If glasses or regular contacts no longer give you clear, comfortable vision, scleral lenses may be the right next step. These customl scleral lenses rest on the white part of the eye and create a fluid cushion over the cornea, helping improve vision, comfort, and stability throughout the day.
Michigan Contact Lens offers scleral contact lenses for patients with dry eye, keratoconus, irregular corneas, and other hard-to-fit vision needs. Every lens is customized to improve comfort, fit, and visual clarity for your eyes. A precise fit can make the difference between ongoing frustration and clear, comfortable wear.
A successful scleral lens fit starts with the right expertise. Michigan Contact Lens combines advanced measurements, specialty fitting experience, and follow-up care to help patients with complex corneal conditions and contact lens intolerance.
We use advanced corneal mapping to design lenses around your exact eye shape. The result is a more precise fit, better day-to-day comfort, and more reliable vision, especially for patients who have not done well with other lenses.
We often fit scleral lenses for keratoconus, scleral lenses for dry eye, and scleral lenses for astigmatism, as well as for post-surgical corneas, corneal scarring, and contact lens intolerance. Every fitting is tailored to your condition, symptoms, and long-term comfort.
Scleral lenses are large-diameter gas-permeable lenses that rest on the sclera and vault over the cornea. This design creates a fluid reservoir that helps protect the eye surface, reduce dryness, and improve vision quality. That is why scleral contact lenses are often recommended for patients who cannot get good results with glasses or soft contacts.
The best use cases for scleral lenses include patients with irregular corneas, severe dryness, and vision problems that standard contacts cannot correct comfortably. They are often a great option for patients with:
If your current lenses feel unstable, dry, or uncomfortable, custom scleral lenses may offer a better long-term solution.
Our custom scleral lenses process is focused on one goal: creating the most accurate, comfortable fit for your eyes.
Your fitting begins with a detailed consultation, eye health evaluation, and corneal mapping. We use these measurements to select or design lenses based on your prescription, symptoms, and eye shape.
We then assess vision, fit, and comfort with trial lenses and refine the design as needed. Because scleral lenses are highly customized, more than one visit may be needed to get the best result. We also teach you how to insert, remove, and care for your lenses with confidence at home.
The biggest advantages of scleral contact lenses are clearer, more stable vision, better comfort, and a secure fit for hard-to-fit eyes. They help improve vision by masking corneal irregularities and staying centered more consistently than many standard lenses. Because they rest on the sclera and hold a fluid cushion over the eye, they can also improve comfort for patients with dryness or sensitivity. For many people, this is the first lens option that feels both clear and wearable.
Like any specialty lens, there are some disadvantages of scleral contact lenses to consider. They usually require a more detailed fitting process, more follow-up care, and a higher upfront cost than standard contacts. Most patients also need a little time to learn insertion and removal, but with proper guidance, the routine becomes much easier.
The cost of scleral lenses varies based on your prescription, the complexity of the fitting, and the follow-up care required. The real value comes from expert evaluation, custom design, and a lens that is made to work properly for your eyes. Because these lenses are custom-fit, pricing reflects the time, technology, and follow-up care needed to get the best result.
If you are tired of blurry vision, dry eye discomfort, or contacts that never feel right, scleral lenses may be the next step. Schedule a consultation with Michigan Contact Lens to find out if this specialty lens option is right for you.
Dr. Shira Kresch specializes in fitting scleral lenses for patients with keratoconus, severe dry eye, irregular corneas, and other complex vision conditions. Her experience in specialty contact lenses allows patients who could not wear regular contacts to achieve clear and comfortable vision with custom scleral lenses.
At Michigan Contact Lens, many patients are referred specifically for scleral lens fitting in Michigan because of Dr. Kresch’s advanced training in corneal disease, specialty lens design, and hard to fit contact lens cases. She regularly works with patients who need scleral lenses after corneal transplant, post LASIK complications, irregular astigmatism, and ocular surface disease.
