Buzz
Scleral lenses are employed to safeguard the eyes post-surgery, following an injury or corneal transplant, and for rectifying specific vision issues such as keratoconus. Given their larger size compared to regular contact lenses, inserting and removing a scleral lens requires a unique approach. During insertion, the eye must be held open wide, and removing the lens may initially feel unusual due to the suction. However, with practice, mastering this process becomes easier.
Steps
Inserting a Lens
Thoroughly wash your hands and remove any eye makeup. To minimize the risk of eye infection, refrain from handling a scleral lens with unclean hands. Employ a mild soap without moisturizers for washing, and dry your hands with a clean, lint-free towel.
- If you use eye makeup, ensure complete removal with a gentle cleanser—consider baby shampoo—and dry the area with a clean, lint-free towel. This precaution prevents makeup from transferring onto the lens and becoming trapped against the eye.
Retrieve the lens from its case and attach it to a lens plunger. Use the pads of your index finger, middle finger, and thumb to grip the lens around its edge, then remove it from the case. If you have a color-coded plunger, affix the “insertion” plunger to the outside edge of the lens, ensuring it’s not centered.
- If you lack a lens plunger, employ a “tripod” grip with your three fingertips, although it’s a bit more challenging.
- When using two lenses, always insert and remove the same lens first to avoid confusion.
Inspect the lens for damage and fill it with saline solution. Check the lens for any chips, cracks, or scratches, and if found, contact your eye doctor. Otherwise, fill the lens with saline solution and ensure it’s completely filled before insertion.
- Use the saline solution recommended by your eye doctor for scleral lenses.
- Keep the lens filled with saline until it touches your eye, refilling if necessary.
Position yourself and look downward. Lean over a table or counter, ensuring your face is parallel to the surface. Look towards your chin while keeping your head in this position.
- Place a towel on the surface to prevent lens breakage if dropped.
- For assistance, use a small mirror initially to ensure proper alignment.
Hold back your eyelids and insert the lens. Use one hand to retract your eyelids and the other to insert the lens onto your eyeball, ensuring it’s centered.
- Some saline may spill as you press the lens against your eye—this is normal.
- Peel back your eyelids fully due to the lens's larger size.
- It may take practice to center the lens correctly.
Remove the plunger and close your eye over the lens. Release the plunger or your fingers, allowing your eyelids to secure the lens in place. Once secured, remove your hands and ensure the lens is centered by blinking and checking in a mirror.
- If the lens isn’t centered or feels uncomfortable, follow the removal instructions and repeat the insertion process.
Removing a Lens
Thoroughly cleanse your hands and remove any eye makeup. Employ the same hand-cleaning and makeup removal methods as when you inserted your lens. It's crucial to maintain eye hygiene to prevent infections.
- Use mild cleansers and dry with a lint-free cloth.
Locate the lens in your eye by looking straight ahead into a mirror. Unlike insertion, keep your head upright and gaze straight into the mirror to find the lens. Place a towel over the sink and counter to prevent breakage if the lens falls out.
Retract your eyelids to expose the entire edge of the lens. Use your thumb and forefinger to push your eyelids as far apart as possible, ensuring the entire lens circumference is visible in the mirror.
Attach the removal plunger to the lens center and gently extract it (option 1). If you have color-coded lens plungers, use the “removal” plunger. Press the plunger's suction cup onto the lens center, then gently remove the lens. It should come out with minimal resistance if your eyelids are clear of the lens.
- Apply mild pressure to the plunger to ensure suction without pressing too hard against your eye.
- If the suction cup doesn't stick, moisten it with clean saline solution.
- Drain any saline inside the lens before cleaning.
Utilize your fingers and eyelid to dislodge the lens (option 2). Keep your face forward while lowering your gaze. Press your index finger, along with the upper eyelid it's holding, towards your nose, then push downward and slightly outward towards your temple against your eyeball. This action will cause the upper eyelid to slip beneath the lens edge, breaking its suction.
- The lens will drop out of your eye once the suction is released. Either be prepared to catch it with your free hand or place a thick towel on the countertop below.
- Mastering this technique may require practice. If available, use a removal plunger instead.
- Alternatively, you can perform the same action with your lower eyelid if that's more comfortable for you.
Follow your eye doctor's instructions for cleaning and storing the lens. While specifics may differ, rinsing the lens with saline solution immediately after removal is always necessary. Afterwards, expect to:
- Apply the prescribed lens cleaning solution to both sides of the lens, then gently rub both sides between your index fingertip and thumb tip—avoid using your fingernails.
- Rinse the lens again with saline solution to remove the cleaning solution.
- Pat the lens dry with a soft, clean tissue.
- Place the completely dry lens in its storage case.
- Proceed to remove your other lens if you wear them for both eyes.
Tips
Warnings
- Avoid reusing saline solution!
Essentials
- Saline solution
- Lens cleaning solution
- Scleral lens case
- Soap and water
- Soft, clean cloth
- Mirror
- Towel
- Lens plungers (optional but recommended)
