Scleral lenses have been around for over 100 years. Until the new gas permeable lens materials were developed patients could only wear scleral lenses for a few hours a day. With the highly oxygen permeable lens materials now in use, patients can comfortably wear these lenses all day. Scleral lenses are most commonly used to treat eyes with irregular corneas such as keratoconus and post surgical eyes (usually following corneal transplant surgery or related to complications from refractive surgery). Another common use for scleral lenses is in the special effects industry where they are used to protect the cornea and/or to give the eye an exotic appearance.

What Is A Scleral Lens?

Scleral lenses are large contact lenses that rest on the sclera (white part of the eye) with the remainder of the lens vaulting over the cornea. Tears are trapped between the lens and the cornea allowing sclerals to treat…

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I don’t want to write this post.  I had a preliminary, uneventful post floating around in my head regarding my 6-month, post-CXL checkup, but then the crap hit the fan, which I think happens in Airplane, as well.  Oh, I so wish that movie could have been on any of the boring channels of Dish I get at the motel last night.

Once again, I am left wondering how this happened when I’ve been at my ophthalmology clinic at least every month since my surgery.  As I was in a clinical trial for cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus (KC), I have had post-op checkups at 1 week, 3 months, and then 6 months, which was yesterday. These are all done with my local corneal specialist.

However, due to the IPL treatments I’ve had every month or so for meibomitis, I have been seen more often by a different associate at…

The past week has been full on.

At the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic where I am currently studying, it was Orientation Week or O-week for short. That meant there was markets, information stalls and crazy activities. The highlight for me for that week was the jelly wrestling where an inflatable paddle pool is filled with jelly and people wrestle in it.

I was keen to have a go but jelly is better in the mouth than in my eyes, especially with the RGP lenses. Simple solution – bring a pair of googles. Yes people laughed at me but I could have worn my flippers and people don’t understand the stuff I go through! I had a lot of fun wrestling in the jelly except for some unexpected exposure if you get what I mean. Only thing hurt in the end was my ego as one of the students in the…

Keratoconus is a condition that is progressive condition and leads to irregular corneal shape due to thinning of the cornea typically on the inferior cornea.  There is usually a history of eye rubbing since early childhood, but the exact onset and mechanism is not clearly defined; therefore each case is independent and needs to managed accordingly.  The irregularity of the cornea is usually a red flag for most refractive procedures, but again that depends on the severity of keratoconus and age of the patient.  In mild forms PRK can be an option but that again depends on topography scans, corneal thickness and stability of the condition.   Another technique available now is to stabilize the cornea using cross-linking with riboflavin drops, the cross-linked cornea is much more stable and could potentially be stable enough for refractive surgery.   Intacs is another option for keratoconus and will be discussed in the…

Keratoconus Contact Lenses Specialty:

Azman Eye Care Specialists is the preeminent contact lens specialty practice in the greater Baltimore area. Patients are referred to Azman Eye Care Specialists from eye care professionals throughout the United States.

Our practice is specifically designed, equipped, and staffed to provide the Scleral contacts lens patients with nothing but the finest in professional care. As contact lens specialists, we have successfully treated thousands of patients, including many who were previously told they could not wear contact lenses. Optometrists and Ophthalmologists from all over Maryland and surrounding states refer their challenging contact lens patients to Dr. Irwin Azman.

When it comes to personalized contact lens care, no doctor can match the attention given by Dr. Irwin Azman and Dr. Thomas Azman. The Azman team is world renowned for their expertise, unwavering commitment to superb patient care, passion, and education in providing personalized eye care for contact lens patients…