Patients travel from Southfield, Troy, Birmingham, Detroit, and across Metro Detroit to see Dr. Kresch for scleral contact lenses and keratoconus treatment. Each scleral lens fitting is customized using detailed corneal measurements to ensure the best possible vision, comfort, and long term eye health.
If you are searching for a scleral lens specialist in Michigan, Michigan Contact Lens provides advanced evaluation, custom lens fitting, and ongoing care for patients who need more than standard contact lenses.
Scleral lenses can get cloudy for a few reasons. Oils from your skin or makeup can build up on the lens surface, debris and proteins can accumulate under the lens in the fluid reservoir, or the saline solution itself can break down during the day. If cloudiness happens often or quickly, the lens fit may also need adjustment. Daily cleaning with a recommended solution usually resolves it.
Many patients do achieve 20/20 vision with scleral lenses, especially when previous corrections fell short. Because scleral lenses create a smooth optical surface over the irregular cornea, they often dramatically improve vision in keratoconus, post-corneal-transplant, and other complex cases. Your individual results depend on the underlying eye condition, your prescription, and how well-customized the lens design is to your eye’s unique shape.
Yes, but choose drops carefully. Preservative-free rewetting drops are the safest option while your lenses are in — preservatives can damage the lens material or irritate the eye over time. Avoid redness-reducing drops and most prescription drops while wearing lenses unless your eye doctor specifically approves them. If you need to use a medicated drop, your doctor will tell you when to apply it.
Most scleral lens wearers comfortably wear their lenses 8 to 12 hours a day once they’ve adjusted. The build-up is gradual — we typically have new patients start with up to 4 hours on day one and add time daily. Some patients with severe dry eye or post-transplant healing may need shorter wear times. Your eye doctor will personalize the schedule for you.
When properly fitted, scleral lenses are usually very comfortable — many patients say they’re more comfortable than soft lenses. The lens vaults over the sensitive cornea and rests on the white of the eye (sclera), which has fewer nerve endings. You may feel awareness of the lens for the first few days as your eyes adjust, but pain is not normal. Pain usually signals a fit issue worth checking.
Scleral lenses are made from highly oxygen-permeable rigid gas-permeable (RGP) plastic. The material is firm enough to hold its precise custom shape — which is what corrects vision in irregular corneas — but porous enough at the molecular level to let plenty of oxygen reach the eye underneath. Modern scleral lens materials transmit more oxygen than soft contacts, which keeps your cornea healthy during long wearing days.
With proper care, most scleral lenses last 1 to 2 years before needing replacement. Lens life depends on how well you clean and store them, how stable your prescription is, and whether your eye shape changes over time. We may replace lenses sooner than 1 year if your prescription shifts or if scratches or deposits accumulate. We monitor lens condition at every follow-up visit.
Inserting scleral lenses is different from soft contacts but most patients master it within a few days. You fill the bowl of the lens with preservative-free saline, hold it on a plunger or your fingers, lean forward so your face is parallel to the floor, and gently place the lens onto your eye. The most common early problems — air bubbles or off-center placement — are exactly what we coach you through at the fitting visit.
Scleral lens fitting fees vary based on lens complexity (standard scleral, multifocal scleral, or profilometry-designed), your prescription, and the number of visits needed to dial in the fit. Fees include the lenses themselves, the multi-visit fitting process, and follow-up care for the first year. We provide detailed pricing during your consultation and a superbill you can submit for any out-of-network insurance reimbursement.
No — scleral lenses should not be purchased online. Unlike soft contacts, scleral lenses are custom-designed to match the exact shape of your eye, often using corneal topography and profilometry measurements taken in-office. An ill-fitting scleral lens can cause discomfort, vision problems, or damage to the cornea. A valid scleral lens prescription requires an in-person fitting and follow-up evaluation, so always work with a licensed scleral lens specialist for these.
