornea instead of sitting on it.
A fluid-filled space sits between the lens and your eye. That fluid helps smooth the surface so light can enter more evenly.
Comfort, Hydration, and Clear Vision
Because the lens avoids touching the sensitive cornea, many people find it comfortable. The fluid also helps keep your eyes moist through the day.
Results vary by person, and your eye doctor can talk through what to expect for your eyes, including whether 20/20 vision is a realistic goal.
Do Scleral Lenses Stop Keratoconus from Getting Worse?
Scleral lenses can improve how you see, but they don’t change the shape of your cornea. That’s why ongoing corneal care matters.
What Is It Like to Wear Scleral Lenses Every Day?
Wear Time, Insertion, and Cleaning Basics
Wear time builds up gradually, so your eyes can adjust at a comfortable pace.
Insertion takes practice. Our team can help you learn it during your visits until it feels natural.
Use only the solution your eye doctor recommends. Never use tap water.
Common Questions About Daily Life
You may wonder about crying, sleeping, or your favorite activities. Bring those questions to your fitting so your eye doctor can answer them for your routine.
Your eye doctor can also explain how long your lenses may last and when to replace them.
How Do You Get Fitted for Scleral Lenses in Kansas City?
It starts with an eye exam at Littlefield Eye Associates in Kansas City, MO, along with specialized corneoscleral mapping using our advanced Eaglet corneoscleral topographer. This technology provides a more precise and efficient way to map the unique shape of your eye. From there, you’ll try a trial lens, then our team can place a custom order and make adjustments at follow-up visits.
Optometry in Kansas City, MO, feels different when it’s local and personal. Littlefield Eye Associates has cared for families in the Waldo neighborhood since 1909.
If keratoconus has made your vision harder to manage, call Littlefield Eye Associates to schedule your visit and learn whether scleral lenses fit your needs.
