Semi scerals -how long to get used to them

[Timotea]

I have just got my new semi scleral lenses called SoClear. They are rigid gas permeables. The trouble is they make my eyes very sore and red. I have worn them for about 4 hours every day for a week and then about 7 hours when I went to a wedding...ouch!
Eyes very sore but people keep saying I should persevere as it takes a while for eyes to get used to them. Am using Genteal eyegel and drops. Seeing fitter next week. Grateful for any hints or tips.

[DCRdryeye]

Hi Timota, I've experienced the same as you with mini sclerals 18mm. So the first thing I'd ask you is the diameter and is it the first time you've used them? Usually with scleral lenses, multiple adjustments need to occur before a comfortable fit. For eg: At first my sclerals were rubbing on my upper lateral lid margins, so we had that rectified. Then with the second modification as I turned my eyeballs around I could feel the scleral touch my cornea. So we adjusted yet again and they didn't touch anymore and got closer to comfort. But another problem occured where the lens was too tight and was difficult to remove. So we modified again, often with a new scleral pair and made it looser and it was very easy to remove. This process continued as problems arose. Eventually we obtained a perfect comfortable scleral fit for the left eye, but the right eye lens didn't have the proper prescription and was not as comfortable. Grrrrrrr the process too over 12 months and still didn't have a pair of sclerals I could wear all day. I couldn't get passed 6 hours without redness.

I have since changed optometrist with a more experience and better equipment. I have an appointment with him in two weeks.

So my tips are to find a different fitter, different sclerals, get the same sclerals modified perhaps, use Thera tear gel inside the sclerals and experiment with what you fill them with. Some members here use celluvisc mixed with some saline.

Furthermore, occasionally some people are sensitive or react to the material of the scleral and their eyes are so dry or sensitive that sclerals are not for them.

[dryeyedave]

I wear one scleral in my left eye. I don't know if it is classified as a mini or not but it is still a rigid gas permeable lens so it doesn't matter. Your lens should be comfortable from the very instant it is put in--you will know when it is right. You don't need to break in a lens for it to be comfortable. If it is irritating after install(painful, foreign body sensation, rubbing ect) it will only get more so through out the day. Your eye might be red upon removal but it should not be sore or painful. Go back and tell your doc were your sensation is and he should then adjust the lens accordingly. Scleral fitting is complex. I would seek an Optometrist that is a contact lens specialist--as most of these have been fitting sclerals for a long time even before they became the dry eye treatment of the day.

It took three tries over about a month and a half to get mine right. You will notice the scleral in your eye but it will not be painful or irritating just an awareness it is there. I did not notice much improvement in sensation over time and I still need drops occasionally to keep the lens lubricated. I did notice that the lens would cloud up at first and that has stopped. I do understand from my Optometrist that the tear film actually changes to adapt to the lens and it takes about two weeks. I get 8 to 10 solid hours of comfortable wear out of mine and I can go longer if necessary.