Wetting that dry front surface – while wearing your scleral lens

A common complication of Scleral lens/PROSE wear is the lens front surface dehydrating (drying).  The most effective way to resolve this is to remove the lens, clean it with your contact lens cleaner, rinse well and then reinsert it.  This is not always convenient.

So… here is a quick trick to help.

1- Place a few drops of lubricating drops (Systane Original or Ultra is my favorite) in the eye over your Scleral lens. Preservative Free is best, but if there is none available, those in the bottle will do.  (Some doctors recommend Multipurpose Solution. If your eyes are sensitive to the preservative, this may not be ideal).

2- Take your DMV remover (or a Q-tip) and rub it around, then perform a squeegee like action.  Use another drop if needed, but the surface should be wetter and your vision should be clearer.

3- It wont last forever, but …..Ahhhhh.  Relief  (until it can be removed and cleaned.)

Here is a before and after picture while I was doing a diagnostic fit. Notice the dry , non wetting front surface.  Then afterwards, the shiny wettable surface.

These pictures are used with my patient’s permission. (and I thank her)